Delmarva "Break Camp" Roster

[Oldorioles]

There are quite a few pitchers on the roster that have been starters in the past. I supposed a couple may still be reassigned and a couple may be converted to the pen, but I see (in no particular order):

1) D. Bundy

2) Wilson

3) Howard

4) Bridwell

5) Cowan

6) T. Berry

7) E. Rodriguez

8) Chalas

9) Louicho

10)Z. Davies

All these guys pitched the majority of there games as startes last year, except Davies (who did not pitch but I'm just guessing on him). Who's in your rotation out of these 10?

[Frobby]

Shorebirds manager Ryan Minor seems pretty happy about things: http://www.masnsports.com/steve_melewski/2012/04/ryan-minor-on-bundy-his-opening-rotation-and-more.html

[Enjoy Terror]

They only alluded to four starters; Bundy, Bridwell, Berry and Rodriguez. I have a feeling they may include more players that weren't listed here... someone like David Baker.

EDIT: Erm, scratch that. Frobby post has the six pitchers starting for Delmarva.

[waroriole]

Keep in mind that some of these guys might be eased in because of their youth and inexperience. If I had to guess on the rotatioin it would be

1. Wilson

2. Howard

3. Cowan

4. T.Berry

5. Bridwell

Wilson and Howard are both college starters who also started after signing last year.

Cowan was a Juco starter and starter last year after coming back from labrum surgery

Tim Berry started all last year for Delmarva and returns

Bridwell started the last 3 months of the year at Aberdeen.

Those five have the most professional experience, starting.

The O's are likely to keep the innings down for most of the other guys. I suspect that guys like Eduardo Rodriguez & Chalas (remember the team still will probably cut a couple of pitchers as they are over the roster limit by 2-4 players), Davies, and evend Bundy will start out in the bullpen going 2-3 innings at a time to begin the season. If all goes well, they go into the rotation in the 2nd half.

What, that you've read, makes you think Bundy won't initially be a SP?

[RVAbird]

Shorebirds manager Ryan Minor seems pretty happy about things: http://www.masnsports.com/steve_melewski/2012/04/ryan-minor-on-bundy-his-opening-rotation-and-more.html

This is the right approach with Bundy, I think. It's conservative, but it's a workload decision more than anything. He'll get his first 5 or so starts in as short stints in a low pressure environment. He should transition flawlessly to Frederick in May and can still easily end strong in Bowie in August.

[waroriole]

What, that you've read, makes you think Bundy won't initially be a SP?

As it turns out, he's the OD SP, but only going 3.

[sbsd123]

George, what is the weather like there in Asheville right now? I am heading out there from California on Thursday and I see it is supposed to rain. Hope the games still go. In California everything stops when it rains. And I heard Bundy is going on Thursday, but I am sure things can change.

[George Zuverink]

Gorgeous today, but tomorrow thunderstorms likely (60%) starting tomorrow afternoon and high of 68. It's more like Baltimore, where storms can be short, than northern California, where when it starts it ususllay hangs in for awhile.

[Oldorioles]

Keep in mind that some of these guys might be eased in because of their youth and inexperience. If I had to guess on the rotatioin it would be

1. Wilson

2. Howard

3. Cowan

4. T.Berry

5. Bridwell

From Steve M's blog http://www.masnsports.com/steve_melewski/2012/04/ryan-minor-on-bundy-his-opening-rotation-and-more.html. "The Shorebirds are expected to begin the season with a six-man rotation and Tim Berry and Parker Bridwell will follow Bundy to the mound on Friday and Saturday in the season-opening series. After that the Shorebirds are expected to go with Tyler Wilson, Eduardo Rodriguez and Miguel Chalas. Chalas will follow Bundy to the mound in Thursday's opener before making his starting debut in game six."

So, it looks like it will be:

1. D. Bundy

2. T. Berry

3. Bridwell

4. T. Wilson

5. E. Rodriguez

6. M. Chalas

That's very intersting. I wonder what happens to someone like Cowan, who started every game he ptiched last year. Same question for Howard. There seem to be too many ptichers for too few spots (a nice problem to have).

[NCRaven]

...That's very intersting. I wonder what happens to someone like Cowan, who started every game he ptiched last year. Same question for Howard. There seem to be too many ptichers for too few spots (a nice problem to have).

I've never seen any of the youngsters pitch with my own eyes. Based on what you've seen, are either of Coward, Howard, or anyone else better suited to start than the six pitchers identified by Steve? As you said, it's nice to have to make tough decisions like that for, probably, the first time in years.

[eb45]

I've never seen any of the youngsters pitch with my own eyes. Based on what you've seen, are either of Coward, Howard, or anyone else better suited to start than the six pitchers identified by Steve? As you said, it's nice to have to make tough decisions like that for, probably, the first time in years.

Cowan and Howard are both excellent pitchability guys. Howard has five pitches that he can throw for strikes at any time. None of them are great, but if this was about who would likely have the most success starting at Delmarva, I'd probably put him in the rotation. Cowan has a good change and good movement on his two-seam, but doesn't throw very hard at all. He gets strikeouts because of the movement and because he sets up hitters well. He's probably not a prospect, at least not to the level of any of the guys in the Delmarva rotation, but I'm a bit surprised to see him in the bullpen, yeah.

The Delmarva rotation looks like the six best prospects on the roster, or the six guys who would benefit the most from pitching in the rotation. Not the way it's been done here before, but maybe it'll work out. It'll be fun to watch if they do well, that's for sure.