Showalter announces that Joe Saunders will start for #Orioles tomorrow

[Uli2001]

The last time Saunders pitched in Arlington was in 2010 and he gave up only one run. Too much is being made about numbers that are now ancient history. The game has changed, pitchers now have a chance, even against the Rangers. O's fans should be more concerned about the O's offense, who has often been "AWOL" against good pitchers.

[Oriole4Life]

I'm nervous guys. I'm really really nervous. About the game in general. I frankly don't care who pitches, our rotation has worked together as a whole, no one pitcher has stood out. We got Saunders for a reason. He is hardly lights out, but he's a veteran in a pressure situation so why not. Hopefully he can go at least 5 and give up no more than a run. And yes, our bats need to wake up.

[SteveO]

Look I get that some question the starter management. That said I am of the opinion that it was a big game that at the very least a win could have insured a home playoff game which I really believe that Buck and the organization wanted to deliver and had they got lucky and Kuroda had a horrible start it could have lead to a potential tie in the division. Tillman was the right starter IMO. I can understand some of the arguments why he was not but ultimately its a judgement call and Buck has earned that trust IMO.

Far as Saunders vrs Steve Johnson, I think thats a no brainer. Johnson has been good but he has a handful of major league starts and this is the biggest stage many of these Orioles have ever seen. Numbers or not I cannot blame Buck for going with the guy who is experienced, if you lose on his inability to perform so be it. Last thing you want is to put a kid with limited experience in that position. His stuff is good but not that good that you say...yes it has to be him.

[VeveJones007]

I'm nervous guys. I'm really really nervous. About the game in general. I frankly don't care who pitches, our rotation has worked together as a whole, no one pitcher has stood out. We got Saunders for a reason. He is hardly lights out, but he's a veteran in a pressure situation so why not. Hopefully he can go at least 5 and give up no more than a run. And yes, our bats need to wake up.

I would be very happy if Saunders got through 5 and gave up 2 or fewer runs. That would keep the team in the game and get it to the bullpen.

I know they haven't pitched multiple innings much (if at all) this year, but I would consider O'Day and Johnson for 2 innings depending on the matchups. The O's need to shorten the game and get it to those ground ball pitchers in that park against that lineup.

[Bradysburns]

This is Darvish first MLB postseason start, who knows how he will respond. At least we know Joe will not panic after starting a postseason game in 3 of the last 4 years.

Darvish is a big-game pitcher. He has pitched in a LOT of big games outside the MLB. I kind of doubt the pressure will get to him any more than it will Joe Saunders. But we can always hope - there's no league like the MLB.

[Can_of_corn]

Darvish is a big-game pitcher. He has pitched in a LOT of big games outside the MLB. I kind of doubt the pressure will get to him any more than it will Joe Saunders. But we can always hope - there's no league like the MLB.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/7794494/texas-rangers-yu-darvish-shows-grit-big-league-debut

Even an untrained eye could tell anxiety affected Darvish's performance in the first inning. No pitcher picks up the resin bag seven times in an inning on a breezy, 75-degree April evening unless he has sweaty palms from adrenaline overload.

When he wasn't overthrowing, he was trying to guide his pitches. Neither approach, as you can imagine, is conducive to effective pitching.

"When I stepped on the mound for the first time, I felt calm and my mind felt calm," Darvish said through an interpreter. "But my body felt like it wanted to go, go, go. My mind and my body were not on the same page."

[Bradysburns]

I think that goes way too far.

Johnson has knee issues, and has made a grand total of four major league starts during which his ERA was vastly lower than his peripherals indicate.

Tillman just started the game to try to pitch the team to the Eastern Division crown.

Gonzalez and Chen would be on short/very short rest when they clearly need more than that to be effective.

Arrieta and Matusz haven't started a major league game in months.

Hunter was a terrible starter, and a flyball pitcher who'd be going against a power-hitting team in their very friendly home park.

Hammel has been hurt and was just healthy enough to throw a simulated game Monday, so he'd be coming back from an injury on short rest.

Seems to me your only real options are Saunders, Hammel on short rest and not at 100%, Johnson making his fifth career start not at 100%, and bullpen day.

Saunders seems pretty reasonable in that context.

Well stated. But here's the thing. If Johnson is really hurt enough to keep him from being effective - or making that a question mark - why in the world would Buck have mentioned both as possible starters?

My perception is, all things being equal, I would rather them face an effective rookie for the first time ever, than a guy who - with the exception of his most recent start - has not pitched well in Arlington.

The thing is, on the one hand you have a known quantity - and it's not encouraging at all. On the other hand, you have a question mark surrounded by positive indications.

The experience factor is overplayed in my opinion. Rookies can dominate at any time - including a huge game. It happens often. In fact, sometimes a player will shine in the spotlight and disappear during the regular seasons, for the most part.

Miguel Batista with the 2001 Diamondbacks comes to mind. Lights out in the Series... then a slow dimming for the rest of his career.

Ultimately, you are making good points. It actually helps me understand the decision a bit more, even if I still question it (especially if Johnson is healthy).

[Austin]

Put aside all the arguments about whether or not Joe Saunders is the right choice for a second and think about this: Joe Saunders is one of the fews guys on the team who actually grew up an Orioles fan (weirdly enough, our other option Steve Johnson probably did as well). He rooted for the O's as a kid like many of us did. Think about all the times you imagined being an Oriole, hitting a clutch homer or winning a playoff game. Joe Saunders is living the dream of every Oriole fan right now and he has a chance to become an Orioles legend tomorrow. I don't know if Saunders was the right decision or not but hopefully it turns out Buck pushed the right button one more time.

[VeveJones007]

Put aside all the arguments about whether or not Joe Saunders is the right choice for a second and think about this: Joe Saunders is one of the fews guys on the team who actually grew up an Orioles fan (weirdly enough, our other option Steve Johnson probably did as well). He rooted for the O's as a kid like many of us did. Think about all the times you imagined being an Oriole, hitting a clutch homer or winning a playoff game. Joe Saunders is living the dream of every Oriole fan right now and he has a chance to become an Orioles legend tomorrow. I don't know if Saunders was the right decision or not but hopefully it turns out Buck pushed the right button one more time.

Very true. Rep given.

[ShaneDawg85]

While I slightly preferred Saunders to get the start over Johnson, wouldn't it be the ultimate irony if Johnson does comes out of the pen, either to relieve Saunders or preserve a lead, getting the call his father did to save a season? This time, with a far different, and better result.

[VeveJones007]

While I slightly preferred Saunders to get the start over Johnson, wouldn't it be the ultimate irony if Johnson does comes out of the pen, either to relieve Saunders or preserve a lead, getting the call his father did to save a season? This time, with a far different, and better result.

I would love it if Buck let Saunders and Johnson go through the order once and never let the Rangers hitters see the same pitcher twice.

[Rene88]

I would love it if Buck let Saunders and Johnson go through the order once and never let the Rangers hitters see the same pitcher twice.

This, add Hunter and O'Day and JJ to that mix and we might have a winning formula.

[Pedro Cerrano]

So very dumb using Tillman last night, especially when you know you're facing Texas on Friday and not Oakland...

[Wish]

Seriously Buck?

Guess the boys and I will be hitting the clubs earlier tomorrow night than expected.

[jjnono]

Our starter won't matter much if the offense doesn't show up against Darvish... We'll need at least 5 runs to win tomorrow.