Jake Arrieta going to be fifth starter surmises Roch (No Orioles Confirmation)

[Diehard_O's_Fan]

Jake Arrieta will be named the fifth starter according to Roch. What do you do think? Did Buck make the correct move here? As we all know, Jake might not be the fifth starter for very long and could end up in Norfolk in a hurry.

Here is a link to Roch's blog article:

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2013/03/notes-and-quotes-following-todays-13-4-loss.html

[El Gordo]

I don't buy it. What if McFarland pitches 5 perfect innings, they're going to send him back? They're going to send Matusz down to keep him?

[Grt 2BA FL Gator]

Jake Arrieta will be named the fifth starter according to Roch. What do you do think? Did Buck make the correct move here? As we all know' date=' Jake might not be the fifth starter for very long and could end up in Norfolk in a hurry.

Here is a link to Roch's blog article:

[url']http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2013/03/notes-and-quotes-following-todays-13-4-loss.html[/url]

Interesting that Roch would make that assumption. It's not too far fetched I guess, because if you put Jake in the rotation, then you have use for Matusz in the pen, whereas if you put Matusz in the rotation, you likely send Jake down for now.

Things are obviously unlikely to stay the way they are day 1. I really want Matusz to be the 5th starter, and don't want him relegated to the bullpen without getting another quality look as a starter, but I think Buck wants that too. Just potentially giving Jake a run at it first I guess.

The interesting piece is, where does McFarland end up in this? Do we trade Patton? I gotta think he has more value to us then he would in a trade..

[Il BuonO]

I'm not sure I buy it either. Roch says, "You can read into it," but Buck hasn't come out and named him and it still would be nothing for him to rearrange the days to get Matusz on schedule to line up for the 5th spot.

[isestrex]

Misleading thread title.

Roch isn't reporting this news... he's just making a very education guess on the leading candidate.

[crissfan172]

All that we can infer from Arrieta starting in the minor league game is that he's still a candidate for the 5th starter job. If Matusz was starting, he'd probably be in the minor league game too.

[sfosfan]

C'mon Diehard, don't misquote Roch. Roch was simply reading the tea leaves, so to speak. He didn't actually flat out make the announcement as your post's title suggest. But let's see what Buck does with Brian's start. Seems to be a two horse race now. Although if neither one puts distance from the other, expect Brian to be in the pen so start the season since he's had success there. That's all the article was saying.

[Abadie]

_{Is there any chance DD looks to trade Ayala? He's the oldest one of the bunch & surely has peaked. This allows us to keep TJ and possess 3 LHP in the pen. Might be too much of a workload for O'Day/Hunter. Not sure how TJ's stuff plays vs righties. Just a thought....we don't have much of a hand in trades because team knows that we are handicapped by space. Oh depth...}

[Moose Milligan]

If he is, I bet it's not for long.

[UpstateNYfan]

Someone has to named. In the long (or possibly short) run the number 5 spot, or the 2-4 spots are likely to have some bumps along the way, hopefully not. Chen, Gonzalez and Tillman do not have a long history of success yet. This year will tell whether last year was an outlier or the real deal for those guys. Both Jake and Brian have had spurts of above average performances. Hopefully both have matured and can show they can be consistent starters again. We all have our favorites and many have strong stats to support your opinion. The truth is BS and DD juggle things pretty well (and sometimes suspiciously with the use of the DL) if the need arises. I just watch as a fan and wish all will before above with greatness.

[jamalshw]

It is not for sure, but Roch as a point. If you are still evaluating him for a spot in the rotation why have him pitch in the minor league camp where he's not likely to be seen by Buck? More curious, if he's pitching in a minor league game, why not send him to the minors now if he's not making the team.

I don't mind Arrieta in the 5th spot, but I think Matsuz has earned it. He's been dominant. I just hope they are able to keep McFarland. Seems like a shame to lose him this early on in the process when he's shown he can help this team.

I think the opening day roster should be the one that allows you to put the best team on the field while also maintaining as much of your talent and depth in the organization as possible.

[crissfan172]

This is the part everyone should take a look at. McFarland's splits were better against RH hitters than LH hitters in AAA. Some people talk about him replacing Patton or Matusz in the bullpen but he looks to be anything but a lefty specialist (not that Patton or Matusz really are as relievers). In a very SSS McFarland once again this spring, has had most of his trouble against LH hitters. For whatever reason, his stuff seems to play better against RH hitters. Maybe his staple, the sinker, runs away from RH's and back into LH's? I don't know. Haven't seen enough of him.

If he makes the team, it would probably be as a long man with Patton and/or Matusz as the lefty specialist.

[Hank Scorpio]

If he is, I bet it's not for long.

There's a lot of leniency afforded to a #5 starter most of the time. But given Buck's options, this is 100% correct. Put up or bus it to Norfolk.

[Frobby]

The thread title should be changed, IMO. Roch has not reported that Arrieta will be named the fifth starter, he's just making an inference, same as RZNJ did when it was announced that Matusz would next start in a MiL game (a decision that was reversed later for reasons having nothing to do with Matusz). Roch may be right, but he's guessing, not reporting.

[El Gordo]

I still think with all three pitching well, we are better off with two LHSP and two LHRP, and keeping McFarland, as opposed to sending him back in order to give Jake yet another chance.