Sun: Call him what you want, but Chris Tillman produces like a No. 1 starter

[Groundhog]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-schmuck-orioles-column-0222-20150221-column.html

He certainly has an impressive win ratio, although I'm not sure his ERA puts him in the elite league of starters.

[ArtVanDelay]

Chris Tillman reminds me of Joe Flacco. Doesn't get a ton of respect but just gets the job done. He seems to have a similar personality to Flacco, also.

[Can_of_corn]

My head hurts.

[CA-ORIOLE]

My head hurts.

My initial thoughts but it's actually a fairly written article.

[Can_of_corn]

My initial thoughts but it's actually a fairly written article.

It would be a great piece...if it was written in 1989. Of course Tillman would have been one at the time.

[CA-ORIOLE]

It would be a great piece...if it was written in 1989. Of course Tillman would have been one at the time.

Well, Shcmuck and even Tillman basically concede he is not a real ACE. It's a fluff piece.

[Nevermore]

Well, Shcmuck and even Tillman basically concede he is not a real ACE. It's a fluff piece.

Could someone define what a "real ACE" is? And why Chris Tillman doesn't qualify.

[wildcard]

If you have a team that is taught to pitch to their defense instead of striking out as many as the can, they probably don't measure up to other staff's with more strikeout pitchers in a saber sense. That doesn't mean they can't win more game.

Tillman has two solid years with over 200 IP. He works within the team philosophy well. He has become a leader on the staff. Gausman probably has better stuff and may be looked at as more of an ace in years to come. His strikeout totals will probably be higher.

[Norfolk orioles]

He's OUR ace and that's what matters to me.

[25 Nuggets]

Could someone define what a "real ACE" is? And why Chris Tillman doesn't qualify.

Good question, often asked, because there is no clear answer. I define Tillman as a "top of the rotation" pitcher because he's good enough to be a #1 or #2 pitcher in most rotations. Here's how I see it regarding AL teams:

Opening Day Starter: Baltimore, Boston, Minnesota, Toronto

Day Two Starter: Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York, Texas

In the Mix 1-3: Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Oakland

Middle Rotation: Chicago, Seattle, Tampa Bay

So, only three of 15 AL Teams do I see him starting #3 at best. Only in Chicago (Sale, Samardzija, Quintana) do I really see him as the #4 starter. Therefore he is TOR.

[AlbionHero]

He produces like a #1 starter on a team with a bunch of average pitchers, sure. But he'd be a #3 on most playoff teams.

[El Gordo]

Anyone who can consistently give you 200 IP and 200 K's is an ace IMO.

[Bahama O's Fan]

Isn't an Ace "your" best pitcher? Aren't there 30 of them?

[PA724_Oriole]

Isn't an Ace "your" best pitcher? Aren't there 30 of them?

Maybe so, but when you compare "your" ace to others and a Tillman, although good, but still doesn't stack up next to a Kershaw or King Felix, he isnt viewed as an ace.

Guess you could say the top 30 pitchers would be aces, but not every team would be represented by those top thirty pitchers, therefore not every team has an Ace pitcher. One way of looking at it.

[weams]

Maybe so, but when you compare "your" ace to others and a Tillman, although good, but still doesn't stack up next to a Kershaw or King Felix, he isnt viewed as an ace.

Guess you could say the top 30 pitchers would be aces, but not every team would be represented by those top thirty pitchers, therefore not every team has an Ace pitcher. One way of looking at it.

Each team has a number one though.