The battle for the 7th reliever rages on

[wildcard]

With 3 weeks to go in spring training anything can happen but the 7th spot in the pen looks wide open.  There are many candidates.  I am saying that Britton, O'Day, Brach, Givens , Hart and Nuno have the first 6 spots. Here's  how I see the competition:

Zach Stewart - Surprisingly, 30 year old Stewart may have the lead at the moment.  With three lefties in the pen already a right-handed pitcher may be desirable for the last spot.  Stewart still has an option which helps his cause.  He has yet to give up a run in 5.1 IP.

Oliver Drake -  Has had a bad start to his spring but he is out of options.  He can't afford any more bad outings but if he throws zeros for the rest of ST he is still in it.  His last two years at AAA and  September with the O's speak loudly in his favor.

 Jayson Aquino - Is the darling of ST.  Buck raves about his improvement.  But he is left handed and has not pitched much above AA.  O's management have talked about him being in the rotation in AAA. He has an option.

Chris Lee, Mike Wright, and Gabriel Ynoa - Are all pitching well. All have options.  The question is would the  O's rather have all three starting at AAA.

Richard Bleier - Is pitching well  with  a 2.25 ERA in 4 IP.  Another lefty.  He is probably staying in camp instead of going to the WBC. He has an option.

Logan Verrett -  Is right-handed which gives him an edge IMO and his 2.25 ERA looks good.  But they are hitting for a .313 average against him and his WHIP is 1.50.  He needs to improve  but he has plenty of time.  He  has an option.

Tyler Wilson - Blew up in his last outing.   In a strange interview after the game Tyler said he knows that results matter when fighting for a spot but he was working of pitches.   His mindset is in question here.  In another interview Donnie Hart said unless you are a veteran results matter and while fighting for a spot he can't work on pitches and he has to go with his best.  Tyler's margin to win the last spot may be pretty small at this moment. He has an option.

Jesus Liranzo - Is pitching as  well as any reliever in camp.  But he is probably a one inning guy at this point and the O's probably want a guy who can go multiple innings.  He is young and hasn't pitched much in the high minors.  It looks like he has a great future. He has an option.

Joe Gunkel - Not in the competition to stay at this point. May be leaving camp with the next round of cuts. He has an option.

That's the way I see it at this point.  How about you?

 

 

[backwardsk]

I have a hard time not seeing Drake make it if he stays healthy.

 

[waroriole]

It's Drake if he's healthy. 

[wildcard]

I think Drake is going to have to pitch well the rest of the ST to get the final spot.  And he has to show he can be effective going multiple innings.

[Frobby]

I think Liranzo, Lee and Aquino are all guys we might see this season, but they'll all be sent down for more seasoning.   Gunkel has no shot.    Hard to say who has the edge among the others, but Drake needs to pitch better to make the club, even though he's out of options.   

[weams]

11 minutes ago, Frobby said:

I think Liranzo, Lee and Aquino are all guys we might see this season, but they'll all be sent down for more seasoning.   Gunkel has no shot.    Hard to say who has the edge among the others, but Drake needs to pitch better to make the club, even though he's out of options.   

So, a lefty long guy. And maybe a lefty short guy. And a righty long guy and a righty short guy.

Britton O'Day Brach Givens 

Nuno, Verrett, Bleier, Stewart. 

That's one two many. 

[weams]

 

[backwardsk]

1 hour ago, weams said:

So, a lefty long guy. And maybe a lefty short guy. And a righty long guy and a righty short guy.

Britton O'Day Brach Givens 

Nuno, Verrett, Bleier, Stewart. 

That's one two many. 

No Hart?

[weams]

36 minutes ago, backwardsk said:

No Hart?

I might let him work on getting right handers out and bring him later. But that's me. 

[El Gordo]

5 hours ago, weams said:

So, a lefty long guy. And maybe a lefty short guy. And a righty long guy and a righty short guy.

Britton O'Day Brach Givens 

Nuno, Verrett, Bleier, Stewart. 

That's one two many. 

You're forgetting Hart. Drop one of Verrett Blier Stewart.

[backwardsk]

5 minutes ago, El Gordo said:

You're forgetting Hart. Drop one of Verrett Blier Stewart.

Need to drop two of those three to get to seven, right?

i still think it's Drake.

[El Gordo]

2 minutes ago, backwardsk said:

Need to drop two of those three to get to seven, right?

i still think it's Drake.

Not if he keeps crapping the bed.

[wildcard]

Some fans think that Drake being out of option is an advantage.  And they may be right.  But there is another way to look at it.   If Buck wants the 7th relief spot to be flexible for the Norfolk Shuttle then not having an option is a disadvantage.

[25 Nuggets]

1 hour ago, wildcard said:

Some fans think that Drake being out of option is an advantage.  And they may be right.  But there is another way to look at it.   If Buck wants the 7th relief spot to be flexible for the Norfolk Shuttle then not having an option is a disadvantage.

You can start with Drake and then jettison him as soon as you need someone else.  If you're OK with treating him like poop.

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, 25 Nuggets said:

You can start with Drake and then jettison him as soon as you need someone else.  If you're OK with treating him like poop.

I don't think he's owed anything.

Decent shot he would make it through unclaimed anyway.