When Tillman Comes Back...

[Bahama O's Fan]

...do we simply option Asher or whoever the fifth starter is? Or is it mow complicated than that?

[eddie83]

Biggest issue will be not being able to have a 5 man bench.

 

I would not worry too much about the last 2 spots in the pen. They will be running a shuttle to Norfolk this year. If they like Asher you could argue he would be more valuable starting at AAA for depth.  Asher I would think would go down unless they want him over Wilson who hasn't looked good. At least if he was at AAA Asher would start every 5 days. One thing Dan has accomplished is having optionable pitchers in the pen. 

[stomperspc]

I am not sure Asher shouldn't/won't go down after making his next start, assuming he makes it on the 22nd (instead of the 21st). O's don't need a 5th starter again again until Tillman is scheduled to be back on May 2nd. If Rickard is ready to return by then it might make sense to run with a 5 man bench for 10 days because once Tillman is back (and assuming no other injuries) the 5-man bench goes away. It might be nice to get a little extra look at all three of Gentry/Mancini/Rickard before deciding who goes in early May.

[El Gordo]

1 hour ago, stomperspc said:

I am not sure Asher shouldn't/won't go down after making his next start, assuming he makes it on the 22nd (instead of the 21st). O's don't need a 5th starter again again until Tillman is scheduled to be back on May 2nd. If Rickard is ready to return by then it might make sense to run with a 5 man bench for 10 days because once Tillman is back (and assuming no other injuries) the 5-man bench goes away. It might be nice to get a little extra look at all three of Gentry/Mancini/Rickard before deciding who goes in early May.

Makes a lot of sense to me.

[Ripken]

Release Ubaldo.

[Spy Fox]

20 minutes ago, Ripken said:

Release Ubaldo.

Even if he looks alright or good in his next three starts?

[Ripken]

10 minutes ago, Spy Fox said:

Even if he looks alright or good in his next three starts?

The chances of that are pretty slim.

[El Gordo]

45 minutes ago, Ripken said:

Release Ubaldo.

Never happen.

[sportsfan8703]

On Bob and Vinny yesterday, Bob said Aquino had been named the starter for Saturday. Don't know if I believe him but it would fit the idea of matching up. Maybe we'd drop Ubaldo from the rotation even if Tillman isn't back yet. 

[Dark Helmet]

12 hours ago, Bahama O's Fan said:

...do we simply option Asher or whoever the fifth starter is? Or is it mow complicated than that?

I would keep Asher in the rotation. Ship Jimenez to the BP to replace another useless pitcher Tyler Wilson.

[MurphDogg]

10 hours ago, Ripken said:

The chances of that are pretty slim.

He was quite good in his last 7 starts last year. 6 quality starts including a complete game and a 5 and a third inning no run start.

[sportsfan8703]

1 hour ago, Roy Firestone said:

I dont think they will drop Ubaldo from the rotation until much later in the summer if he doesnt pitch well. Too much money invested, and they might hope to move him at the deadline. Im hoping he can figure it out again. I liked his first couple of innings in his last start, then he fell back into bad habits.We'll see how he pitches tonight if the game isnt ppd.

Ubaldo's had some tough matchups so far. He hasn't looked great but pitching against the reds in an NL park should help. Once Tillman comes back I think it would be ideal to have Asher/Aquino in the 5th spot and Ubaldo in the pen to just absorb innings. But everything is hinging on performance. 

5 IP and 3ER isn't too much to ask from him consistently. Just keep us in games. 

[TINSTAAPP]

It's pretty simple. Demote Wilson and make Asher the long man out of the pen. 

[Frobby]

2 hours ago, Roy Firestone said:

I dont think they will drop Ubaldo from the rotation until much later in the summer if he doesnt pitch well. Too much money invested, and they might hope to move him at the deadline. Im hoping he can figure it out again. I liked his first couple of innings in his last start, then he fell back into bad habits.We'll see how he pitches tonight if the game isnt ppd.

It all depends on how he pitches, to state the obvious.    If he continues pitching to a 10+ ERA, he won't last past early May, and possibly not past Tillman's return.   But I have confidence he can do better than that.