Starters: Bradish game 1, GRod game 2

[Snutchy]

I just don’t think Means has pitched enough this year to justify starting over Grayson. 

[dtk9119]

9 minutes ago, e16bball said:

As I said in the other thread predicting the starters, I don’t think there’s enough evidence there to suggest that there’s some strategic advantage to using Means at OPACY that would outweigh the fact that Grayson is simply the significantly better pitcher at this point.

Yes, OPACY is a better park for LH power hitters. But I don’t see any evidence in the small samples we have with both guys (Means post-injury and Grayson 2.0) that suggests that Means would be better at suppressing lefty power. With his changeup humming (and his curveball not), he’s actually had reverse splits thus far in his brief return — and he’s given up 2 HRs in the 23 PAs he’s had against LHH.

The Rangers are better against finesse pitchers (like Means) and flyball pitchers (like Means). His curveball, their biggest (and only?) weakness this season, has been his worst pitch thus far. It gives me serious concern about how he’ll hold up. The Rangers typically pulverize the ball in their stadium, so we’ve got to maximize our opportunities to grab wins while we’re at home.

I think the goal has to be to try to jump out to a lead in the series, and Grayson is just better than Means. And the chance to have him come back and pitch a couple piggyback innings behind Bradish in Game 5 is the icing on the cake that seals the deal for me. 

That's my hope. By going w/ Bradish-Rodriguez to start I really hope we get out to a 2-0 lead. I do not want to be heading to TX down 0-2 or 1-1 w/ Means starting game 3.

BTW, is it even a foregone conclusion now that Means starts game 3? Depending on the results of game 1 and 2 could Kremer/Gibson start game 3 instead?

[baltfan]

2 minutes ago, dtk9119 said:

That's my hope. By going w/ Bradish-Rodriguez to start I really hope we get out to a 2-0 lead. I do not want to be heading to TX down 0-2 or 1-1 w/ Means starting game 3.

BTW, is it even a foregone conclusion now that Means starts game 3? Depending on the results of game 1 and 2 could Kremer/Gibson start game 3 instead?

I don’t see any chance Kremer starts.  Gibson is the vet and also more of a ground ball pitcher.  And the one type of pitching Texas is below league average against is ground ball pitchers. 

[CallMeBrooksie]

4 minutes ago, dtk9119 said:

That's my hope. By going w/ Bradish-Rodriguez to start I really hope we get out to a 2-0 lead. I do not want to be heading to TX down 0-2 or 1-1 w/ Means starting game 3.

BTW, is it even a foregone conclusion now that Means starts game 3? Depending on the results of game 1 and 2 could Kremer/Gibson start game 3 instead?

If you think Kremer and Gibson are better options against TX than Means, then why do you try to justify starting him in Game 2? Seems odd to start a guy Game 2 who you don't have any faith in based on Walltimore alone.

I don't think there's any data to justify this idea that Means is really good pitching in front of Walltimore but sucks anywhere else. 

[IPlayGM]

4 minutes ago, baltfan said:

I don’t see any chance Kremer starts.  Gibson is the vet and also more of a ground ball pitcher.  And the one type of pitching Texas is below league average against is ground ball pitchers. 

I see a great chance that Kremer starts. That dude has been money in the biggest games. Why wouldn’t we think he won’t do the same in the playoffs?

[e16bball]

I kinda like the idea of packaging Means and Kremer together. You don’t overexpose Means — which has been a little bit of an issue as he’s gone deeper into games — and I think it would give them two pretty different looks to deal with. Hopefully don’t let them get comfortable.

Have Means pitch to about 15 batters (essentially get through Nathaniel Lowe’s second AB) and then have Kremer take over from there. That should hopefully get you deep enough into the game that you can start playing mix and match with our higher-end relievers.

 

[spiritof66]

1 hour ago, dtk9119 said:

Bad decision IMO. Means better for game 2 bc he's a fly ball pitcher w the wall. Now he's pushed to game 3 likely in TX in a much smaller ballpark. Sure hope we're up 2 0 headed to TX.

I agree with that. Thecombination of a left-handed fly ball pitcher and a slugging opponent looks much better at home than in Arlington. But I can see how other factors, including nuggets from scouting the Rangers that we'll never know about, would overcome that one. 

[Brooks The Great]

1 hour ago, baltfan said:

Also they may want to have Grayson available for an inning out of the pen in Game 5 if necessary.  He would probably be pumping 101. 

This is exactly why it was the best move to start Grayson Game 2. I'm really happy with Hyde and Elias' decisions for the first 3 starters.

[dzorange]

54 minutes ago, e16bball said:

I kinda like the idea of packaging Means and Kremer together. You don’t overexpose Means — which has been a little bit of an issue as he’s gone deeper into games — and I think it would give them two pretty different looks to deal with. Hopefully don’t let them get comfortable.

Have Means pitch to about 15 batters (essentially get through Nathaniel Lowe’s second AB) and then have Kremer take over from there. That should hopefully get you deep enough into the game that you can start playing mix and match with our higher-end relievers.

 

I could absolutely see the O’s doing a “bullpen” game in 3 and/or 4 and using the likes of Means, Kremer and/or Gibson one time through the order or so. Even Wells, perhaps.

Edited October 6, 2023 by dzorange

[Frobby]

Both these pitchers were awesome the entire second half of the season.  I’m looking forward to seeing how they handle the pressure of pitching in the playoffs.   I have a lot of confidence in both of them.  

For those worried about how Means might do in Arlington, I suggest you check out the only start he’s made there.  7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K’s.   Works for me!
 

[Jim'sKid26]

3 hours ago, SteveA said:

So does ours, probably moreso.

I would have started Means in game 2 but I can see points on both sides.   While I disagree with the decison I don't think it is a horrible one.

Not sure you want the rookie, a Texas native, to start his first playoff game in Texas. Let him have fun in Texas with all of his family and friends at the game when he's not pitching.

[scarey1999]

3 minutes ago, Jim'sKid26 said:

Not sure you want the rookie, a Texas native, to start his first playoff game in Texas. Let him have fun in Texas with all of his family and friends at the game when he's not pitching.

Bingo. The vet Means should get the road start. This lets Grayson get the boost from the home crowd support. 

We should trust Hyde. He’s given us little to doubt him, pulling almost all the right strings so far. 

[purplepittabread88]

Is it allowed to just say you are starting means and through him out to get rhps in the lineup and switch to dean?

[rm5678]

8 minutes ago, purplepittabread88 said:

Is it allowed to just say you are starting means and through him out to get rhps in the lineup and switch to dean?

The Rays use openers all the time, so yes that would be allowed.

[waroriole]

Hard to argue with the choice. They’ve both been outstanding in the 2nd half. They give us a good chance to win both games.