2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

It's a shame they're going to waste all of that offense by combining it with a AAAA rotation. They have one of the worst rotations in baseball. The Red Sox, Yankees, and Blue Jays are going to eat them alive.

Our starting pitching was horrible last year for sure, but I wouldn't go so far as calling them AAAA players. Tillman and Gonzalez are both better than what they showed last year and I think their stats from '12-'14 would confirm that. Gausman is our best hope at producing a front end starter. Ubaldo and Gallardo (if signed) are slight wild cards, but I have faith that they can at least be serviceable.

Too many what-ifs for my liking (Tilly/Gonzo rebound, Gausman takes next step), but the situation isn't THAT dire, especially if you consider the bullpen which is still elite.

[Master Live 013]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

The stats would confirm that both Tillman and Gonzalez had been outperforming their peripherals and it seems those finally caught up with them.

Gausman is the only real hope in a rotation that otherwise is just bad.

[AC]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

Would legitimately take the Jays' '15 rotation pre-Anthopoulos trying to save his career over this Orioles rotation.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

The stats would confirm that both Tillman and Gonzalez had been outperforming their peripherals and it seems those finally caught up with them.

Gausman is the only real hope in a rotation that otherwise is just bad.

Granted the peripherals aren't pristine, but at the same time, from 12-14 Tillman had a 3.42 ERA in a combined 499.2 innings. That's a pretty large sample size.

[Speedy]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

It's a shame they're going to waste all of that offense by combining it with a AAAA rotation. They have one of the worst rotations in baseball. The Red Sox, Yankees, and Blue Jays are going to eat them alive.

Where's Bundy?

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

Where's Bundy?

He's out of minor league options so he'll be on the roster, but there's no way they'll let him pitch enough innings to be a starter. If everything goes well this year I would imagine he will be in the 2017 rotation. Hopefully Hunter Harvey joins him.

[AC]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

Granted the peripherals aren't pristine, but at the same time, from 12-14 Tillman had a 3.42 ERA in a combined 499.2 innings. That's a pretty large sample size.

Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Cain, etc. DIPS beater until you're not

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

Where's Bundy?

Either in the bullpen or in the operating room. We'll see.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

Jeremy Hellickson, Matt Cain, etc. DIPS beater until you're not

I'm not saying Tilly is an ace. Honestly I would be happy if he just kept the ERA around 3.60-3.80. Same with Gonzalez.

I'm surprised so many people have so many strong, presumably negative attitudes towards the Orioles. I thought they were pretty harmless as far as giving other fans reasons to root against them.

Also, Gallardo deal is done. Now it's 2 guaranteed years with an option.

[AC]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

I mean I strongly dislike the Orioles but that's not really relevant here. I pretty much always argue against guys being DIPSbeaters by any significant amount and I won't buy Tillman being better than a mid 4's ERA guy without the periphs. Same with Hector Santiago.

And the Gallardo thing just screams sketchy.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

I mean I strongly dislike the Orioles but that's not really relevant here. I pretty much always argue against guys being DIPSbeaters by any significant amount and I won't buy Tillman being better than a mid 4's ERA guy without the periphs. Same with Hector Santiago.

And the Gallardo thing just screams sketchy.

Santiago I agree with. His HR/9 is extreme though. Tillman gives up homers, but not like that. Santiago also out pitched his FIP by a full run, which is absurd.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

I'm not saying Tilly is an ace. Honestly I would be happy if he just kept the ERA around 3.60-3.80. Same with Gonzalez.

I'm surprised so many people have so many strong, presumably negative attitudes towards the Orioles. I thought they were pretty harmless as far as giving other fans reasons to root against them.

Also, Gallardo deal is done. Now it's 2 guaranteed years with an option.

Not sure who you mean this towards, but my predicting that the Orioles will have a bad rotation (again) is not the same thing as my wanting them to. As a Cubs fan, I have no leanings for or against Baltimore.

[AC]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

Santiago I agree with. His HR/9 is extreme though. Tillman gives up homers, but not like that. Santiago also out pitched his FIP by a full run, which is absurd.

So did Chris Tillman in 2014.

There are some guys I buy though. Extreme FB% guys tend to outperform their xFIP because, through launch angles, they get steeper, softer fly balls/pop ups. See: Chris Young.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

Not sure who you mean this towards, but my predicting that the Orioles will have a bad rotation (again) is not the same thing as my wanting them to. As a Cubs fan, I have no leanings for or against Baltimore.

I guess I've become defensive after reading Rosenthal's garbage today. My bad.

[SPTO]

Re: 2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

Jays sign OF Domonic Brown to an MiLB contract. He's expected to compete for the 4th OF job on the big club.