AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

[Redacted01]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

Stroman's the opening day starter and Liriano was picked up to be the 6th man so I can see why they did it. It wasn't like he was David Price. If Stroman pitches like he did on opening day, I don't see a problem. I'm sure Gibby will be move early if it isn't looking pretty. Game 3 isn't until Sunday so you've got plenty of time to get your rotation back in order if you use an extra starter.

[SPTO]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

"conventional" has never been a way to describe Gibby so this doesn't surprise me from that perspective. Stroman is going to have a very short leash here considering how the O's have hit him this year but one argument you can make is that Stroman generally steps up big time when he's on the big stage. I expect nothing less from the Stro Show here.

[Majingir]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

Gotta hope so. And hopefully the bats wake up for Stroman pitching too. Even if he struggles, the bats better bail him out, he's the most popular pitching in the clubhouse, so they better have his back 100%.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

I can't even begin to describe how nervous/scared I am for this game. Please win, Orioles.

[DrJones]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

Stroman has a 7.04 ERA vs the Orioles in 4 starts this season.

Unless Liriano's hurt or Gibbons has a death wish, this makes zero sense.

[Redacted01]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

Stroman has a 10.13 ERA vs the Orioles in 4 starts this season.

Unless Liriano's hurt or Gibbons has a death wish, this makes zero sense.

And Tillman is 5-10 with a 5.44 ERA in 24 starts against Toronto. It's not like they're sending someone out there that has an impressive history. He may have been better this year against Toronto, but this is basically the same team he was 0-4 with a 11.72 ERA against last year. I'm expecting double digits for the winner. Possibly the loser too.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

And Tillman is 5-10 with a 5.44 ERA in 24 starts against Toronto. It's not like they're sending someone out there that has an impressive history. He may have been better this year against Toronto, but this is basically the same team he was 0-4 with a 11.72 ERA against last year. I'm expecting double digits for the winner. Possibly the loser too.

Except for the little fact that this years team scored about 130 fewer runs than last year's team. Other than that...

[SPTO]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

Unless Liriano's hurt or Gibbons has a death wish, this makes zero sense.

I feel like this is the case. Here's hoping Stroman can come up huge like he's done in the past in big situations.

[DrJones]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

I feel like this is the case. Here's hoping Stroman can come up huge like he's done in the past in big situations.

I like Stroman, but is there some mountain of evidence for Stroman as a "big-game" pitcher that I'm missing here? If we're ignoring current form and going on pre-2016 performance in "big" games, isn't Liriano still the pick since he's been in this exact scenario before (the 2013 NL Wild Card game vs the Reds) and pitched great?

[SPTO]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

I like Stroman, but is there some mountain of evidence for Stroman as a "big-game" pitcher that I'm missing here? If we're ignoring current form and going on pre-2016 performance in "big" games, isn't Liriano still the pick since he's been in this exact scenario before (the 2013 NL Wild Card game vs the Reds) and pitched great?

I think a lot of it comes down to loyalty by Gibby and the popularity of Stroman in the clubhouse. I'm not saying it's the move i'd make. I've been on record saying that i'd pitch Liriano.

[DrJones]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

I think a lot of it comes down to loyalty by Gibby and the popularity of Stroman in the clubhouse. I'm not saying it's the move i'd make. I've been on record saying that i'd pitch Liriano.

If true, this team needs to be blown to smithereens. This isn't high school.

[Majingir]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

From hearing what Mark Shapiro(Jays president) had to say about the decision to put Stroman in over Liriano, it sounds like a big reason was that they might actually have been planning on using both guys in this game regardless who started. Since Liriano has some more experience coming out of the bullpen, they'll have Stroman start and Liriano pitch in relief.

I could see Stroman going 5+(depending on if/when he gets in trouble) and Liriano taking over afterwards. 40% of Stromans runs are given up when the lineup faces him the 3rd or 4th time in the game. So if he pitches knowing he doesn't need to conserve energy, he's only going 5 or so, might lead to a more productive first 5 innings for him, and then hopefully Jays in good enough position to finish game with Liriano,Cecil,Osuna to shut down O's.

[SPTO]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

From hearing what Mark Shapiro(Jays president) had to say about the decision to put Stroman in over Liriano, it sounds like a big reason was that they might actually have been planning on using both guys in this game regardless who started. Since Liriano has some more experience coming out of the bullpen, they'll have Stroman start and Liriano pitch in relief.

His experience is from 10-11 flipping years ago! Let's also not forget that his one time out of the Jays bullpen was a total wreck. I'd be far more comfortable if they had it switched around but we'll see how it goes.

[Majingir]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

But when he got traded here, he was still willing to go to the bullpen if needed. So I'm sure he's fine with being in bullpen for this one game.

And ya, that Rays series he was horrible out of pen, but Jays in general have sucked vs Rays. Don't forget though just a few days later, he pitched 2 innings of relief vs the Yankees and allowed just 1 baserunner in that stretch, striking out 3. At least this one he has over a day to prepare, knowing full well he's gonna be entering the game in relief.

[Jr.]

Re: AL Wild Card: Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays

Go O's!!!!!!