Friday, February 27, 2009

Spring Training Update

The Orioles are 1-2 after 3 exhibition games, but that doesn't really matter. With the starting lineup pretty much locked and mostly a struggle for the last 2 bench spots, I'm more concerned with the starting rotation.

Brad Hennessey, the guy I bashed in my last post, lasted only 1 1/3 innings starting the O's first game. He left with a minor injury after allowing 2 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks. He didn't strike anyone out. While it's too early to count anyone out, this should be an indicator to the O's that Hennessey doesn't have what it takes to be a contributor in this organization. He was followed by Chris Waters, who also struggled (1 2/3 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 K), David Pauley (only 1/3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 0 K), and Brian Bass (2 IP, 4 H, 2 runs only 1 earned, 2 K). Waters is an aging minor leaguer who struggled with the team last year but still has an outside chance. While he didn't walk anyone, he also only got one guy out. Bass is basically an older version of Hennessey and Waters, and allowed 4 hits in 2 innings.

Danys Baez (my other nemesis) started the second game and was roughed up in his only inning, in which he walked 3, gave up 1 hit, and allowed 2 runs. Hopefully, the O's realize that he's not worth their time or the money they're paying him. Matt Albers did follow up with 2 perfect innings and he added a strikeout. It's good to see him start well after his injury.

Koji Uehara made his highly anticipated debut in the third game, striking out 3, allowing a hit, a walk, and no runs in two innings. Mark Hendrickson didn't fare so well, giving up 3 runs (1 earned) off of 5 hits and a walk over 2 innings. Hayden Penn (shout out to Alexis!) struck out 3 and allowed 2 hits in 2 scoreless innings.

My conservative outlook: Hennessey, Baez, Waters, Bass, and Hendrickson are too hittable and don't have good enough stuff to be major league starters. If they don't improve soon, the O's should move on. Pauley I'm rooting for, but he has to prove that he's different from the 5 I just mentioned. 5 hits in 1/3 of an inning is pretty horrific. Uehara, Albers, and Penn all did well and are establishing themselves early on.

2 comments:

ali said...

Thanks for the shout out...

But most of all, I just wanted to give Hayden Penn his own shout out for a job well done today, and Koji too!

Go O's!

Matthew Hoyt said...

Sweet, I like the looks of those three you mentions in addition to Guthrie and Hill.

Nothing special, but at least it's not terrible. There's a bit of potential, which I like, and I have hope that their minor league system will produce some depth (Read: inevitable replacements).