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Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Connolly: What do you do with Dylan Bundy?

But if you think that I’ll let a Republican serial killer move in next door…

OK, so Dylan Bundy is better than the other boys at Low-A Delmarva.

The Orioles’ top pick last year (fourth overall) has demolished the competition in the South Atlantic League.

On Monday, he pitched four more scoreless innings – for a total of 17 in his pro career.

In his first four pro games, Bundy has allowed one hit, two walks and struck out 25 batters. The Orioles will stretch him out a little bit more, with at least one more four-inning stint at Delmarva, but one has to assume the 19-year-old will be at High-A Frederick soon enough.

...So here is my thought: Let him dominate and then move. At each level. But resist the temptation to have him appear in a big-league game in 2012. Let that be his goal for 2013.

Sure, it might be OK to get his feet wet in September – I wouldn’t be opposed to that—but he’s a year removed from high school. It’s an exceptionally long season. Let him experience success in year one. And shoot for an appearance with the Orioles at some point in 2013 – if he demonstrates dominance at the appropriate level next year.

Repoz Posted: May 01, 2012 at 09:11 AM | 21 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: minors, orioles

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1. Spivey Posted: May 01, 2012 at 09:33 AM (#4120530)

Here's hoping for the Orioles he pans out better than Matusz and Tillman. Those are pretty beastly numbers though.

2. deputydrew Posted: May 01, 2012 at 10:57 AM (#4120590)

I went back and forth in my Strat league, but took Cespedes over Bundy. The time-to-majors was the deciding factor in Cespedes favor. If I knew Bundy could be up in 2013 (or even 2012) I may have gone the other direction.

3. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:00 AM (#4120598)

I agonized over Bauer vs Bundy in my keeper league prospects draft last summer. I took Bauer. His numbers/reviews aren't as glowing as Bundy's, but he is facing much tougher competition.

4. The Good Face Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:10 AM (#4120612)

You've gotta just give Bundy the ball. He once scored 4 touchdowns in a game for Polk High School...

5. gef the talking mongoose Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:12 AM (#4120616)

With a little bit of flexibility, "What do you do with Dylan Bundy?" can be sung to "What do you do with a drunken sailor?"

6. you got a STEAGLES? you're gonna need a STEAGLES. Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:13 AM (#4120618)

put him in AA. i'm not a fan of wasting a ML caliber talent just because he's a little younger than someone thinks a major league player should be.

with pitchers, you never know if/when a guy is going to blow out his arm and be irreparably damaged, so i'm really just of the opinion that if a guy is good enough, he should be in the majors, regardless of age or experience.

7. Heinie Mantush (Krusty) Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:15 AM (#4120623)

put him in AA. i'm not a fan of wasting a ML caliber talent just because he's a little younger than someone thinks a major league player should be.

with pitchers, you never know if/when a guy is going to blow out his arm and be irreparably damaged, so i'm really just of the opinion that if a guy is good enough, he should be in the majors, regardless of age or experience.

Basically this, except that you have to be careful breaking in a young arm and that can be very hard to do while trying to compete at the big league level. I don't understand why more teams don't use young pitching talent as high end relievers (2-4 IP a shot). Worked for Earl Weaver...

8. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:20 AM (#4120630)

I thought there was good evidence that pitcher arm injuries are significantly more likely to occur before the age of 23 (or so) than after.

This doesn't prescribe specific best practices with a kid who won't be 23 for several more years, but my understanding is that the case for treating younger arms differently than older ones had some empirical backing.

9. Cris E Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:21 AM (#4120632)

put him in AA.

I don't think over-reacting to the Delmon Young news is constructive. On the other hand, "Shave his belly with a rusty razor" was the first thing that came to my mind and I think that's even worse.

10. Gamingboy Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:43 AM (#4120659)

Dylan Bundy is the Matt Wieters of pitchers.

11. rlc Posted: May 01, 2012 at 12:59 PM (#4120761)

I'm not sure why he says "one has to assume the 19-year-old will be at High-A Frederick soon enough" - Duquette told the press how many more starts Bundy will get for Delmarva:

Then shalt thou count to four, no more, no less. Four shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be four. Five shalt thou not count, neither count thou three, excepting that thou then proceed to four. Six is right out.

12. Dan Posted: May 01, 2012 at 01:06 PM (#4120774)

It seems kind of ridiculously conservative to start a pitcher's pro career with 3 inning starts, then 4 inning starts, then 5 inning starts. Then add in the fact that those starts are at least one level below, if not two, where he needs to be to face hitters that will give him any kind of challenge. Why not just have him throw to a bullpen catcher at that point?

13. birdlives is one crazy ninja Posted: May 01, 2012 at 01:27 PM (#4120795)

Bundy is basically on an extended spring training at this point.

Dylan Bundy is the Matt Wieters of pitchers.

Please don't.

14. hokieneer Posted: May 01, 2012 at 03:49 PM (#4120970)

Delmarva doesn't come to town till June 4-6. I hope he stays around for another month.

15. rlc Posted: May 01, 2012 at 06:57 PM (#4121128)

Delmarva doesn't come to town till June 4-6.

How do you feel about the drive to Salem?

16. Howie Menckel Posted: May 01, 2012 at 08:35 PM (#4121238)

"How do you feel about the drive to Salem?"

IT'S A TRAP!

17. Brian

Posted: May 01, 2012 at 09:29 PM (#4121277)

We constantly hear about even very successful pitchers who threw harder in high school/college than they do now and it makes the use 'em when you got 'em theory sound good.

18. ckash Posted: May 01, 2012 at 10:23 PM (#4121312)

Delmarva and Lexington don't play each other at all this season. That seems strange not to play any games against teams in their own league.

19. DKDC Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:11 PM (#4121340)

I have no idea if this is a good plan or not. In fact, I think anyone who has a strong opinion that this is a good or bad idea is basically full of ####.

All I know is that the Orioles have never tried this before, so at least if they #### this guy up, they'll be ####### him up in a different way than all the other guys they ###### up.

20. Dingbat_Charlie

Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:27 PM (#4121349)

God help me, I'm starting to like this Orioles team. Talk about a trap.

21. escabeche Posted: May 01, 2012 at 11:58 PM (#4121368)

Here's hoping for the Orioles he pans out better than Matusz and Tillman

Don't look now, but Matusz has had two good starts in a row.

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Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Connolly: What do you do with Dylan Bundy?

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