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Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Orioles’ Elias on the demotions, futures of Hall, Rodriguez

A quiet Orioles spring training ended with some surprising news on Monday. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias wanted to keep the team’s No. 1 pitching prospect, Grayson Rodriguez, with the Orioles but his performance was too uneven.

Rodriguez goes to Triple-A Norfolk, where the Orioles also sent their No. 2 pitching prospect DL Hall, on Sunday.

Hall’s demotion wasn’t a surprise, but Rodriguez’s was….

Elias rejected the idea that the Orioles are manipulating the service time of Hall and Rodriguez to give them more seasons of club control.

“I really get frustrated with the topic, too,” Elias said. “We have five starting pitchers here, all of them [with] established major league success as starting pitchers. They had good camps, better camps than these guys.

“It really wasn’t tough to decide on that last rotation spot through the lens of ‘who did we want to help us win these games?’ At least the first five games of the season. We’ll take it from there after those games. Once you get past that, ‘OK, do we want to put these guys in the bullpen?’ The answer is no. We optioned them.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: March 28, 2023 at 12:04 PM | 8 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. DCA Posted: March 28, 2023 at 12:55 PM (#6121602)

Grayson gave up 15 runs in 15 spring innings. He missed 3 months last year and wasn't as good after returning. I think starting him in AAA is the right move, and it might also help manage his workload, his career high in innings is 103 in 2021.

2. sotapop Posted: March 28, 2023 at 02:51 PM (#6121608)

Agreed. I saw Hall pitch on Saturday, the night before he got demoted, and while he looked OK, he seemed to have trouble putting people away. A lot of deep counts, 49 pitches to get through 2.1 innings. Struck out three guys, but put four on base, and at that point in the game he was facing mostly the Pirates' minor leaguers, so... yeah.

3. Walt Davis Posted: March 28, 2023 at 03:33 PM (#6121612)

Not that it's necessarily applicable but back when Kerry Wood was still a prospect and the Cubs optioned him with the "he'll be great but we've got 5 better guys right now..." excuse, an opposing manager (publicly!) said something like "if they've got 5 guys better than him, they're winning the World Series." That was the 1998 Cubs who did win 90 games. The Cubs broke camp with Kevin Tapani, Mark Clark, Geremi Gonzalez, Steve Trachsel and swingman Terry Mulholland. Wood was up to start the 12th game of the year, struck out 20 Astros a few starts later, put up a 129 ERA+ and was 3rd on the team in WAR (and broke). Gonzalez was below replacement that year but the other guys were all good, but not Wood good.

4. Walt Davis Posted: March 28, 2023 at 03:43 PM (#6121616)

Not an O's expert but who are these "established" starters? I see Means (healthy?) and Kyle Gibson who is certainly "established," not so sure about "successful." Dean Kremer with 198 career innings with a 92 ERA+? Austin Voth with 265 innings of 87 ERA+? Kyle Braddish with 118 IP of 82 ERA+? Tyler Wells with 161 IP of 100 ERA+? Am I missing somebody on their 40-man?

I'm not really questioning the decision -- no info, no opinion -- but that's not an impressive collection of SPs.

5. sotapop Posted: March 28, 2023 at 03:57 PM (#6121619)

Walt - you've almost got it, four out of five anyway. MLB.com's writer says the starters will be Kyle Gibson, Dean Kremer, Cole Irvin, Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells. Kremer looked pretty strong late last season when I saw him pitch, and I think he's the best of the bunch. Haven't seen the others in person, but on paper, no, they're not particularly impressive. ... Also, I just read a story that said Hall's 2.1 innings was his longest stint of the spring, so he's really not there yet.

6. Walt Davis Posted: March 28, 2023 at 08:28 PM (#6121651)

Irvin has at least made it to 405 career IP ... of a 91 ERA+. I take it that means Means is not healthy (sorry, can't even claim that's a pun). So a collection of 5 #4-5 SPs mostly with little track record. Which again if that's what you got that's what you got and doesn't mean Hall and Rodriguez don't need more time in the minors. I hadn't realized how thin the O's rotation is. Adley and Gunnar and pray for thunder ... wait, that doesn't work.

7. GregD Posted: March 28, 2023 at 11:48 PM (#6121668)

Irvin the last two years is averaging 180 innings 95 ERA+ 1.7 Win Shares. Fine distinction but I’d guess that’s closer to a number three. The guys better than him who can throw those innings are top of the rotation. The guys his results usually don’t have the innings. That said his stats have been helped by Oakland ballpark and we will see if ERA+ picks that up to the full extent

8. shoelesjoe Posted: March 28, 2023 at 11:55 PM (#6121669)

I take it that means Means is not healthy

He had TJS last year, probably won't be back in the rotation till mid summer.

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Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Orioles’ Elias on the demotions, futures of Hall, Rodriguez

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