Seven innings and seven ground balls is a good sign? I'll call it a good start, but how was his fastball? Did he fan anybody?

Brian has a hill to climb and I'm glad he is beginning the process.

...............................................................................................
Jeff Z's reply: Yeah, when you couple it with 8 strikeouts, it certainly is a good sign. As I mentioned in the post, I wasn't there so I haven't had a chance to ask anybody about velo and stuff. It's obvious that Brian has a long way to go, but you have to start somewhere and this was that outing was: a start - no more, no less.

Jeff:

Good to hear. Coupled with the Hardy extension and that rare bird of an O's win, it's the best day we've had in some time.

Awaiting news on his velocity. We all know that's the real important stat.

Kenny

I caught the game tonight and other than a few hard hit balls early, he settle down and looked pretty good, especially his breaking balls. I think the hardest I saw was 91, be he seemed to have good command and got the ground ball when he needed it. I counted 3 DPs. It definitely seemed like he was above the competition. Hopefully he can build on that outing and be back in Baltimore soon.

...............................................................................................
Jeff Z's reply: Thanks for the report, Mike.

Jeff, a question on a different subject: Dlyan Bundy.

If Dlyan Bundy does not come off asking for the moon and the stars in his deal (which is a possibility given what has happened to the O's vaunted pitching staff), would the failure to sign Bundy be a proxy for the end of Joe Jordan's reign?

That is to say, if the O's have seen enough of Jordan's scouting department and intend to start over, don't they decide to take a pass on a talented but expensive and young thrower that Jordan has been so closely associated with?

...............................................................................................
Jeff Z's reply: I think the decision is close to having been made and Bundy's status won't have that much to say about it. If they don't sign Bundy, it's not going to be because the O's don't want to. It's going to be because Bundy's demands were never reasonable.

thank goodness for matusz he still has a long way togo but hopefully he will be back up before the seasons over! Simone pitched great and thankyou for signing jj to a long term deal glad he wants to stick around awhile

That's at least a confidence though I'm more interested where his fastball was sitting around. It's a bit annoying how Delmarva, Frederick, Bowie are all close by but Norfolk is a 4 hour drive away.

Jeff,
I watched Matusz pitch last night. If he hit 91 it was once or twice, but that's better than 86. He threw a ton of curve balls and change ups against which the AAA hitters were overmatched. Almost all his K's were on curveballs.

His command was great thru 5, and then got a little shaky. He looked out of gas at 80 pitches. Progress but don't expect him back anytime soon.

Hey nice job by Andino and Atkins already today. Another easy out at 2B blown because Andino has no idea how to position himself forba throw. Atkins gives them no opportunity to win, he simply can't be the only option at this point.

Jeff,

Does your comment about Jordan mean you think they are close to letting him go?

...............................................................................................
Jeff Z's reply: I expect there to be some front office changes in the offseason and Jordan's in the final year of his contract. Especially if Andy goes, I could see several executives either deciding to go elsewhere or being let go.

This is disturbing:

Jeff Z's reply: If they don't sign Bundy, it's not going to be because the O's don't want to. It's going to be because Bundy's demands were never reasonable.

How come other organizations sign the Jered Weavers and Strasburgs?

I can't imagine the O's NOT signing him. If they don't, the fanbase will dwindle even more.

...............................................................................................
Jeff Z's reply: Didn't mean it to be disturbing Hal, but at this point, Bundy is contending that he wants a $30 million bonus. No way he gets way more than what Strasburg got. I understand all it is is posturing right now, but obviously the Orioles aren't going to give him a $30 milliion contract. No team in the big leagues who.

" I think the decision is close to having been made and Bundy's status won't have that much to say about it. "

Reading betw the lines that's hopeful news.

Jeff, think many fans may be curious about the following. I realize that's early for the 2012 draft. How good is next yrs draft at the top (top 4-6) ? Or is it a quantity over quality year ?

How good of a draft is it to be lousy ?

Hopefully, it's not the equivalent of a Kwame Brown draft !!

Unfortunately, we still have to develop the draftees.

..............................................................................................
Jeff Z's reply: Sorry Dave, I haven't gotten to that point yet. I have my hands full with the current team and their current draft picks.

Jeff,

I get to watch the Braves alot living in the Atl area. Why do the Braves have so much success developing pitchers and the O's seem to struggle. Is the time to look at the development program and maybe steal some development people from the Braves orgainzation?