Pregame Dave
Manager Dave Trembley spent part of his pregame news briefing explaining why he will no longer give daily updates on the starting rotation.
"In all likelihood, I'm not going to name the starting five until the camp is over,'' Trembley said. "Good or bad, I'm not going to answer whether somebody is in or out after somebody makes a start."
That's probably a good policy, since the situation seems to change by the day. Trembley confirmed that Hayden Penn will start Tuesday's exhibition game and Mark Hendrickson will go to Fort Myers to start a minor league game on Wednesday. Read into that what you will.
Gregg Zaun remains questionable the day after he was scratched from the lineup in Jupiter, Fla., with a sore elbow. Trembley said he doesn't know when Zaun will be able to play again, but said Gregg has assured him he'll be ready to go on Opening Day. So, for the moment, you can stop fantasizing about Matt Wieters being forced onto the major league roster early.
Though backup catcher candidates Robby Hammock and Chad Moeller will start the next couple of games, their performance during the final days of camp probably won't have a big impact on their chances of making the club.
"They are what they are,'' said Trembley, who will choose between them based on the needs of the club.
It's possible that both end up making the team on Opening Day if Zaun needs to start the season on the disabled list, though no one is really pondering that possibility yet.
The whole 12-man vs. 13-man pitching staff issue might be decided tomorrow. Trembley said he's going to have "a very strong cup of coffee" and meet with pitching coach Rick Kranitz to discuss the best way to handle the situation. I'm going to guess they end up with 12 pitchers on Opening Day, with somebody poised to come up from the minor leagues in case of an emergency.
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Comments
Pete -
Let's hope that cup of coffee is brewed properly. Tony LaRussa could find 13 pitchers to make that situation work ...but the only thing the "best" 13 of these Orioles arms could do for us is increase our frustration level. Get another postition player in the mix ...our only hope is to win a bunch of 9 - 7 games.
Another thought. I don't think the O's will keep Montanez off the roster for long. As soon as someone is willing to give us pitching for one of our end-of-contract guys (Scott, Huff, Mora ....even Pie) things will open up. We just might have to wait for July 31.
Posted by: cj in Manhattan | March 29, 2009 11:50 AM
Pete i can understand if Lew, tony larussa, joe torre, ETC ETC came off cocky and sarcastic at times because there longevity and success has aloowed them to right to be like that. But Dave T hasn't won crap, is a total YES man and becomes down right nasty. He hasn't earned that right at all. I read between the lines when he quotes things from time to time and it seems like nobody in this town ever pulls him up. I use to really like dave t pete but he is a manager that talks out of both sides of his mouth. Bobby knight once said that players can detect a phony better then anybody and in order to be a good manger or coach in any sport you can't let the players know you are a phony. Every camp since dave has been manager he tells the players the best man will win the job and not just hasn't been the case since he has been here.
Posted by: blancione | March 29, 2009 12:40 PM