I don't know what would be best, but I know that David Hernandez would keep me interested. I pay attention when Bergesen starts because I want to see how he does; I imagine the same for Hernandez. But whatever's best for the kid.

Pete, It might not be Tillman, but it should be Tillman. I totally disagree with that kind of timid thinking by the front office, but I've already beat the drum on that one enough for now.

I guess with you on Hernandez and think he makes the most sense. He's probably pitching best after Tillman.

The club still has options with Hernandez, but not with Pauley, so better to let the latter work on his game more at Norfolk before testing him again IMHO. Waters isn't pitching well enough for a call-up right now and Berken just get a promotion from Bowie, so he's not ready yet.

I think Bass and Eaton switch roles for a few more weeks until Eaton is released after the All-Star Break. The second half of the season will be a preview of 2010 - Wieters, Riemold, Two pitchers. Then the O's may be Huff-less and the Montanez/Pie issue will be clearer. C'mon 2010.

It's got to be Berken or Hernandez. They are 25 and 24 years old. If we want to give our kids a shot, we'd better do it while we can still call them that.

I like Hernandez. His numbers last year in AA and this year at Norfolk are virtual carbon copies of Tillman's. If we're thinking that Tillman's numbers justify calling him up, but we think he's still too young, Hernandez would seem to perfectly fir what we're looking for.

I've got a feeling we may be seeing Berken too before long. Guthrie has me worried. How many times have we seen a loss in velocity and ballooning numbers preceed a bout of surgery or a stint on the DL.

Just a thought, but what about bringing bull pen help and moving Bass to start? He is stretched out a bit and has proven effictive over a 4 inning sting. He was originally thought of as apossible starter. Albers could come back for long relief.

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Pete's reply: Good call on Albers. He's back.

Pete,

do you think there is any chance it may be troy patton. While he was a high level prospect for the Astros he seems to be pitching very well at bowie this season and could be a low risk replacement similar to rich hill

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Pete's reply: No.

Peter,

Love the blog, I live in Syracuse, NY so I'm in Yankees/Mets territory. I come here to get my information on the team and I appreciate the work. Question, these young arms, Tillman, Arrieta, Patton, Matusz, is there a plan to bump each one up at least one level at some point and if so when? Also, any of these other guys you mention, do they have a chance to stick at the big league level to help us contend?

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Pete's reply: I don't really think they'll be big players in the future, but one or two might be in the bullpen.

Interesting weekend shaping up as MLB's 2 worst teams prepare to face off. Both teams can hit but neither team can pitch. Maybe we'll see a bunch of 9-8 games...

Possible subplot: Eaton is released by O's and picked up by desperate Nats, who use him to start against the O's on Sunday!

Or how about this: Nationals give up on Cabrera due to incurable wildness, and dumpster-diving McPhail immediately signs him to a one-year deal as a #2 starter.

I can't see Tillman coming up because of his age unless he is that far in advance. I see either Pauley or Waters because of their major league experience or Hernandez because he is pitching that good. I don't know what their stats are at Norfolk. But the Orioles can not waste their time on Eaton anymore. On a different note, something has to be done about Chris Ray. He can go to Norfolk and straighten his mechanics out and continue building his arm strength. That would leave another roster spot open. Either another pitcher comes up or use it to reactivate Luke Scott. I think they also need to send Luis Montanez down to let him play everyday and work on getting his thumb better.

What about Patton? He is the one with major league experience.

Peter,

This is a little of topic - but I watched the game last night with the Yankee crew (Kay and Singleton) and they were amazed at how hard Jones was hitting the ball - and to both fields. He could easily have had 4 hits last night. I think this kid may surpass expectations - he is so quick to the ball and opening a lot of eyes. Still not sure why nobody notices Markakis---but that's another story. Keep up the great blogging!

Gary

Does it matter? Waters, Pauley,Berken, or Hernandez, whoever they bring up next surely can't be any worse than Eaton was.
I'll be delighted to see whoever it is, anything that gives even a glimmer of hope that this horrible nightmare that is Oriole Baseball these days, may come to an end.
I really don't know how much more of this I can stand as a fan. I've bled orange and black for around 40 years now, but if I don't start to see some hint that this team is getting better soon I don't know if I can hang on much longer.
Please, let whoever they bring up be able to go more than 5 innings with an ERA under 5.

Pete - So what is Tillman's timetable? I think it's Berken who gets called up. I think Ray should be sent down as well and another pitcher brought up.

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Pete's reply: I think Tillman is late in the season at best.

Why not Pedro for the 3million he may be willing to sign for?

Possibilities:

Berken - Probably not enough time in AAA (although more than Bergesen).

Pauley - I've heard he's out of options and would have to be waived, so I think they'll stay away from calling him up for the time being.

Waters - Very strong possibility

Hernandez - The talk seems to be that they view him a reliever long term.

I would guess Waters, though I would prefer Hernandez at this point.

I like to see Mark Hendrickson & Adam Eaton both gone its time for David Hernandez & Jason Berken . Yes Adam Eaton GONE !!!!!!!!!

AMAZING! The anger in these posts about the Os pitching. You didn't see this coming? You're surprised? Cmon everybody, you had to know this could be a historically bad year for the starting pitching. Sad thing is some of there best work has been undone by a supposed strength, the bullpen. And could someone please show me a FA pitcher that the Os didn't get that's tearing it up somewhere else? Not CC, AJ, or even whats his name that went to Arizona, they weren't coming here no matter what. Tim Redmond? He'd would have held the staff together. It's called reality! The Os aren't at the point yet where FA's want to come here. Let's suck up the 109 losses that are coming and thank the Lord we're not nationals fans.

Pete,

I'm with you and the Warehouse, keep alll our good prospects down on the farm! Why would we want any fan interest, coaches getting to see our prospects first hand, encourage the rest of the team were actually trying to be as competitive as possible. Come to think of it, Andy should keep Matt Wieters down until next 9 June and we'll have control for 7 years after that date. But hey, 1.5 Million fans and 100+ losses, bad base running and multiple errors, sure I want the Full Monty Season Ticket plan?

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Pete's reply: Or, bring them up and if they don't respond and are damaged, then fans can enjoy expressing the same "I told you so" outrage for another 11 years. It's just not about making sure the fans are happy. This isn't a movie, where you watch it and it's over and you liked it or you didn't. It's a process, and you're sarcasm suggests you just want to see them keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

Where did all this Patton the MLs come from? Do people not realize he only has limited experience at AAA and is coming off major surgery? A few starts in AA does not make him ready for the grind of ML life.

Why wouldn't Abers just replace Hendrickson? Not enough BP lefties? Bass wasn't bad as a starter, but Hernandez sure has earned a shot.

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Pete's reply: And he might get it. This isn't the move.

Peter,

Did you say you don't think Arrieta, Patton, Tillman and Matusz will be big players in the future...If that is the case then the O's are in trouble. I understand alot of not all minor league pitchers pan out in the majors, but these guys are pretty highly regarded throughout baseball. With the strides the farm has made it's because of these guys, we have two prospects that are position players. If only one or two end up in the pen then are only other choice is to overpay for free agents and we will never be good again. Just wanted to make sure I was understanding you

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Pete's reply: No, I think they all are great prospects, but don't think they will be up anytime soon.

Pete's reply: Or, bring them up and if they don't respond and are damaged, then fans can enjoy expressing the same "I told you so" outrage for another 11 years. It's just not about making sure the fans are happy. This isn't a movie, where you watch it and it's over and you liked it or you didn't. It's a process, and you're sarcasm suggests you just want to see them keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

Yeah that happened in Baltimore before, his name was Babe Ruth, but it seems Boston believed he was ready and as the late Paul Harvey would say, now you know the rest of the story! Furthermore, lets use that phrase DAMAGED, do you mean they might pitch differently in the Bigs or Matt Wieters might have to catch longer games or are the bases further in the big show than in Norfolk! The guy starred for 3 years in the ACC, he's proven he adjusted to the wooden bat! Their Cheap CHEAP, CHEAP or should I say Eaton, and Hendrickson. It's time to end the charade and start playing, managing and General Managing and blogging like we want to be as good as we can be versus playing for the first pick in the next draft! Come on Pete, it's Roch that went to work for MASN!

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Pete's reply: Don't go there. We can disagree without you claiming I'm a house man. And using Babe Ruth as your example kind of defies logic. Of course there are players who were brought up quick and some that weren't, but don't fall into the trap of feeling like you know these guys better than their coaches.

Cush,

Check out Brad Lohse or Mike Hampton, both signed for 1 year and neither more than $1.5? And you said? Andy went super cheap and he got what he paid for and what your paying ML prices to watch!

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Pete's reply: You keep forgetting that those guys didn't want to sign here.

Pete,

How would anyone know until they have a chance? What have our coaches done to demonstrate such loyalty? Hayden Penn ring any bells? Reimhold has rung two and looks better than at least 3 other OF's that were on this roster before him (Freel, Pie and Montanez)! How about all those #1 draft picks that have worked out for us in the past! My friend this isn't an exact science by any stretch of the imagination, but when your as bad as we are, and several players outplayed older more experienced guys in spring training and following that up in AAA what chance is it that your taking? I'm certainly not falling into the trap that because they are in management positions in our front office they know best! George W Bush was elected twice? Reality check, nothing ventured nothing gained! Oh buy the way when your offering the major league minimum to fill the last two spots on your rotation, not too many vetran pitchers with winning records are going to sign with anyone, hence we got Hendrickson and Eaton, two guys who knew they had nothing left and were willing to take any paycheck!
I'm not drinking the orange Kool Aid until this front office and organization starts making baseball decisions in lieu of managing thier financial spreadsheets!

Keith - I know this will come as a terrible shock to you, but Angelos (and MacPhail) knows that the bottom line is stronger when the team is winning. What is finally happening is there is a LONG TERM plan in place to make the team competitive year in and year out by paying attention to the farm system, scouting internationally, and evaluating talent in their own and other organizations. So to think that the only objective is to keep payroll down is absurd.

What is also absurd is to pay more than is necessary for marginal improvement in a year that is transitional in nature. Transitional in that over the course of the year a lot of players will be coming up from the minors and getting a look at the ML level. Since there was virtually no chance of competing for the playoffs this year, there is no need to bring guys up before the collective wisdom of all the baseball staff deems is the right time. Sometimes injuries force changes in plans, as does performance that is unexpected, for better or worse. But just because some guy had a good spring training doesn't mean that he has proven he is ready for the big time if he doesn't have experience above AA. For all we know, the extra time Reimold spent at AAA was exactly what he needed to be really ready when he got his chance in Baltimore.

Or since you said MLB is about entertainment perhaps you feel that fans should be allowed to vote, like on American Idol. Here's an idea - how about if you vote with your wallet? If it bothers you that much, don't pay to go see any games at Camden Yards. Or, you could go to see Jones, Markakis, and Roberts, or the resrugent Baez, Johnson, and Sherrill. By the end of the season you should also be seeing Weiters (who still is not hitting above .300 for the year in AAA) and a couple of more of the young pitchers. It was impatience of the sort that you are exhibiting that led to over a decade of continuing deterioration in the overall quality of the organization. Keep in mind, not every move has to work out perfectly for the overall design to turn out successful.

Mr. Keith Rowe,

Your arguments do not make a lot of sense.

Hayden Penn now has an ERA of about 6.97 with the Marlins. I don't see his coaches as being to blame for the amazing run of bad luck and weird incidents he had during his tenure in Baltimore. He just didn't take advantage of the opportunities he did have.

Last year Luke Scott was the incumbent left fielder and there wasn't much behind him. At the start of this year you had Scott, Pie, Freel, Reimhold, Montanez and Wigginton all competing for the spot. Has it ever occurred to you that competition brings out the best in players? If you are Reimhold and you see them penciling Pie in for "your" spot are you going to fight or are you going to curl up in a ball and cry?. McPhail's job in that case was to make sure that the best possible all around left fielder emerges from that "pack" along with some depth. I doubt he cares whose name is on the back of the jersey.

As for this money issue, what makes you think that Pedro Martinez or any of the other available free agent pitchers out there would have gotten us any more wins or innings than Eaton or Hendrickson? They have been mediocre to bad but the team has also played very poorly behind them at times.

Martinez and those other free agents are sitting on the sidelines for a reason. If you think it just because the Orioles are cheap, why does no one else pick them up?

Eaton cost nothing, he bought the club some time and those miliions you want to spend on mediocrity would be better used elsewhere.

As for whether you know more about baseball than MLB professionals, who knows? Professionals make mistakes too but I bet you'd rather have a qualified dentist taking care of your cavities rather than Peter Schmuck with a Dremel tool after a stay at a Holliday Inn Express.