Troy Patton should get 3-4 more starts, probably in AAA, and when he continues to succeed, the O's should promote him to the starting rotation. He is ready.

Also, it's ridiculous that Matusz is in A ball. He should've started at Bowie. Scouts tend to rate him as the most advanced of our big three pitching prospects and say he is almost major league ready now.

It's one thing to rush your prospects but it is another to move them at a snail's pace.

Reimold will be given a chance with the O's when he's 27 and then they'll say he's too old to be a prospect.

Excellent analysis. MacPhail could have and should have been more agressive (ie; offer more money) to some of the more competent free agent starters during the off-season. MacPhail chose not to. The old saying holds true, you get what you pay for.

Personally, I hope BB holds his spot in the rotation, gives us 5 or 6 decent innings tomorrow and we have something to smile about... BB = Brad Bergesen, not Brian Bass. LOL

I believe the key "X Factor" is the health of Rich Hill. I was ecstatic when I found out that the O's brought him on board to fight for a spot in our suspect rotation. I've watched him since he was coming up with the Cubs, and the kid has electric stuff when he is on, great K/9. Hopefully, Hill gets healthy soon and kicks Eaton out of the rotation. I can deal with Hendrickson as long as he is the #5... He has the potential to throw great games, but, more often than not, it's ugly. That gives us time before Tillman gets the call later in the year.

Let's be realistic O's fans. Guthrie is not the #1 on 90% of the teams in the majors, and Uehara is a good #3. Look forward to similarities to 08 this year, as we score 10 runs a game and lose. Only difference being, last year we didn't give Guthrie run support, this year, we are.

I look forward to watching the team grow and blossom over 09 and into 2010.

The cliche is that hind sight is always 20-20, and I trust McPhail enough to have no problems with his approach. Not all moves will work, and if and when Hill is ready, things might change. Also, what about John Parish. Is he alive and maybe getting ready to return by at least sometime in May? If so, McPhail's moves may still prove to be right.

Parrish is out for the year. Hennessey MAY be back by late May.

no sense rushing any of the quality prospects. by the middle or latter part of next year arrieta, patton, matusz, hill and tillman could all be in the rotation. i look for either or both guthrie and koji to be traded sometime next year for quality propects or a starting 3rd baseman or shortstop. as i write this the red sox just scored their 3rd run of the game in the 2nd inning. if hendrickson goes 5 inning s today it would be a miracle.

I think the problem with the Orioles, not to state the obvious, is quality mature pitchers. When 4/5 of your rotation has less than 3 years of major league experience you fall flat in Sept and October. Our pitchers aren't use to making 35+ starts a year and they fall flat. P.A and company refuse to pay 10M for a single pitcher, yet love to dish out big contracts for over the hill RBI men. We examine pitchers with a fine tooth comb and say this guy has a bad elbow, this guy has a bad shoulder and use those as excuses not to sign on veteran stars. You must have a mix of guys who can fill out a rotation, yes its a gamble, but all great teams have a mix of veteran all-stars and young talent. You can't have just one approach. I say sign Pedro now.

I hate to say it, but if the results are going to be a burned out bullpen and ugly results anyway, then every once in a while you have to say to the starters, "You're going six today, and I don't care if you give up 100 runs." I know it's embarrassing, but what does it really matter if you lose 20-5 or 10-5? Save the pen and save the prospects.

I agree 100 percent with about 84 percent of everyone's comments. But again I'd like to question the idea of 'getting' a 3B. I really think we hold on to Mora as long as he'll keep on playing a tough position every day (well, except when honestly injured), hit a lot, and play for the team first. The only few guys I'd rather have than him are all really big-ticket players. Given that we'll never have billionaires at every position, and that we seem to be on the way to having Markakis, Roberts, Wieters, a top pitcher or two (God, I hope), and maybe Jones getting top dollar as we develop, Mora looks like a potential multi-year blessing at 3B. An MUP (Most Unproblematic Player).

Our best pitchers are in the minors to save money on their contracts and preserve a better club stance for future free agency issues. The club still must wait on Angelos to make all major decisions; who is even more detached and inaccessible than ever. Nothing has really changed other than the new desperation from the cheerleaders who mistake the random blips of fireflies with the light at the end of the tunnel.

No. This is a now a two team race. A race between Washington and Baltimore to see which club folds or relocates first. That's the only chase we have to look forward to. Nothing has changed with the O's. Not until Angelos and his brood are gone will things ever truly look up... but they just might take us down with 'em.

I think treading lightly with all the "young guns" in the minors is definitely the best way to go at this time. However, Bergeson may be the exception. I thought he looked good enough in spring training to give him a shot at the bigs. Plus, he's a control pitcher, so maybe he'll learn to be a Jamie Moyer type of guy, which I think you can do at the major league level. Also, I believe the previous commenter who mentioned the importance of Rich Hill was right. That's a guy who's proven he can be successful before.

Since it looks like we're going to be the eastern version of the Texas Rangers this year, then we can't afford to waste a left field lineup spot on Felix Pie. Left field is supposed to be manned by someone who's going to give you offensive production, hits, rbi's, homers. We can't afford to run a developmental league here in the majors. Bring back Montanez, who proved at the end of last year and in spring training that he can hit major league pitching, and/or try Reimold. Not only does Pie look weak and lost at the plate, he hasn't looked too good in the field either. We can't afford to keep him in the lineup.

What is it about Pie that makes anyone think this guy is a legitimate major league candidate?
He can't hit, can't play the outfield, and can't throw.
I guess he can run fast, but, if he never gets on base, what does that matter? I understand he was a top prospect in the Cubs' organization, but, the key word is "was".

Here's an idea for the O's pitching woes: Do a deal with the Yankees to get Nick Swisher, and make him the #3 starter....

Would someone please explain why Orioles pitchers, for the few years, are dropping like flies?

I just do not understand how this franchise, which has always been know for its' pitchers, has all of a sudden, been unable to acquire decent, competent pitchers. This was a franchise known for four 20 games winners and numerous Cy Young Award Winners.

Now the Orioles can't even beat their once done for the season pitcher, Kris Benson, now with the Teaxas Rangers.

How much lower can the Orioles pitching go (this is NOT a pun on the minor leaguers)?

I am not a expert baseball man..however I think I know a little bit
about how players feel when they go
on the field and know the chances of
winning are slim or none. The O's have a decent offensive team--a
good defensive team but a terrible
pitching staff. The O's have talent
in the minor leagues...does it make
sense to have the position players
suffer because of the failure of the
pitching staff. I think the O's would bebetter served by bringing up their
best minor league pitchers and go with them.. the position players may
play with more enthusism knowing
that they are helping build a great
pitching staff.
Get rid of the bums on the pitching
staff and go with the young guns

No favors from the big club, because AM did nothing to protect them. Bring them up one by one until you find a fit. Bergessen will be first, Waters second, Patten third and Hernandez fourth. See how they do. The fact is there is no guarantees with the new guys but there is no upside with the old guys.

For some time I thought that Daniel Cabrera was one of the worst pitchers I have ever seen in 35+ years of watching baseball. After today, however, I would like to nominate Radhames Liz for the honor.

I agree completely with the writer. The pitchers in the minors look like they have the potential to be very good but they need more seasoning. That is why I have been questioning MacPhail for some time now on the major league rotation. I have mentioned Pedro but agree he is no longer a 1 or 2 starter and still wants to be paid as such. My point is he or some other unsigned free agents are better than 3 of our 5 starters. Sign some of them and let the youngsters develop. When the Orioles were successful in the past a pitcher was seldom called up before they were sure he was ready.

The O's staff is in a sad state and I can't really see this getting much better with the current rotation. All we can hope for is that the bad days aren't grossly outnumbering the good days.

So many posters have made so many good points and asked good questions that I won't repeat them...hopefully this one has not been asked...what about Pauley? How's he been looking?

Any chance David Pauley is a viable option to crack the rotation?

Get them up! Get anyone up! Hell, anyone is better than this! Kiko Garcia..? Rich Dauer..? Benny Ayala..?! Dave Skaggs!!! I'd bet they can pitch better than this. Clown Shoe-sized ERA's. Did anyone think the 7-0 lead Friday night was safe..?! What was more disappointing is that it came against Guthrie! How quickly we went from "Hey, 6 and 2!" to "When does the NFL Draft start"