[外電] Mailbag: What's the deal with No. 5?

看板Orioles作者odyy (終わりなき旅)時間17年前 (2008/04/08 15:11)推噓0(0推 0噓 1→)

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From:http://tinyurl.com/6nwhku --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mailbag: What's the deal with No. 5? Beat reporter Spencer Fordin answers fans' questions By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com I know the Orioles said that they might have to trade for a fifth starter, even before Spring Training began. That being said, how frustrating has it been for Baltimore's president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and manager Dave Trembley that no one really stepped up to claim that spot? In fact, some of the guys that were sent down had posted better numbers than the ones that stuck with the team. -- Chris H., Sarasota, Fla. I don't want to speak for either of those gentlemen, but I'd imagine that Trembley would debate this on two of those points. For one, he'd likely say that Brian Burres stepped up to earn the fifth starter's job and also point out how well Matt Albers appears to fit in the bullpen. Secondly, Trembley may say that the other arms may have been cut, but they're still in the system. Frankly, MacPhail and Trembley have nothing to be frustrated about in the pitching-depth department. Hayden Penn, Garrett Olson and Radhames Liz are all at Triple-A Norfolk battling to be the first contingency plan. Baltimore also has Chorye Spoone and Chris Tillman at Double-A Bowie and a trio of good prospects at Class A Frederick. The Orioles have been stockpiling arms for a few years through the First-Year Player Draft, and they further flooded the farm system with arms via the twin trades of shortstop Miguel Tejada and staff ace Erik Bedard. Some of those arms -- like Chris Ray and Adam Loewen, for instance -- have already broken through to the big leagues. Now, the wait is on for the pitchers to finish up their development curve, a process that's different for virtually every one of them. There's a good chance you'll see Penn, Olson or Liz this season, and it's up to all of them to prepare themselves for their opportunity. As the oft-injured Penn can tell you, it's hard to tell when you'll get another chance. Adam Jones came up as a shortstop. Have the Orioles considered using him there and having Jay Payton or Tike Redman play center field? -- John C., Ocean City, Md. Jones has said himself that he's glad to have the infield in his rearview mirror, and the Orioles are thrilled to have a center fielder with his five-tool potential. Part of the problem was his cannon arm, which often resulted in errant throws from shortstop. Jones can feel free to let loose in the outfield without endangering the fans behind first base. Shortstop is really a gaping hole in the organization, starting in the big leagues and working on down. Both Brandon Fahey and Luis Hernandez can handle the position defensively, but it's an open question as to whether they'll ever be able to hit big league pitching effectively enough to start on a regular basis. This year, they'll get a chance to answer it. Baltimore does have an interesting shortstop prospect in Blake Davis, who opens the year at Double-A Bowie. Davis, a former fourth-round Draft pick, played on a College World Series championship team and was a Class A Carolina League All-Star last year. He met stiff resistance in a brief audition at Double-A last year, though, and will be tested there in 2008. So, Troy Patton has a shoulder injury and subsequently elected to undergo season-ending corrective surgery. Are the O's going to throw him out for choosing to play it safe like they did with Kris Benson last year? -- Nate V., York, Pa. The two situations really have nothing to do with each other, except for the part where the injuries are in the same joint. Patton has a slight tear of his labrum, while Benson had a partially torn rotator cuff. And the former is 22 years old and just starting his career while the latter was 34 and due to make more than $7 million if the Orioles picked up his option. Baltimore didn't really have a choice with Benson -- and didn't really "throw him out." They just elected not to guarantee him a lucrative salary in the year after a major surgery. And so has the rest of the league. Benson recently signed a Minor League contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in an attempt to prove that his shoulder is sound. The Orioles don't have any such daunting decision to make with Patton. He's under their control for the foreseeable future and can recover from his injury at his own pace. The Orioles are hoping that Patton goes right back in the mix with Olson, Penn and Liz next year. But if he needs a year to transition back from injury, they'd understand that too. Pitching is an inherently violent motion, and there's a huge injury risk associated with the craft. That's why the Orioles are gathering safety in numbers with prospects and hoping that they sort themselves out in the Minors. With the Orioles in a rebuilding process, how are the remaining veterans (Kevin Millar, Brian Roberts, Payton, etc.) handling the situation? -- Brian P., East Winthrop, Maine So far, they're handling it great -- but it's easy to be happy when you've won four of your first five games. The team likely won't have many morale problems because of Trembley's communication to each of the players, who know exactly what's expected of them and when they may or may not be in the lineup. So far, everyone's on the same page. Most of Baltimore's veterans have taken on the mentor role without any hesitation, and Trembley has singled out Melvin Mora's work with Hernandez, Chad Bradford and Jamie Walker's willingness to work with the young relievers. Steve Trachsel, back in his second tour of duty with the Orioles, performs a similar duty with the starters. Millar has always been a positive clubhouse influence when he's playing every day, and he's seemed energized by his younger teammates. Roberts, freed from perpetual trade rumors, has opened the season playing his best baseball. Payton seems to know his role and his situation, and he knows he'll carve out more playing time if he hits. The Orioles themselves don't identify as a rebuilding team. Some of them understand why Bedard and Tejada were traded, but they don't see it as a massive overhaul and don't think it means they have to wave the white flag. Rebuilding is only something they think about when they're asked about it by reporters or curious fans. Otherwise, they're there to play ball. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.230.10.116