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The Orioles' two youngest pitchers, Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz, will make only two or three more starts before being shut down for the remainder of the season in an attempt to limit the rookies' workload.
"How exactly it is going to map out I couldn't tell you that because it's dependent on how their starts go between now and then," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "But, in general, I could see them going a couple of weeks in September, and that's about it."
The duo will be joining Brad Bergesen on the sideline. MacPhail said Monday that Bergesen, who has been out since July 31 with a leg bruise, will not pitch again this year. Bergesen is still rehabilitating at the club's minor league complex in Sarasota, Fla.
"I think we're going to continue to let him do what he wants to do to get in shape, but he will not be here," MacPhail said.
The club's other rookie starters, Jason Berken and David Hernandez, will likely continue to pitch in the big leagues through the end of the season.
"We've got an innings range that we're looking at it," MacPhail said. "It's really a reflection of how hard they have to work and how they're feeling. All innings aren't created equal."
Berken, 25, has thrown 145 or more innings in each of his past two minor league seasons and has logged 116 2/3 this year for the Orioles and Triple-A Norfolk, so his current workload is not a concern.
Hernandez, 24, has thrown 140 or more innings in each of his past three seasons and is at 131 2/3 this year with the Orioles and Norfolk.
"I think Hernandez is going to be OK," MacPhail said. "I think he should be able to get through it unless he really starts to labor or complain of something."
Tillman, 21, threw 135 2/3 innings last year in 28 starts at Double-A Bowie. This year, he has logged 137 innings in 25 starts between Norfolk and the Orioles.
Matusz, 22, threw 26 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League after pitching in 105 innings for the University of San Diego in 2008. This year, he has thrown a combined 143 2/3 innings at Single-A Frederick, Bowie and with the Orioles.
To fill their spots in the rotation, the Orioles could recall starters Chris Lambert and Chris Waters from Norfolk next week.
Neither Matusz nor Tillman has heard anything official from the team, but both said they would like to finish September in the rotation.
"It's been a long year for both of us, I know that," Matusz said. "But I also know that both of us work very hard during the week to stay healthy."
Tillman said he feels stronger now than he did at this time last year, partly because he was trying so hard in 2008 to impress his new organization. He's been more relaxed this year.
"At the end of last year, I felt real fatigued," Tillman said. "But right now, I feel 100 percent. I feel like it is midseason right now."
Sarfate (0-0 with a 6.39 ERA in eight games) has been on the disabled list since May 3 with a circulatory condition in his hand.
Albers pitched 42 games for the Orioles this season, while Castillo appeared in four games.
Fiorentino, 26, last played with the Orioles in 2006. He was in the majors for two games last year with the Oakland Athletics.
Orioles manager Dave Trembley said a few more players will be promoted once the minor league season ends Sept. 7.
"The first day in Boston, which is Sept. 8, we'll get some more players, and I would say it probably will be another three or four," Trembley said.
"How exactly it is going to map out I couldn't tell you that because it's dependent on how their starts go between now and then," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "But, in general, I could see them going a couple of weeks in September, and that's about it."
The duo will be joining Brad Bergesen on the sideline. MacPhail said Monday that Bergesen, who has been out since July 31 with a leg bruise, will not pitch again this year. Bergesen is still rehabilitating at the club's minor league complex in Sarasota, Fla.
"I think we're going to continue to let him do what he wants to do to get in shape, but he will not be here," MacPhail said.
The club's other rookie starters, Jason Berken and David Hernandez, will likely continue to pitch in the big leagues through the end of the season.
"We've got an innings range that we're looking at it," MacPhail said. "It's really a reflection of how hard they have to work and how they're feeling. All innings aren't created equal."
Berken, 25, has thrown 145 or more innings in each of his past two minor league seasons and has logged 116 2/3 this year for the Orioles and Triple-A Norfolk, so his current workload is not a concern.
Hernandez, 24, has thrown 140 or more innings in each of his past three seasons and is at 131 2/3 this year with the Orioles and Norfolk.
"I think Hernandez is going to be OK," MacPhail said. "I think he should be able to get through it unless he really starts to labor or complain of something."
Tillman, 21, threw 135 2/3 innings last year in 28 starts at Double-A Bowie. This year, he has logged 137 innings in 25 starts between Norfolk and the Orioles.
Matusz, 22, threw 26 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League after pitching in 105 innings for the University of San Diego in 2008. This year, he has thrown a combined 143 2/3 innings at Single-A Frederick, Bowie and with the Orioles.
To fill their spots in the rotation, the Orioles could recall starters Chris Lambert and Chris Waters from Norfolk next week.
Neither Matusz nor Tillman has heard anything official from the team, but both said they would like to finish September in the rotation.
"It's been a long year for both of us, I know that," Matusz said. "But I also know that both of us work very hard during the week to stay healthy."
Tillman said he feels stronger now than he did at this time last year, partly because he was trying so hard in 2008 to impress his new organization. He's been more relaxed this year.
"At the end of last year, I felt real fatigued," Tillman said. "But right now, I feel 100 percent. I feel like it is midseason right now."
Four call-ups coming
When rosters expand today, the Orioles are expected to recall Norfolk outfielder Jeff Fiorentino and three Tides relievers who were with the Orioles earlier this year: left-hander Alberto Castillo and right-handers Matt Albers and Dennis Sarfate.Sarfate (0-0 with a 6.39 ERA in eight games) has been on the disabled list since May 3 with a circulatory condition in his hand.
Albers pitched 42 games for the Orioles this season, while Castillo appeared in four games.
Fiorentino, 26, last played with the Orioles in 2006. He was in the majors for two games last year with the Oakland Athletics.
Orioles manager Dave Trembley said a few more players will be promoted once the minor league season ends Sept. 7.
"The first day in Boston, which is Sept. 8, we'll get some more players, and I would say it probably will be another three or four," Trembley said.
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alex rod is as far from hero status as one can get.shame on any parent for letting his or her kid get near him.we are all of us diminished in his presence.
lyric8th (09/01/2009, 1:49 PM )