A lot rides on the success of Chris Tillman for the Baltimore Orioles and the young pitcher will start today against the Blue Jays. The Orioles have a beat up bullpen and their starting rotation has struggled with injury, ineffectiveness and not had decent run support even when they have had good outings. A successful start by Tillman can provide a respite to the battered bullpen and give beleaguered Manager Dave Tremblay a bit of breathing room to manage the late innings where frequently the bullpen has given up a large number of runs. Chris who was 5-5 at Norfolk with a 3.12 ERA and strikeout rate of 7.3 per nine innings work has matured since last season and from where I sit behind home plate does not lose his composure and pitches out of situations that last year were trouble for him. He has improved throughout the season and pitched a no hitter against the Gwinnett Braves. I expect that Chris will do well in Baltimore but remind people that he is but one part of what needs to happen to help the Orioles regain respectability in the league.
Hopefully Chris will be one of the answers for the struggling Orioles who with a 15-32 record sit in the Marianas Trench of the Major Leagues even surpassed by the likes to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
I have my doubts at how long Dave Tremblay can remain as skipper of the Orioles and with the season headed toward what could be the worst year in the history of the Orioles something will have to be done soon to reverse the tide and return the Orioles to a modicum of respectability.
The promotion of Tillman to the Orioles is not a silver bullet but hopefully Chris will overcome the hurdles of poor run support to help the Orioles pitching staff right itself.
Peace, Padre Steve+
The Inglorius Padre Steve's World 