My Problem with Pitching

The title of this may be a little misleading.  No, I have no problem with the pitching for the first two games of the season.  My problem is with the pitching decisions.

Let’s start with opening night against the Rays. Guthrie got the start and threw 8 scoreless innings with 6 strikeouts and only 3 hits and 1 walk. The ninth inning comes and who is now on the mound? Jim Johnson.  Whenever I see him, I hold my breath. And what do you know? He does not disappoint.  Giving up a home run on his FIRST pitch. I wanted to scream.  Not only did he give the Rays and their fans some momentum to possibly win (luckily they didn’t), but he also ruined Guthrie’s shutout.  As a fan I’m thinking “why would you not let Guthrie pitch 3 more outs! Let him get his complete game and, as it looked like it was going, a shutout on the home opener? Give the O’s the immense confidence that that result would have given them!” But, the coaching staff did not do this. We got the win and by the next day I was over it and ready for the second game.

So, its the bottom of the sixth and Tillman gets the third out.  What’s so special about this? He’s thrown a no hitter so far going into the 7th inning.  What’s my problem with this? Yet again, even earlier on this night, he is taken out and replaced by Accardo (who got the win and also pitched a great game).  Why was Tillman taken out, especially so early, when he hadn’t given up a hit?! I was baffled, I really was.  And I can only think of two reasons: one, his pitch count.  I’m not sure what it was when he was taken out, but maybe it was pretty high.  Two, maybe they just don’t want to tire out the starting pitchers keeping them out for complete, or at least almost complete, games? As a fan, though, that’s disappointing.  But, in the long run, maybe it won’t be.

As I said in my post yesterday, we needed Tillman to pitch really well and he definitely delivered.  Today, it’s Zach Britton’s turn, who was called up to replace Matusz in the rotation.  If he too has a quality start, I know I will definitely start to relax a little as I look forward to the rest of the season.

Go O’s!