Chris Tillman

[Matt P]

5.2ip 5h 1er 1bb 7k tonight on 96 pitches. Four groundouts to three fly outs so he didn't have the ground ball working as good as he has recently. Once again he wasn't able to get deep in the game but once again the results were good.

It's only a matter of time until he gets a chance in the majors wether it's with the Orioles or another club.

[Rising O's]

None of the crack local reporters has any idea of what is going on with Tillman?

He's better now than he was as a top prospect in 2009 in one very important statistic, ground ball %.

[ofahn]

None of the crack local reporters has any idea of what is going on with Tillman?

He's better now than he was as a top prospect in 2009 in one very important statistic, ground ball %.

Yes, but he can't get out of the sixth inning with less than 100 pitches against AAA hitters. IMO that's NOT a legitimate ML starter.

[TuckerBlair89]

None of the crack local reporters has any idea of what is going on with Tillman?

He's better now than he was as a top prospect in 2009 in one very important statistic, ground ball %.

Yes, but he can't get out of the sixth inning with less than 100 pitches against AAA hitters. IMO that's NOT a legitimate ML starter.

I have a theory though that might not make this as bad. He's getting so many K's down there, which won't happen in the pros (presumably).

[ofahn]

None of the crack local reporters has any idea of what is going on with Tillman?

He's better now than he was as a top prospect in 2009 in one very important statistic, ground ball %.

Yes, but he can't get out of the sixth inning with less than 100 pitches against AAA hitters. IMO that's NOT a legitimate ML starter.

I have a theory though that might not make this as bad. He's getting so many K's down there, which won't happen in the pros (presumably).

Valid point, but it raises two concerns. First, his "success" is based upon less disciplined batters at AAA swinging at pitches that ML batters wouldn't. That doesn't translate well into ML effectiveness.

Second, In an age of 100 pitch limitations a SP must learn how to dispose of a batter in about four pitches to get into the eighth. High K rate pitchers normally don't do that. Combine that with Tillman's history of less than impressive stamina. If he is becoming a strikeout pitcher that needs twenty pitches to get through an inning then, IMO, he profiles as an impact late inning reliever, not a SP.

[dan72]

I like the fact that he has cut back on the walks....I think Tillman does need to focus on trying to be around 15 pitches per inning to go deeper into games. I feel like if he's not good enough to crack our current staff he should have some trade value. Still young, still has upside.
This team needs a corner infielder and an outfielder, hopefully one of the two can fill the clean up spot that Wieters does not deserve to be in.

[Rising O's]

I think he's doing what you want, Ks, ground balls, and low HR rate. Its possible he simply does not have a consistent out pitch causing the inflated pitch count. Jeremy Guthrie was the same way. But he's 24, he can easily master a new pitch, like a splitter, or just improve whatever it is that is working for him now. I just wish we knew what it is that is different.

[Jordan Tuwiner]

I think he's doing what you want, Ks, ground balls, and low HR rate. Its possible he simply does not have a consistent out pitch causing the inflated pitch count. Jeremy Guthrie was the same way. But he's 24, he can easily master a new pitch, like a splitter, or just improve whatever it is that is working for him now. I just wish we knew what it is that is different.

Hearing his changeup is much improved.

[birdwatcher55]

After Saturday, five shutout innings by Tillman would look great Personally I think he is eventually going to be the next Jim Johnson. Just my two cents