Trachsel, Get Back on Track!

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May 9, 6:42 PM

by Pete Sabatini, Baltimore O's Examiner

 

 

The Orioles need to get back on a roll after a rough stretch, going from first in the division to last in just one week.  Thursday night, the offense showed some signs of life, which will have to continue, but some production from our veteran pitcher is a necessity.

Trachsel’s stats are downright embarrassing; 22 runs, 33 hits, and 19 walks in 26 innings for a 7.42 ERA.  Don’t get the wrong impression- this isn’t due to one or even two colossal meltdowns.  This actually required three complete meltdowns and three okay outings. 

He’s desperate for a solid performance after not getting out of the third inning in his last two starts.  A third consecutive collapse in a row might warrant an obligatory 15-day stint on the DL for “Elbow Soreness”, aka crappy play.  We have to start asking, does he have anything left in the tank?

Some people are calling for Trachsel’s outright release, which would be a reasonable action in this situation on most teams.  But for the Orioles, what’s your alternative? 

This starting staff began the season with three youngsters, one long reliever-turned-starter, and one potentially serviceable veteran.  Sure, we’ve gotten surprisingly solid results of late from three of the five, but we’ve had to bring another kid into the rotation in Olson.  

So where do we go if we lose the now hanging-on-by-a-thread veteran?

The likely in-house candidates would be Matt Albers, who Trembley has repeatedly expressed will remain a reliever, or two youngsters in Norfolk.

Radhames Liz and Hayden Penn have been brought up too early in their careers already and are hardly blowing people away so far this season for the Tides.  Liz carries a 0-3 record with a 5.35 ERA, but on the bright side has recorded 34 Ks in 33 innings. 

Penn is performing nominally better with a 5.23 ERA and 2-2 with 41 innings already under his belt, but neither of these kids are ready yet.  Admittedly, I do not watch them throw every week, but reports on the ground aren’t glowing, though both pitchers are carried on the 40-man roster.

What other options are there?  Unless this is the push McPhail needs to get the Roberts deal done or Trembley is willing to sacrifice Albers, Trachsel needs to get his act together and he needs to start doing it tonight.

Interestingly enough, Lance Cormier registered nine starts last year for the Braves though he wasn’t exactly a standout with a 4.89 ERA and 4-5 over the season. 

In any case, Dave and Andy, please don’t make us watch Greg Aquino again.

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