Who starts in wild card?

Dick_Pole · October 3, 2016

Let's hope Gibbons is reading this thread so all of these facts are known.

Well Shapiro is leading the ship now so I would expect this information will be relayed to Gibbons. f***, I just really wish he wasn't in charge of these decisions.

FrozenRopes · October 3, 2016

The O's have an 83 wRC+ against lefties, 27th in MLB

They have a 107 wRC+ against righties, 5th in MLB

Liriano boys, Liriano.

Liriano

Cecil

Loup

Osuna

It is...

Terminator · October 3, 2016

I think the deciding factor for me is Stroman offers the additional satisfaction of being able to watch Keith Law's twitter feed, if he goes out and throws a gem.

Why? Law doesn't like Stroman?

Dick_Pole · October 3, 2016

I think the deciding factor for me is Stroman offers the additional satisfaction of being able to watch Keith Law's twitter feed, if he goes out and throws a gem.

We always have Texas for that. With the wild card game one-and-done you need to be thinking like an NFL football coach, maximizing your chances of winning for just this one game. Gibbons needs to be pulling some Bill Belichick s*** right here.

JoeCarter · October 3, 2016

The Liriano love is giving me an aneurysm. Look at it this way: if someone had asked you 10 days ago whether you'd start Liriano in a WC game, you'd have punched him in the spine, laughed heartily, then punched him in the spine again. If you deny that, then you're suffering from revisionist history to an absurd degree. You would never have considered Liriano 10 days ago. No one would have.

And given the truth of the preceding statement, what you're acknowledging is that you're making this decision based on his last two (admittedly excellent) starts. We shouldn't be making this decision based on some sort of 'hot hand' theory that stats tells us doesn't even exist. Stroman's a better pitcher plain and simple. Yes, the O's have hit lefties worse this year (fwiw last year their RHP/LHP split was closer to even among the guys who are still on their team), but for me that doesn't justify rolling with a significantly inferior pitcher.

Stangstag · October 3, 2016

The Liriano love is giving me an aneurysm. Look at it this way: if someone had asked you 10 days ago whether you'd start Liriano in a WC game, you'd have punched him in the spine, laughed heartily, then punched him in the spine again. If you deny that, then you're suffering from revisionist history to an absurd degree. You would never have considered Liriano 10 days ago. No one would have.

And given the truth of the preceding statement, what you're acknowledging is that you're making this decision based on his last two (admittedly excellent) starts. We shouldn't be making this decision based on some sort of 'hot hand' theory that stats tells us doesn't even exist. Stroman's a better pitcher plain and simple. Yes, the O's have hit lefties worse this year (fwiw last year their RHP/LHP split was closer to even among the guys who are still on their team), but for me that doesn't justify rolling with a significantly inferior pitcher.

The Sanchez love is giving me an aneurysm. Look at it this way: if someone had asked you 200 days ago whether you'd start Sanchez in a WC game, you'd have punched him in the spine, laughed heartily, then punched him in the spine again. If you deny that, then you're suffering from revisionist history to an absurd degree. You would never have considered Sanchez 200 days ago. No one would have.

RealAccountant · October 3, 2016

Stroman is not a better pitcher than Liriano. Liriano is just filthy. Stroman is going to get hit hard by the O's they see him very well.

Orioles are the strongest against right handed pitchers with average speeds who don't have overwhelming strikeout stuff.

They are the weakest against left handers who throw hard sliders

It's a no.brianer what the right decision is.

King · October 3, 2016

Can't wait for this game.

ChrisS · October 3, 2016

The Liriano love is giving me an aneurysm. Look at it this way: if someone had asked you 10 days ago whether you'd start Liriano in a WC game, you'd have punched him in the spine, laughed heartily, then punched him in the spine again. If you deny that, then you're suffering from revisionist history to an absurd degree. You would never have considered Liriano 10 days ago. No one would have.

And given the truth of the preceding statement, what you're acknowledging is that you're making this decision based on his last two (admittedly excellent) starts. We shouldn't be making this decision based on some sort of 'hot hand' theory that stats tells us doesn't even exist. Stroman's a better pitcher plain and simple. Yes, the O's have hit lefties worse this year (fwiw last year their RHP/LHP split was closer to even among the guys who are still on their team), but for me that doesn't justify rolling with a significantly inferior pitcher.

Stroman has been poor in his last 3 starts vs Baltimore.

Liriano shut them down just a week ago.

Liriano has been great in his past several starts, good K/9, low BB rate.

Baltimore is garbage vs LHP

It could backfire greatly but it looks like it might present the better probability of winning.

JoeCarter · October 3, 2016

Here, let me make this easy for all you Liriano nut-hugging clown-shoes. You're advocating starting Pitcher #1 below over Pitcher #2 in a must-win elimination game. Are you f***ing mental?

http://i.imgur.com/h0xjwsB.jpg

ChrisS · October 3, 2016

Here, let me make this easy for all you Liriano nut-hugging clown-shoes. You're advocating starting Pitcher #1 below over Pitcher #2 in a must-win elimination game. Are you f***ing mental?

http://i.imgur.com/h0xjwsB.jpg

He has had quite the resurgence since coming to Toronto and Stroman has been bad against the Orioles whom are statistically way better vs RHP.

Stroman has an 8.44 ERA, 27 H, 9 K in 16 IP vs the Os the last 3 starts.

Governator · October 3, 2016

Here, let me make this easy for all you Liriano nut-hugging clown-shoes. You're advocating starting Pitcher #1 below over Pitcher #2 in a must-win elimination game. Are you f***ing mental?

http://i.imgur.com/h0xjwsB.jpg

Why should I give a s*** how Liriano pitched for the Pirates in April when considering a 1 game option in October... that's f***ing mental.

glory · October 3, 2016

Is there any reason to believe that a man who makes decisions based on his gut will go with anyone other than Stroman?

Liriano was warming up yesterday in the 8th for no reason so maybe that's one clue.

Bobthe4th · October 3, 2016

I originally voted for Happ, now leaning towards Liriano on a very short leash. Stroman to come in as long relief if Liriano gets into trouble. Of course you could easily flip the 2 instead and start with Stroman.

el duque · October 3, 2016

I would go with the best, Happ. He has been our best pitcher this year and as a lefty should dominate the Orioles. Stroman has not been good against the Orioles and Liriano is not a young fresh arm.

Sammy225 · October 3, 2016

I would go with the best, Happ. He has been our best pitcher this year and as a lefty should dominate the Orioles. Stroman has not been good against the Orioles and Liriano is not a young fresh arm.

Happ on 2 days rest is never going to HAPPen

Dr. Dinger · October 3, 2016

I personally can't really trust Liriano with such a huge game, given his long history of control problems and propensity for getting shelled. I'm glad he's pitching well lately, but Stroman has been our best pitcher over a multi-year period and has proven to excel in high pressure games. I'm not one to give much of a s*** about intangibles, but seeing how Stroman kept us in several do-or-die playoff games last year, I think he's earned this wildcard game. I'd be giving the start to Stroman, and if he can't deliver, so be it. If he gives up a few early runs, all options are on the table to go to Liriano or Estrada out of the pen.

eastcoastjaysfan · October 3, 2016

Absolute no brainer to go with Liriano

Sammy225 · October 3, 2016

It works out just perfectly. Liriano starts and Stro is in the Pen and then in the ALDS they can reevaluate because the first three anyway are likely going to be Happ, Sanch, Estrada.

Dr. Dinger · October 3, 2016

Realistically, probably both Stroman and Liriano will pitch at some point in the WC game. You're not going to let Liriano go through the order the 3rd time unless he's having the game of his life, and if Stroman starts, Liriano is going to be on Davis assignment for the late innings.

Stangstag · October 3, 2016

Realistically, probably both Stroman and Liriano will pitch at some point in the WC game. You're not going to let Liriano go through the order the 3rd time unless he's having the game of his life, and if Stroman starts, Liriano is going to be on Davis assignment for the late innings.

This seems like the most likely scenario

KingKat · October 3, 2016

This seems like the most likely scenario

Most likely scenario is whoever starts gets pulled after 100 pitches regardless of the score or how many times through the order.

G-Snarls · October 3, 2016

I'll vote for Liriano

I never would have predicted that's who I'd pick a few weeks ago. Happ and Sanchez were easily preferred but it just didn't fall that way

However, we conveniently have a good matchup vs the Orioles with Liriano and Stroman available to back him up so why not

It feels like a good plan

Governator · October 3, 2016

I'll vote for Liriano

I never would have predicted that's who I'd pick a few weeks ago. Happ and Sanchez were easily preferred but it just didn't fall that way

However, we conveniently have a good matchup vs the Orioles with Liriano and Stroman available to back him up so why not

It feels like a good plan

That's what I hope they do, it makes the most sense especially for a team with no real depth in the BP. I just hope the s***** Ubaldo or Tillman show up and we crush them early, I'm honestly not too concerned with our SP options just the lack offense against a piss poor pitcher.