A week from today, this place will be hopping with revelers – as will Pickles Pub and about 1,000 real joints in the area.
Baltimore’s unofficial holiday, Opening Day, is just a week away. The countdown is on.
If you need a note to get out of school or work, just contact Doctor Dan as soon as possible. I don’t take insurance cards, but I do take cash.
The Opening Day buzz is palpable with Orioles manager Buck Showalter officially announcing the expected today – that right-hander Kevin Gausman will be the club’s starter next Monday afternoon against right-hander Marco Estrada and the Toronto Blue Jays.
Showalter also announced that right-hander Dylan Bundy will pitch the second game, Wednesday, April 5, against the Blue Jays. So, the Orioles’ first pick (fourth overall) of the 2011 draft will follow the Orioles’ first pick (fourth overall) of the 2012 draft to start the 2017 season.
You can all exhale now – at least for a moment.
This particular order was created by Chris Tillman’s shoulder injury, otherwise he would have started on Opening Day again.
Instead, you get a double dose of Gausman and Bundy to begin your 2017 season.
And we love double shots here.
I believe these Orioles will be slightly better than last year’s version simply because I think Gausman and Bundy will take the next step in their maturation. I think Gausman has figured it out – he just looks like he’s ready this spring and he has the second half of 2016 to back that up. And I love Bundy’s competitiveness. He might take his lumps at times, but I expect him to have a good year overall.
Here’s my totally blind, totally random numbers for the duo in 2017. Gausman: 16-8, 3.65 ERA 33 starts; Bundy: 13-10, 3.80 ERA, 30 starts. Pretty lofty numbers for young guys in the American League East. But I’m sticking with it.
Now, I want your thoughts on the potentially dynamic duo.
Tap-In Question: What are your expectations for Gausman and Bundy in 2017?
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If we can get the 63 starts out of them that you predict i'd be over the moon! KG had a really steady year in 2016 and I expect him to be closer to 3.50 than 4.00. Bundy - there's a bit more volatility here. He had a couple of months of phenomenal stuff, ran out of gas a little towards the end. I think i'm still just grateful for a fit Bundy rather than hoping for a breakout year. Will he be using his cutter? That could certainly help him get that final out of the inning and keep his pitch count in shape. Can't wait for it all to begin!
ps - who do you fancy for the 2 spot starts in April?
He'll use the cutter a little bit I believe. More as a secondary pitch. And, yes, health is key for him. My gut says Ynoa on the spot start, but we'll see.
I have them both below 3.50 ERA, and Bundy starting in the wild card game against Toronto (which we will finally win this year.) I think Bundy is going to exceed expectations while Gausman simply meets expectaions. I believe this year will be the year that the O's finally have a respectable pitching staff, thanks to these two!
I agree on the staff. I will say it's gonna be hard for AL East to get three teams in playoffs again. The West has 3 legit teams and the Central has 2 maybe 3.
I really think Gausman has it figured out. Having a year where he wasn't jerked around between the rotation/pen and Baltimore/Norfolk gave him a chance to just work on his craft.
17-10, 3.40 ERA
Bundy is so interesting because you wonder what his limits are. How many innings can he pitch? You'd think that a healthy 2016 and a full offseason and spring will do nothing but help.
16-6, 3.60 ERA
Not too far from your predictions, Dan. But I'll be extra optimistic since I'm ready for warm weather and a great season :)
Orioles would take both of those in blood. Those two win 33 games combined, and bullpen continues to be strong, and you just predicted a playoff team. Even if 3-5 just hang on
I don't have a crystal ball, so I'll hold back on the exact numbers, however I expect no less than a 1-2 finish in the Cy Young race this year. Mr. Moustache has stated a week or two ago that he has his money on Gausman ... I'm working the Bundy angle ...
Heck .. why wait 'til NEXT Monday? Bartender .. may I have another spleasesh? Hic °°
1-2 in the Cy? I think you were hanging out somewhere else before you stumbled through these doors. But I like the enthusiasm. Drink chip.
I'm not buying the fact that Bundy can go from 65 innings in 3 years to 110 last year to 150+ this year while staying healthy and effective. I certainly hope I'm wrong, but the odds feel like they're staked against him to me.
I almost always agree with Steve, and that's the case here. Putting fandom aside, we have to be realistic. I bet Ubaldo wins more games than Bundy.
I knew I liked you for some reason, Eldersburg ;)
I'm hoping these two guys will be successful because I think as these two go so go the orioles.
Oh and I'm so ready to get started.
Damn, the TapRoom finally opens again, and with a topic near and dear to my heart and I sleep through it. Shameful.
Im on record: Gausman will be a finalist for the AL Cy Young this year. I know I said he would win it outright, but reflecting on the goofy way the voting seems to shake out nowadays, who knows.
Bundy remains the dark horse, the X factor. Watching the way he mowed them down during that brief stretch in Mid-Summer last year, one is tempted to ignore the numbers Steve Cockey mentioned. I won't. So my prediction is this: Dylan Bundy comes roaring out of the gates and looks like the second coming of Roger Clemens in the first month or so of the season, garnering Player of the Month honors for either April or May and there is even All-Star starter murmurs, though it won't happen. Everyone raves that the next big thing has arrived, but Dylan begins to come back to Earth as summer continues. He still puts up an impressive season and we all feel good about the fearsome 1- 2 punch going forward.