Wild Card Game: Baltimore (Tillman) @ Toronto (Stroman) | Tuesday, October 4 | 8PM EST

[joshgc]

If we lose this game this loss will be on Gibby starting Stroman over Liriano and his ass deserves to be fired If this decision backfires on him. He should know that Baltimore is the worst baseball team against LHP and the O's make Stroman their bitc.h. Whatever, it is what it is. I am super worried for tomorrow, so I really hope Gibby and Stroman prove me wrong.

Anyways, besides that if this is the scenario, Gibby better have a really short leash on Stroman. If Baltimore gets the first two hits tomorrow with no outs in the first inning Liriano better be warming up, if Baltimore even scores one run in the first inning, I want stroman out!

In a perfect scenario I want it like this:

Stroman: (1-4)
Liriano: (4-8)
Osuna: (9)

[Schad]

Stroman versus Liriano is a closer run thing than most seem to think. While Baltimore has substantial lefty/righty splits, Liriano is the much more homer-prone of the two, and hitting dingers at a pace well above and beyond that of any of AL team is literally the only aspect of Baltimore's offense that is above-average.

[JaysRule15]

If we lose this game this loss will be on Gibby starting Stroman over Liriano and his ass deserves to be fired If this decision backfires on him. He should know that Baltimore is the worst baseball team against LHP and the O's make Stroman their bitc.h. Whatever, it is what it is. I am super worried for tomorrow, so I really hope Gibby and Stroman prove me wrong.

Anyways, besides that if this is the scenario, Gibby better have a really short leash on Stroman. If Baltimore gets the first two hits tomorrow with no outs in the first inning Liriano better be warming up, if Baltimore even scores one run in the first inning, I want stroman out!

In a perfect scenario I want it like this:

Stroman: (1-4)
Liriano: (4-8)
Osuna: (9)

I really doubt that Gibby alone decided this. It's too big a decision that a manager on the hot seat would be making on his own. I'm betting that Shapiro/Atkins and FA was involved as well. And like Raps in 4 said, I'm sure the clubhouse dynamics played a factor too. A guy like Stro is bound to have more supporters in the clubhouse than a new guy like Liriano.

[Noobslife]

Already announced it will be Stroman vs Tillman

Yeah I don't understand this match up either.

It should be Jimenez vs Liriano. Jimenez was a god-like against Blue jays in the last match-up, and Orioles are relatively weak against a left pitcher.

[Natural11]

Not going to pitch the guy who shut out Balt w/10 strikeouts just 1 week ago? Interesting choice. Hope it doesn't blow up in their face.

[Noobslife]

Liriano better start in the mid-game. I just don't trust Stroman against Orioles.

[Boogie!]

omg stroman... wtf...

[Dan2087]

No idea what either team is thinking with those starters. Should be Liriano vs Jimenez

[HangTime]

The one thing I don't like about the Wildcard Game (in general) is that it considered it's own series, allowing teams to sit 4 of their starters, and have 4 non-25 man roster players, on the WCG roster.

It'll feel like another September game, something like 3 more guys in the bullpen, an extra guy on the bench.

I personally think, the WC and the DS roster (of the other 6 teams) Should carry over throughout the playoffs. If you want to make a roster move, the outgoing player, is out for the remainder of the playoffs.

[TR50]

Considering that many of us fans are saying that Liriano and Jiminez should be starting...goes to show just how little we actually know...and I say this with the most respect possible. Two major league ball clubs must know or feel something to make a decision that will decide whose season goes on, and who goes home.

I was leaning Liriano....but all I want is a win. That is ALL that matters. I don't care how we get there...as long as it happens. And that being said, there are a bazillion different ways the game can go tomorrow...so as much as it sucks...we really have to wait and see.

And as Schad so eloquently put...Baltimore's offense is totally reliant on the home run (bit of a blanket statement...but it's their biggest offensive weapon)...so throwing out a groundball/strikeout pitcher may have some sound logic to it.

I believe and will be screaming until I can scream no more from the 500's. Lets go Blue Jays!!!!

[Schad]

No idea what either team is thinking with those starters. Should be Liriano vs Jimenez

Jimenez is incredibly inconsistent and prone to bouts of wildness.

Which is probably part of the reason Liriano isn't starting; while his control has been solid for us, he's only a couple months removed from being a complete tire fire. Both teams had a choice between a pitcher who is lights-out on their day, but prone to meltdowns, or a more prosaic option who if nothing else generally keeps the team in the game. Both made the same choice, as it turns out.

[Rapcity_11]

Stroman versus Liriano is a closer run thing than most seem to think. While Baltimore has substantial lefty/righty splits, Liriano is the much more homer-prone of the two, and hitting dingers at a pace well above and beyond that of any of AL team is literally the only aspect of Baltimore's offense that is above-average.

On the flip-side couldn't you argue that Liriano would do a better job limiting base-runners prior to any potential homeruns?

[The_Hater]

Tillman vs Jays:
This season. 3.63 ERA in 22.1 IP
Last season: 11.72 ERA in 25.1 IP

Too lazy to dig up FiP and xFIP.

[Schad]

Stroman versus Liriano is a closer run thing than most seem to think. While Baltimore has substantial lefty/righty splits, Liriano is the much more homer-prone of the two, and hitting dingers at a pace well above and beyond that of any of AL team is literally the only aspect of Baltimore's offense that is above-average.

On the flip-side couldn't you argue that Liriano would do a better job limiting base-runners prior to any potential homeruns?

Unless he loses his release point. He was walking 5.5 batters per nine innings for Pittsburgh, and control problems have dogged him off and on for years.

[C Court]

According to TSN Radio, the two reporters boycotted by the Blue Jays players are Cathal Kelly (Globe) and Richard Griffin (Star).

Why, for example, would the leaders on the team allow someone to put up on a wall photos of two Toronto sports writers with an 'X' scratched on their face and a message written on top reading, ‘Do not grant them interviews’ (or words to that effect)?

The media have a job to do, just like the players. Fans almost always take the side of the players when there’s an issue with the media, but teams with confidence and swagger don’t need to pulls stunts like putting pictures of writers on a wall.

[Rapcity_11]

According to TSN Radio, the two reporters boycotted by the Blue Jays players are Cathal Kelly (Globe) and Richard Griffin (Star).

Why, for example, would the leaders on the team allow someone to put up on a wall photos of two Toronto sports writers with an 'X' scratched on their face and a message written on top reading, ‘Do not grant them interviews’ (or words to that effect)?

The media have a job to do, just like the players. Fans almost always take the side of the players when there’s an issue with the media, but teams with confidence and swagger don’t need to pulls stunts like putting pictures of writers on a wall.

Well, Kelly is a complete clown so I don't blame them there.

[Basketball_Jones]

They're both solid pitchers at the end of the day, and both are lefties.

Bruh...

[JaysRule15]

Hmm, I wonder why Richard Griffin would be boycotted? He hardly ever says anything controversial or out of the ordinary. Pretty much the Jays' version of Doug Smith.

Kelly, I totally understand though. Dude is a total douche and says controversial stuff just to get noticed. Him, Steve Simmons and Dave Feschuk are the absolute worst.

[Boogie!]

Stroman versus Liriano is a closer run thing than most seem to think. While Baltimore has substantial lefty/righty splits, Liriano is the much more homer-prone of the two, and hitting dingers at a pace well above and beyond that of any of AL team is literally the only aspect of Baltimore's offense that is above-average.

On the flip-side couldn't you argue that Liriano would do a better job limiting base-runners prior to any potential homeruns?

thats what worries me about stroman... he induces a lot of ground ball contact, but he also gets hit hard in general... and if those balls find seams, which theyve had a tendency to do a lot against him this year, we're ****... and i dont trust the offense to bail us out either... i remember him getting destroyed the last time he faced the orioles... and even in his last outing, he didnt pitch awful, in fact he wasnt bad, but he somehow still got tagged for 4 earned runs... we cant put a pitcher out there thats gonna give up 4 earned runs on an average day for a wild card game...

even before looking at the splits, i wouldve gone with liriano simply because hes been really good since he got here. also, he has wild card game experience.

[Yosemite Dan]

Stroman will be on a really short leash. If the offense is laying eggs and he allows even one run from multiple hits in any of the first 3 innings, he'll be pulled. If there are 2 men on base from the 4th inning on with less than 2 out, he'll be pulled. If he looks shaky or nervous and flirting with disaster every inning, he won't be allowed to work his way out of it even if he's pitching a shutout up to that point. I could see Gibbons pulling him in the first inning if he allows a run with men still on base. It's also Gibby's job at stake so he's gonna have an extremely itchy trigger finger especially with our Jekyll and Hyde offense.

Last thing you want is the team to fall behind early because then our hitters will be hacking with every swing no matter what the count or situation on base. We have some of the some of the dumbest hitters in the league and Baltimore's hitters are pretty stupid too.