masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgStarter Chris Tillman was the obvious topic of conversation after the Orioles’ 10-6 victory in Game 1.

“Chris was outstanding,” manager Buck Showalter said. “I’ll tell you, the cutter was a really good pitch for him. Liked the way he gave up the home run early and responded. You really like to see shutdown innings after the runs we scored, too. That’s a sign of maturity as he goes forward.”

How important was this outing for Tillman going forward?

“Him or me?” Showalter replied,…Starter Chris Tillman was the obvious topic of conversation after the Orioles’ 10-6 victory in Game 1.

“Chris was outstanding,” manager Buck Showalter said. “I’ll tell you, the cutter was a really good pitch for him. Liked the way he gave up the home run early and responded. You really like to see shutdown innings after the runs we scored, too. That’s a sign of maturity as he goes forward.”

How important was this outing for Tillman going forward?

“Him or me?” Showalter replied, grinning.

“It left a good taste in his mouth. Also, realized that he’s capable, but also remembering why he had some struggles here. The capability’s there. It’s just, up here it’s a matter of consistency, too. You can’t have a different guy show up every other day.”

Tillman still has trouble maintaining his velocity, which makes you wonder whether he’s trying so hard to throw strikes that he’s taking something off the ball and aiming it, instead of just letting it fly.

“That’s one thing I’ve noticed, how his velocity kind of jumps around a little bit,” Showalter said. “I’m looking at the same things you are, and that’s been the case. The first outing he had here it didn’t happen, but the rest of the outings that has been the case.

“I think a lot of times, young pitchers, you see them pitch so much to a scouting report that they forget to throw the baseball, and that’s what I think has happened a lot with his walks. They’ve gotten so conscious of the advance report and where they’re supposed to do everything, the sequence, and they forget to let the ball go.”

I’m late with the lineup, but I must post it anyway or bad things will happen:
Julio Lugo 2B
Nick Markakis RF
Adam Jones CF
Jake Fox DH
Matt Wieters C
Nolan Reimold LF
Robert Andino SS
Josh Bell 3B
Brandon Snyder 1B

Jeremy Guthrie RHP