Sometimes, the news moves faster than I can publish my thoughts. This article was far more interesting and relevant before Friday, when the Blue Jays claimed Todd Redmond on waivers. I had to decide whether to scrap the article and leave my slot vacant, edit it on the fly, or publish it as originally written in hopes that it might still be interesting.
As the end of spring training and Opening Day approach, all major-league teams are making roster moves to set their 25-man roster. After they’ve set their major-league roster, then they turn their attention to the minor-league rosters, but sometimes they option players to specific teams earlier rather than later. As of this writing, the Orioles have optioned seven players to AAA Norfolk – as opposed to sending them to minor-league camp – and it’s a fairly good bet that those five will be in Norfolk at the start of the 2013 season. We’ve discussed Xavier Avery and L.J. Hoes, two of the five, a lot already. Two other optionees are Danny Valencia, who will likely start the season as the Tides' third baseman and hoping either J.J. Hardy or Manny Machado wipes out; and Luis Exposito, a backup catcher candidate. The other three optioned to Norfolk are pitchers -- Zach Clark, a long-term Orioles organization player who had a surprisingly good 2012 season; Mike Belfiore, whom I haven’t seen at all; and Todd Redmond.
As the end of spring training and Opening Day approach, all major-league teams are making roster moves to set their 25-man roster. After they’ve set their major-league roster, then they turn their attention to the minor-league rosters, but sometimes they option players to specific teams earlier rather than later. As of this writing, the Orioles have optioned seven players to AAA Norfolk – as opposed to sending them to minor-league camp – and it’s a fairly good bet that those five will be in Norfolk at the start of the 2013 season. We’ve discussed Xavier Avery and L.J. Hoes, two of the five, a lot already. Two other optionees are Danny Valencia, who will likely start the season as the Tides' third baseman and hoping either J.J. Hardy or Manny Machado wipes out; and Luis Exposito, a backup catcher candidate. The other three optioned to Norfolk are pitchers -- Zach Clark, a long-term Orioles organization player who had a surprisingly good 2012 season; Mike Belfiore, whom I haven’t seen at all; and Todd Redmond.
In my Tides’ functions, I get to see both Norfolk players and players on the other thirteen International League teams. Todd Redmond was originally with the Pirates’ organization, but was traded to the Braves after reaching High-A. The Braves’ AAA affiliate, Gwinnett (County, Georgia) is in the International League, and Redmond spent 3 ½ seasons with Gwinnett before being traded to the Reds last July. As a result, I’ve seen Redmond make four starts over the years. What can Norfolk and Orioles fans expect from Todd Redmond?
Over the past four years, I’ve seen Todd Redmond make four starts for the Gwinnett Braves. He’s been the winning pitcher in all four starts, with a 2.05 ERA.
Date
|
IP
|
H
|
R
|
ER
|
BB
|
K
|
HR
|
GB
|
FB
|
4/9/2009
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
6
|
11
|
8/20/2009
|
6
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
13
|
9/22/2011
|
5
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
6
|
9
|
4/10/2012
|
6
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
0
|
3
|
11
|
He’s pitched well at Norfolk’s Harbor Park, and he’s been a fly-ball pitcher there. That’s good; Harbor Park is very large from power alley to power alley and is at sea level; fly balls don’t carry. He hasn’t pitched very deeply into games; two of his starts were early in the season when he might have been on a limited pitch count but the other two weren’t. In these four games, he didn’t start an inning without finishing it.
From my observation, Redmond has impressed me as a pitcher who gets batters out. He hasn’t been overpowering, nor has he impressed me with his overwhelming command. When I saw that Redmond was going to be the opposing pitcher, I knew I was going to see a competently-pitched game, one with a lot of contact but not much solid contact, and one in which the Tides were going to have trouble scoring runs.
Todd Redmond has never been and never will be an outstanding prospect. He doesn’t have outstanding stuff. He’s never going to be an ace starter or a closer. If he does get a chance in the major leagues, he’ll have to be effective from the very beginning; if he pitches poorly (as he did in a one-game start for the Reds in 2012) he won’t get a second chance. And he’ll likely be limited to fifth starter or middle-inning relief pitcher. I would guess he’s probably the number eleven or twelve candidate for a spot in the Orioles’ rotation. I would also guess that if the Orioles need a spot on the 40-man roster, he’s a good candidate for removal. (Looks I hit that one on the head.)
Despite that, Todd Redmond is a good candidate for success as a Norfolk Tide. He has pitched well at Harbor Park in the past and his stuff seems to be a good match for the park. Even if he doesn’t pitch for the Orioles, he’s likely to be useful by keeping Norfolk in most games so that the relief pitchers will pitch in meaningful situations. If Todd Redmond is the Tides’ starting pitcher, the chances are that the game will be worth attending.