Chris

Waters

There’s not going to be a whole lot of difference in quality between the Orioles’ major league pitching staff and the one they have at Norfolk. Mickolio and McCrory will be late-game relievers for the Tides. Mickolio had a 1.93 ERA this spring, while McCrory was at 2.25. Waters could be part of the rotation. Hennessey and Parrish might also factor into the mix once healthy. Both had arm problems this spring, costing them opportunities to make the Orioles.

Waters was starting in place of Chris Tillman, who has been shut down for the season. The replacement starter was all over the place, walking three and throwing only 40 of his 81 pitches for strikes, but the Rays couldn’t take advantage. Waters had previously accumulated an 8.10 ERA in four relief appearances for the Birds after an unimpressive season in the minors. At age 29, he doesn’t seem to have much of a future.

Waters is already with the Orioles in Detroit, but the team has yet to make a roster move to activate him; a possible trade of Melvin Mora might change all that. The 28-year-old southpaw is 8-5 with a 4.68 ERA in 22 starts with Triple-A Norfolk this season. Remember, he made 11 starts for the Orioles last year, going 3-5 with a 5.01 ERA. He’s not a fantasy option.

Waters was rumored to join the Orioles roster last month, but it never came to pass. He was 9-7 with a 4.49 ERA in 29 appearances (20 starts) with Triple-A Norfolk this season. Remember, he made 11 starts for the Orioles last year, going 3-5 with a 5.01 ERA.

He will take Chris Tillman’s turn in the rotation. Waters has allowed six runs in 6 2/3 innings over four appearances out of the bullpen in September, but was 3-5 with a 5.01 ERA over 11 starts for the Orioles last season. He shouldn’t be considered as a streaming option.

Waters let up seven hits, two of which were homers, and issued three walks. The outing was in sharp contrast to his first career start in which he allowed just one hit to the Angels. The bullpen wasn’t any better today though. Randor Bierd served up five earned runs without getting an out, Lance Cormier allowed a run on five hits, and George Sherrill finished off the fun by letting up three earned runs in the ninth. If Waters gets another start, it’ll be against the Tigers.

Waters debuted with a bang six weeks ago, allowing one hit over eight scoreless innings against the Angels. He had a 7.00 ERA in seven starts since, but he breezed through the Jays’ lineup tonight, allowing just four hits. He’s still a weak bet going forward, but he may now have a legitimate chance of remaining on the Orioles’ 40-man roster this winter.

Waters, 23, isn’t as good of a prospect as a few of the pitchers the Braves left available in the Rule 5 draft. The 2000 fifth-round pick went 3-8 with a 4.41 ERA in 17 starts for Double-A Greenville last season. He’ll probably clear waivers.

It really is an incredible game sometimes. Making his major league debut at age 27, Waters, the 10th starting pitcher the Orioles have tried this year, nearly got a chance to shut out baseball’s best team. He certainly earned himself another start with the performance, but AL-only leaguers shouldn’t rush to pick him up.

Waters will start Tuesday against the Angels despite going 3-6 with a 5.70 ERA at Triple-A. His MLB debut may be the only big league action he sees.