Results tagged ‘ Willie Eyre ’
Some Bullpen Moves
The Orioles sent four pitchers — all experienced right-handed relief candidates who had signed minor-league contracts with invitations to spring training — to their minor-league camp. Jon Link, Oscar Villareal, Miguel Socolovich, and Willie Eyre have all add success at the AA and AAA levels; Villareal even has had some major-league success, back in 2006-7 with the Braves. Although all four are candidates to be with the Tides in 2012, the Orioles may also choose to release them, either at the pitcher’s own request (if they think they’ll have a better shot in another organization) or because the Orioles just don’t have room for all of them. Eyre may be the most likely to stay with the Orioles organization and end up in Norfolk, just because he spent some time with the Orioles in 2011.
Willie Eyre, relief pitcher
Can he be a major-league pitcher?
Willie Eyre — full name, William Mays Eyre — is a 32-year-old pitcher who has pitched consistently well in the minor leagues and has pitched at a replacement level in the majors. He doesn’t have great control and he doesn’t strike out a lot of hitters, but he’s succeeded by consistently not allowing base hits. He’s been less effective as a starter than as a reliever in the minors.
Because he has pitched well in the minors, there’s no reason he can’t be a successful sixth-seventh inning middle relief pitcher. Because he doesn’t have great control, and doesn’t have a strikeout pitch, it’s unlikely that he’d succeed in a more important role. He’s also the sort of pitcher who would be sent down if he hits a rough patch. So while he could be a major-league pitcher, it’s unlikely that he’d have a significant career.
Eyre re-signed with the Orioles for 2012.
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