44.23 Tilley Tilled Under

[shoeless.db]

May 19, 2044 | Mad Popes Record: 16-27, 13 GB, 3-4 last sim
Rolio Elder | Apprentice to the Exalted Mystic | Camacho Order #26 | Donkeagle Press

Camacho speaks to the world in many ways -- Sometimes in the way Sacramento's 2043 division championship pennant whips in the wind over South Pacific Field. Other times in the way a foul ball bounces around in the empty seats in Yellow Springs. And, on occasion, when a rookie southpaw, who looked to be ready for the BBA, cannot get anyone out.

Eustace Tilley

The Sacramento Mad Popes announced today the demotion of heralded starting pitcher Eustace Tilley to AAA Black Hills. The 23-year-old lefty showed promise during his September call-up last season, going 3-0 over 65 2/3 innings and compiling a 3.56 ERA and 4.23 FIP, but the start of the 2044 season has been difficult. Tilley currently holds a 0-5 record, a 5.07 ERA, and a 5.12 FIP over 49 2/3 innings.

"We're not exactly making mince meat of the Pacific this season like we normally do," GM Shoeless said. "A little seasoning down in AAA will do Euey (Tilley) good. It's not great when he's been leaps and bounds our worst starter up here. No disrespect to our other starters, but... come on."

AAA Black Hills now features in its rotation a who's who of Sacramento's future. Following Tilley in the rotation are lefties Jim Pollock and Kevin O'Toole and right-handers Marvin Winston and Tom Bennett.

"I can't sit back and tell you I'm not a bit excited and anxious when I look over that rotation," Shoeless said. "We're going to live or die with those guys in the coming years."

Mike Walker

Replacing Tilley on the Sacramento staff is 22-year-old Mike Walker. Walker got the call to Sacramento, leap-frogging AAA and the Black Hills starters, due to his overwhelming success the past season and a half. He was named the 2043 WCL (AA) DRK Todd Demko Hurler Award winner for his incredible 17-2 record and 2.62 ERA, leading the Bismarck Churchills to a Warren Cox League (AA) championship. The 22-year-old southpaw continued his success this season, starting 5-1 with a 2.17 ERA in 10 starts.

"Walker has earned his shot," Shoeless said. "My scouts tell me he's one competitive s.o.b despite his humble nature, so that should be fun to see play out on the field."

[jleddy]

Those three walks in 50 innings by Tilley is pretty sick.

That said, a lot is riding on that change-up developing and maybe adding another tick or two to his velo, otherwise he's an old Jamie Moyer (some fake baseball player from a long time ago) in a young man's body.

[RonCo]

RHB are killing Tilly.

[jleddy]

RHB are killing Tilly.

Probably the result of having to rely on a soft slider as a #2 pitch, wouldn't you guess, Ron? Sliders, unless dominant, seem to be hittable by opposite-handed hitters. Another reason why that change needs to be Tilley's #2, if not #1, pitch.

On that note, damn shame performance by pitch-type isn't readily available.

[Ted]

Imagine how different Sacramento would have been if Garcia and Tilley's change ups had developed.

[shoeless.db]

Skip Glendenning will set him straight in AAA. Don’t be surprised if he comes back with a change cranked up to 11.