The Orioles have outrighted reliever Josh Stinson to Triple-A, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (via Twitter). Stinson has already cleared waivers, says Kubatko. The move clears space for the activation of Troy Patton from the restricted list.
Stinson, 26, was off to a rough start to the 2014 campaign, as he carried a 7.15 ERA through 11 1/3 frames while carrying a WHIP just south of 2.000. He was more effective in limited action last year, when he posted a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings. Stinson was originally claimed by Baltimore off waivers right at the start of the 2013 season.
He was pitching much better than he had been. Take away that one outing and he was effective. this is a foolish move by the orioles
Why foolish? No middle reliever with an ERA above 7 is effective in any way. He cleared waivers and the team still controls him. Let’s not forget — it wasn’t a single outing where he looked bad. Toronto lit him up twice in a 10-day span. In addition, he walked three of seven batters he faced against KC in his last outing. Stinson was solid down the stretch last August but he was having trouble finding the plate and throwing strikes when he needed them from his first outing onward this season.
Foolish how? His ERA was above seven; he was whacked around by the Blue Jays twice in 10 days; and he was having trouble throwing strikes. The O’s didn’t lost him and he’s down in Norfolk now. Clearly, if it was a mistake by the O’s, somebody would have claimed him. Nobody did.