Bruce made his Major League debut last night. He got roughed up a little, going 3 innings plus one batter, giving up two home runs and hitting two batters. I'm sure he was nervous - who wouldn't be? He was facing the Tampa Bay Rays, who are a very strong team right now. Hopefully he will do better the next time.

But he made it to The Show.

quote:

Originally posted by 2Adefender:
Bruce made his Major League debut last night. He got roughed up a little, going 3 innings plus one batter, giving up two home runs and hitting two batters. I'm sure he was nervous - who wouldn't be? He was facing the Tampa Bay Rays, who are a very strong team right now. Hopefully he will do better the next time.

But he made it to The Show.

Every young pitcher has to endure that initiation. Just part of the learning process.

First...
It was a bummer to miss his debut because we were stuck without electricity in Gulf Shores, AL during Hurricane Sally.

Second, we were told Bruce was supposed to pitch again last night (Tuesday) but he was scratched.

Third, his role has changed for the rest of this short season:

Orioles' Bruce Zimmermann: Moved to bullpen role

Zimmermann will be moved to the bullpen for the remainder of the regular season, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Zimmermann made his major-league debut as a starter Thursday as he settled for a no-decision. However, he'll shift to the bullpen for the remainder of the season as manager Brandon Hyde said he'll try to use him in situations where he can pitch for several innings.

Bruce pitching now. Out of bullpen.

How did he do ?

Not too shabby compared to the other night!

4IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 5Ks!

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:
Not too shabby compared to the other night!

4IP, 2H, 1ER, 1BB, 5Ks!

Excellent!

Better!

Zimmermann zooms through four

Left-hander Bruce Zimmermann rebounded from a tough major league debut last week to pitch four innings of one-run relief to finish the game for the Orioles.

Zimmermann, an Ellicott City native, struck out five against one walk with two hits allowed to lower his ERA to 7.71.

“I thought we had some positives tonight,” Hyde said. “I thought Bruce Zimmermann was one of them. He really threw the ball well, I really liked the breaking ball and he kept guys off balance. Not a whole lot of hard contact. I thought we played some nice defense behind him. I thought Zimm really picked us up.”

https://www.baltimoresun.com/s...2ownk23dq-story.html

Dangit, now you have me watching the fricking Orioles. It feels . . . wrong.

Love watching his story develop.

2020 was an interesting season for Orioles’ rookie Bruce Zimmermann

Originally posted on BaltimoreBaseball.com
By Rich Dubroff | Last updated 12/18/20

Left-handed pitcher Bruce Zimmermann, a native of Ellicott City, came to the Orioles as part of a trade on July 31, 2018. He made his major league debut in September in a start against Tampa Bay and made one relief appearance.

He spoke about his experience in 2020, and what lies ahead.

Question: How is this offseason different from previous ones?

Zimmermann: “In the nature of my work and how I approach it, it’s another offseason, but the mentality and the intangibles of this offseason are definitely a lot different, considering post-debut and everything like that, and the nature of the moves that have been made and looking forward to the 2021 season … there’s a lot more on the line.

“It’s even more important. It seems like every offseason, since 2018, it’s getting more and more important, the work that I can get done during my offseason to prepare me for the next year. As far as work, it goes the same way with identifying the strengths and weaknesses from the previous season, the things I most immediately want to work on to prepare for the next season, but it’s definitely a little more exciting knowing that I’ll be going into 2021 as a 40-man guy, actively participating for a rotation spot, if not a bullpen/swing guy spot, whatever the team may need.

“I wouldn’t use the word ‘established’ by any means yet, but it feels good I was able to get my debut this year, and looking forward to the 2021 season, knowing that I’m definitely right in there in the mix as far as earning a more established spot with the team and, hopefully, having a solid spring training again. If everything goes well, possibly even breaking with the team along with the other young kids like [Keegan] Akin, [Dean] Kremer, and the other guys coming up.”

Q: What did you get out of those last couple of weeks of the season, being with the Orioles?

A: “They were everything. Obviously, the debut was everything. I’ve been dreaming of it, working for it [since I was] a kid. Just being up there in the show is a completely different experience. They say getting there is one thing, but staying there is a completely different story, and you can really see that, talking to the older guys and the guys that have been there before like [Alex] Cobb and younger guys that are established like [John] Means, [Chris] Davis, some of the other position players.

“It was just really, really exciting to finally be a part of that and try and take in as much as possible, ask questions as much as I could, keep my mouth shut and listen as much as possible, especially working with [former pitching coach Doug Brocail] and [bullpen coach Darren] Holmes.

“I got more up there in two weeks, working with those two guys and talking to the pitchers than I’ve gotten out of, taking nothing away from my other minor league coaches, but I got just an immense amount of information and experience from those two weeks. I definitely wouldn’t trade them for anything and taking what I learned from that into the offseason and, hopefully, 2021.”

Q: Was the debut missing something because your family and friends couldn’t be there?

A: “I think there’s nothing wrong with saying that. It was a very interesting season for everybody. That debut is something that every player dreams of. It was perfect in its own way. I’m definitely looking forward to having fans in the stands in 2021 and, hopefully, those fans will be my family and friends that have followed me and I grew up with, and watched me … throughout my years playing Maryland baseball.

“I wouldn’t change my debut for anything. There’s a very big part of me that’s excited for that debut, Round 2 in Baltimore when there’s fans in the stands and my family is in the stands. If anything, it’s a benefit, it’s a gift. Me and the other guys, we kind of get two debuts in that sense. Definitely looking forward to a little more normalized 2021 and definitely being able to have my parents, my siblings and my cousins in the stands cheering me on.”

Q: Has the uncertainty on the timetable for the 2021 season affected your preparation?

A: “No, we have a tentative date. That’s the one I have based my schedule around. If it turns out that the date gets pushed back, that just means I get to tweak my schedule, maybe add a few other things that I would prepare on doing down at spring training. Instead, I would get to do them at home.

“But there’s nothing about the 2021 season and what’s going to happen with it that would change my preparation progress at this point. I had been on a throwing program. I’ve been on a lifting program. Both of those have guidelines and a goal to meet, and both of those have a tentative ending date, February 16, when I report to spring training.

“The offseason is the same as it is, and baseball is a game of unpredictabilities. That would leak into the other aspects of the game, so if it comes down to it, we’ll pivot and make the necessary adjustments with the coaches and trainers to tweak my programs, and we’ll be ready for the next date …

“Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. There’s no sense worrying about it. The only thing I can worry about now is what I’m doing is to follow the plan that I’ve laid out [by pitching coach Chris] Holt and Holmes and the other strength coaches to be ready to go when the rubber hits the road on February 16.”

Q: You were an Orioles fan growing up, and traded to Baltimore as part of the rebuild. Do you sense there’s a change in the organization?

A: “I think we’ve definitely taken a lot of strides. With the craziness of the 2020 season, this was the first year that the fan base, especially, finally saw some of the work that the organization has been putting in to fully dedicate themselves to this rebuild, and what that means.

“It’s not an easy process. There’s bumps in the road, but I think there are a lot of positives that came out of this 2020 season, especially in terms of prospect growth and younger guys like myself and Akin and Kremer and [Ryan] Mountcastle and [Austin] Hays making good contributions to a winning ballclub.

“Really just looking forward to building on that, really happy to be part of a young core of guys that, hopefully, we can stick together for the next few years and really see steps taken every single year to grow, knowing that we have a strong group of prospects, especially pitching-wise, hot on our heels that are itching to get up there and also contribute.

“I think the organization’s in a really good place, and they’re taking the necessary steps. I think we’re still maybe a year or two away from really, really big difference making win/loss total season, but as far as taking the necessary steps to rebuild and get better every year, I think the organization is doing the right thing so far, and I think the guys like myself, and the other guys have brought into that aspect of it. I think every year, we’ll start seeing more and more pieces fall into place about moving forward to be a competitive team in the AL East once again.”

Q: You said you got a lot out of those two weeks in the big leagues. What are some examples of that?

A: “The biggest thing is getting there is one thing, staying there is another. I took that from talking to guys like Cobb and the older established bullpen guys we have like [Shawn] Armstrong, who’s just a wealth of knowledge.

“The rest of the pitchers that have been up there a few years, just talking to them and realizing that, know what makes you successful and figure out what those things are and be uncompromising in what it takes. That may be recovery. That may be your day-to-day throwing, what you need, how you handle yourself off the field. Be uncompromising in what it takes to be a big-leaguer.

“Everybody wants to be one. That work to stay there is a totally other aspect of it. On the flip side of it, be grateful that you’re there. You’re playing a kids game. You’re in The Show, and not losing sight of that aspect of it because we only get so much time in this game, and you’ve got to do everything possible to be prepared and to stay there, but also to enjoy the camaraderie and the day-to-day, and the travel even though it stinks sometimes.

“Getting to travel to different cities and, hopefully, playing in front of thousands of fans and things like that. On the flip side of things, the nuts and bolts of it, being out in the bullpen for the back half of the two weeks and getting that one bullpen appearance in Boston, and that possibly being part of my future with the Orioles, wherever they may need me, just talking to the guys like [Thomas] Eshelman, who was the other swing man, and how he goes about [preparing] for a game, depending on the situation, what he does, when he starts getting ready, how to stay loose in the bullpen, but also be able to lock it in right away …

“Definitely learned a lot about being in the bullpen for the last week-and-a-half because that’s something that’s completely foreign to me, but [could] very well be part of my future career. I would like to stay in the rotation, but you’d like to be able to succeed at both.

“There’s a lot of things that I took away from it. One was to be uncompromising in your duty as a big-leaguer and a teammate of taking care of business, not taking anything for granted, but enjoying each and every day up there and learning new things about how to be prepared day-to-day in new roles.”

https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb...nn/s1_16466_33599357

Quick update:
Bruce will be leaving for FL on Feb. 11th, Covid Testing on Sun. the 14th, and Report Tuesday the 16th.
This year not as an invitee!
It's his to lose this year.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: chellim1,

Bruce mentioned in this article:

Valdez could emerge as starter (and other notes)
By: Roch Kubatko

Asked if any other pitchers who were exclusively relievers will be stretched out as rotation candidates, Hyde replied, “I don’t see from a starting standpoint, but I think you’re going to see some of our guys throw more innings in spring than normal.

“I would like to build them up to be multiple innings guys. I’d like to see them at least become one-plus, some guys two-plus, maybe even three out of the ‘pen starting the year.”

Rookie left-hander Bruce Zimmermann is competing for a starting job, but could shift to the bullpen for long relief. It isn’t necessarily rotation or Triple-A.

“I think we’re going to see how he throws in camp,” Hyde said. “We see him as a potential starter. He’s coming in to win a starter or at least a bulk inning guy role and then we’ll go from there. It’s tough to evaluate last season just because he had such a short sprint in the big leagues, hasn’t had a full Triple-A year. So it’s learning at the major league level.

“We’ll decide at the end if feel like he’s ready to be a starter in the big leagues. We have high hopes for him, like his stuff. I saw his bullpen today. It’s really, really impressive. He’s got multiple pitches with a really nice arm. We have high hopes for him and we’re going to make that decision.

“If he’s on the club, he’s going to pitch bulk innings, though. We’re going to make sure that he gets experience and that he stays stretched out.”

https://www.masnsports.com/sch...and-other-notes.html

Congrats!

Bruce is pitching now... Just struck out the side!
Go to radio.com and 105.7 The Fan, Baltimore.

This glove pop + strikeout call >
https://twitter.com/i/status/1367565088459218944

This message has been edited. Last edited by: chellim1,

^^^That's exciting. Good luck to him.

I was listening when he came in to pitch and immediately thought of you.

Bruce is pitching today... scheduled for 4-5-6 innings, depending on how it goes of course. Game starts at 1 pm eastern time.
Go to radio.com and 105.7 The Fan, Baltimore.
https://www.radio.com/1057thefan/listen



Myriad Orioles Thoughts: Bruce Zimmermann’s stock; center-field battle; bad D

https://theathletic.com/243639...center-field-battle/

Hell Yes! 3 innings of no hit ball, 2 strike outs, 1 walk, 44 pitches - 27 strikes. Great outing.

Orioles observations on Dean Kremer’s bounce-back, more Bruce Zimmermann dominance and Chris Davis’ extended absence | ANALYSIS

By JON MEOLI
BALTIMORE SUN
MAR 09, 2021

Zimmermann shines again

Bruce Zimmermann followed Kremer for the second time this spring, and unlike Kremer, his didn’t have much room to improve this time around. He managed to regardless.

The Ellicott City native and Loyola Blakefield product struck out two and walked one in three scoreless, hitless innings on 44 pitches to bring his spring totals to five shutout innings with six strikeouts.
Simply put, Zimmermann is continuing to make it difficult to leave him out of the major league mix, even if veterans such as Félix Hernández, Matt Harvey and Wade LeBlanc might be ahead of him in the pecking order. Hyde and the Orioles are emphasizing they aren’t looking at statistics at this point in the spring.

But without much hard contact against him and hitters looking generally uncomfortable in the box against Zimmermann, they might be seeing all they need to so far.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/s...i7mm2risi-story.html

quote:

hitters looking generally uncomfortable in the box against Zimmermann...

THIS comment, says a Whole Lot of Awesome!