News
O's to keep relying on rotation's rookies
Baltimore (55-81) vs. Texas (76-59), 1:35 p.m. ET
By Sean Welsh / Special to MLB.com
09/05/09 10:20 PM ET
BALTIMORE -- On the eve of Labor Day, the Orioles will hold their own holiday Sunday: Veteran's Day. Because, for at least the week to follow Jeremy Guthrie's start in the finale against the Rangers, the Orioles plan to continue their reliance on four rookie starters. After this week, though, it's anyone's guess as to how the O's will address their starting staff. Brian Matusz, who struggled early Saturday, but settled in to face the minimum over his final four innings of a seven-inning win, and Chris Tillman are guaranteed one more time through the rotation. Orioles president Andy MacPhail has stated he plans on curtailing his rookies' innings in the final month. Manager Dave Trembley suggested the Orioles would allow Tillman to go longer into his rookie campaign than Matusz, but noted off-days Monday and Thursday could allow the promising duo some more time in Baltimore. "I think [Thursday's] rest did him good and I think the two extra days rest [this week] will do him even more good," Trembley said. "I think he's further along than Matusz. I think Matusz is the guy you really have to look at more than Tillman. Matusz is a guy that was pitching at the University of San Diego last year. They're both going to get seven days [of rest]. It should be good for both of them." Matusz has thrown 150 2/3 innings (113 in the Minors and 37 2/3 with the Orioles) in his first professional season, and Tillman's 142 2/3 innings (96 2/3 in the Minors plus 46 in Baltimore) has already surpassed the 135 2/3 he tossed in both 2007 and '08. Both are slated to face the Yankees in New York next weekend.Matusz said after Saturday's start he's not ready to cut his rookie season short.
"I don't feel like it's about time for the season to end. I don't feel that way at all," Matusz said. "I'm just starting to get comfortable out there. The last two games I've felt really comfortable. I felt like I've been able to get into good grooves, where I haven't in the starts before. Whenever you get in a groove like that, you don't want to stop throwing. Obviously, that's not my decision, it's up to Andy MacPhail and Dave Trembley. We'll come to a conclusion when its the right time for me to stop throwing."
Fellow rookie starters David Hernandez and Jason Berken are likely to finish out their debut campaigns in the rotation.
The Orioles enter Sunday just one loss from a 12th consecutive losing season, so resting their prized pitchers is simply protecting a long-awaited surplus. But while they're in Baltimore, Trembley wants to see progress. That starts with their ability to command two-strike pitches.
"Young pitchers need to learn to put hitters away," Trembley said. "Put them away. And putting them away is not striking them out. Putting them away is pitching to contact, letting them get themselves out, roll over on a ground ball, five pitches or less."The Orioles implemented an organization-wide theory of pitching to contact. In some instances, Trembley's pitchers have been too hittable.
"They all want to throw their pitches with control, but I think the next phase is, you have to be able to command," Trembley said. "Command is being able to locate in the strike zone, not out of the strike zone. Be able to locate in the strike zone. Our Achilles' heel has been locating in the strike zone in the middle of the plate. You can't locate in the middle of the plate, especially with two strikes." Pitching matchupBAL: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (9-13, 5.18 ERA)
Guthrie threw six effective innings in his previous outing and has now thrown three consecutive quality starts. Baltimore's Opening Day starter went 2-3 with a 4.54 ERA in August, his best ERA for any month this season. The right-hander has allowed 30 home runs, the most of any American League pitcher. He also leads the league in most runs (98) and most earned runs (92) allowed. TEX: LHP Derek Holland (7-9, 5.63 ERA)
Holland has lost his past two starts, allowing 16 runs in nine innings on 14 hits and six walks. He has now given up 21 home runs in 112 innings. That's 1.69 home runs per nine innings, which is the sixth highest for a pitcher with at least 100 innings in one season in Rangers history. He is still 4-4 with a 5.23 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break and 5-8 with a 5.66 ERA in 16 games as a starter. He made his lone relief appearance against the Orioles this year, allowing one run in three innings. Tidbits
Baltimore second-round pick Mychal Givens took batting practice at Camden Yards on Saturday afternoon. Givens, the 54th pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, showed some gap power at the end of the pregame hitting session, and said, "it's a big relief to be signed and put on a uniform." Givens will report to extended spring training from Sept. 20-Oct. 17. .... The Orioles are 1-9 when Luke Scott bats fifth. Scott went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts from the No. 5 slot Saturday. ... Sunday is the 14th anniversary of Cal Ripken's record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game played. Ripken snapped Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 games on Sept. 6, 1995, at Camden Yards. Tickets
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• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Orioles (David Hernandez, 4-6, 4.54) at Red Sox (Clay Buchholz, 4-3, 4.40), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Orioles (Jason Berken, 4-11, 6.07) at Red Sox (Paul Byrd, 1-1, 7.56), 7:10 p.m. ET
Sean Welsh is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
