Time For Baltimore Orioles to Cut Ties With Brian Matusz
By Nate Wardle
Jun 14, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher
Brian Matusz(17) pitches during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. New York Yankees defeated Baltimore Orioles 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Orioles are facing tough roster decisions, but slowly but surely, the moves are becoming clearer.
The Orioles sit tied atop the American League East with the New York Yankees. A rough series against the Texas Rangers dampened the surge the Orioles were on that carried them to first.
But the Yankees lost a series to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Red Sox are busy beating up on the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, whose pitcher did not get a single out.
But, back to the Orioles. Several players are set to come off the disabled list. That is making the roster crunch even more pronounced.
Wednesday, Delmon Young was designated for assignment. And while he will always be a legend in Baltimore, I chronicle here why the move was the right one.
But what is next? Jonathan Schoop is ready to return the majors. And while Ryan Flaherty has been a very, very capable fill-in, Schoop offers more with the bat, and has one of the best arms in the game.
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When he returns, another position player will have to go. I’m not sure who that player may be. Likely an outfielder.
In addition, Wesley Wright is rehabbing and getting ready to come back. Who does he replace? Well the easy answer is Brian Matusz.
Now, the numbers for Matusz are not bad. His strike out numbers are a bit low, walk numbers a bit high.
The problem is that he continues to allow inherited runners to score. Matusz is used to get left-handers out, but all too often he doesn’t do that.
On Thursday, he was brought in to face two hitters, Mitch Moreland and Prince Fielder. He didn’t get either one of them out.
I think it is time to let Matusz take his LOOGY status to another team, and for the Orioles to move on.