Baltimore Orioles Brian Matusz: A Change of Scenery?

May 11, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Brian Matusz (17) and catcher Caleb Joseph (36) celebrate the win after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Baltimore Orioles beat the Minnesota Twins 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Orioles reliever Brian Matusz has had a difficult 2016 season. Is it time to offer him a change of scenery?

After giving up four runs last night, the O’s lefty now has an ERA of 12.00 in his six appearances. Something is not right, and it’s not just the side from which he pitches. His ball is floating to the plate on a nicely even and gentle trajectory. It’s what I call a “Hit me, hit me!” ball.

It is not as if Brian has never been effective. We all know of the Ortiz domination and that his batting average against numbers with lefties is just over .200. Last year his ERA was 2.94 in 58 games. That is not All-Starish, but it is effective, especially with a WHIP of 1.184.

For his career, the ERA is 4.85, and frankly, that’s what I see in him – a 4.85 ERA sort of pitcher who is occasionally effective in just the right situation.

It has been said today by varied Orioles writers that Matusz does not look comfortable on the mound. And so I ask, “When has he ever looked comfortable?” He is the definition of nerves run amuck on a pitching rubber… constantly fussing with his cap and dealing with a dozen other ticks and twitches. The only other O’s pitcher I’ve ever seen that was more nervous was Jake Arrieta.

And raising that name raises the question as to if Matusz is simply one of those guys who might well benefit from a new place of employment … new scenery, as we often put it. He has been dealing with trying to “arrive” for his whole Orioles career. Maybe a new place where that labeling is not part of his expectation package would do him great good.

Either that or determine that he is indeed still hurt and needing a rehab assignment. “Brian, you ARE hurt, right?”

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Years ago I was a poor student in grad school with hundreds of other poor students. The university had a group health plan to get us through … such as it was, not the best. And there was an insurance company representative daily on campus to handle our issues. I had a severe shellfish allergy reaction that sent me to the emergency room, and in dealing with the claim, the agent heard my story and said, “You choked, right?” And I answered that, no, it was a violent allergic reaction. To which he said in his thick Texas accent, “Look son, I’m just trying to help you out; you choked, right?” I guess choking was covered, but allergic reactions, not so much.

Brian, you ARE hurt, right? I’m just trying to help you out son.

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