Matusz Close, Series Split?
I’ve kind of been avoiding Brian Matusz in the main page posts because, well, there hasn’t been a lot of news. Plenty of speculation (and I’m not saying I have a problem with that) but not a whole lot of news.
Until today, when (as discussed in the comments) Matusz arrived in Baltimore for a physical. Sources say that he and the team are close.
This is good news by any measure, and I’m not sure I care that much what kind of contract they give him. I will say, though, that there is danger in giving any draft pick a major league deal. Matusz looks from here like as close to a sure thing as he can be, but we have to remember that there are no sure things in the baseball draft. It’s not like the NBA or NFL or even the NHL, where everyone is surprised if the top 10-15 picks don’t all contribute. Baseball is riddled with top-five and top-ten guys who just couldn’t put it together.
We’ve got one on the team right now, in fact, in Sweet Lou Montanez. Think the Cubs expected more when they took him third overall?
I’m not saying Matusz is destined for that fate, and in fact I think he’ll be just fine. But to lock him and us into a major league deal before a single pitch of professional baseball is just not a good idea. He needs to sign, start at the bottom, and get here when he’s ready — no added pressure or timetables needed.
Meanwhile…the DC Cab takes to the streets of Cleveland tonight with a series split on the line. Come on, big guy. Make us proud.
I couldn’t agree more. For a coupla reasons.
1) Sets a bad precedent for future draft picks
2) It would be willingly limiting our options (right?)
Sweet analogy. Perfect.
I’ll take a road split any day of the week.
The only worry I have is you end up making this guy our Jeremy Guthrie, where he’s put on a short timetable and shows something, but not enough to crack the rotation over Tillman and Arrieta and Bergesen and Guthrie and whoever else in 3 years. Then you try to slip him through waivers and of course he gets claimed.
Honestly, though, I would be willing to give him a deal where he makes like 3.5 million a year for 6 years (or roughly 10 million less than ARod in a single year) and say to myself “Well he’s either going to flame out like draft picks can do – but of course I don’t think that’s likely because I’ve read the scouting reports on him – or he’s going to shoot through the system”. The odds of him falling in between seem real low to me, personally.
I suppose 3-3 in the seventh is pretty much acceptable, but why O why couldn’t Daniel get through the sixth?
If you missed it, Penn is still hurt and Sarfate is staying in the rotation.
You have to appreciate his honesty:
“I took the opportunity that Dave and Andy gave to me,” he said. “I tried to go with it, but right now it obviously doesn’t seem like I’m capable of starting. I can’t even go five innings, let alone six or seven. I’m trying to get innings. I’m trying to keep the guys in the bullpen out of the game and trying to keep us close, and right now it’s not working.
“I’ve just got to go out for my bullpen [session], and right now I don’t know what’s going to happen to me — if I’m going to go back in the ‘pen or start another one. It’s a learning thing. I guess I still am a rookie, but there [are] no excuses.”
…but do I detect a hint of lost confidence? Where by “hint” I mean “avalanche”?
I kind of feel bad for him and I really hope we’re not doing long-term damage.
Also: I’ve got some very interesting thoughts coming tomorrow or Sunday (hopefully tomorrow) regarding the “50 millionth fan” promotion.
Ahhh, insurance runs.
It hasn’t been mentioned, but Huff, Millar, Payton and Walker all cleared waivers. George Sherrill did not.
Thanks for mentioning that, Greg. I hadn’t seen it.
I don’t think there are any surprises there. I could easily see a trade involving Payton or Walker or Millar, but I can’t see Huff moving. Then again it’s all about the “right deal” so, hey, trade ‘em all if you absolutely can’t turn down what the other guy is offering. Nobody in that group is critical to next year or beyond.
Saturday: Sarfate-Verlander. Are you kidding me? Jesus Christ, just call Burres or Liz back up and knock this stupid shit off. This is getting re-goddamn-diculous.
We split, which I said was what we had to do on the road in Cleveland to stay on track, so that’s great. Now somehow we need 2 of 3 in Detriot with Waters, Sarfate, and Olson pitching against Robertson, Verlander, and Miner. Are we boned?
For the record: I don’t think anybody else gets traded. We have until August 31st, but really I think the only useful, available part we have for any contenders is Huff, a DH with contract issues. The only team I can even imagine would want him, honestly, is the Twins (since the NL doesn’t have the DH and the other AL contenders seem set at the position, and we’re not trading him to a non-contender)…I just don’t see us matching up there. Too much money.