Matusz Tonight

[JourneyFan]

He didn't do exceptionally well, but he didn't do poorly enough to warrant a trip to Norfolk. Give him at least 5 starts.

[EddieMurrayfan]

He pitched 5 shutout innings in his second start of the season before they got to him in the 6th. I have no idea why you would say this, unless you just wanted to pile on him for his final line.

Didnt Toronto get 1 run off a solo shot in the 4th?

[CA-ORIOLE]

Not VERY good. But he looked good. He was smooth he had some problems locating his fastball but his curve and other stuff looked very good.

A big step in the right direction.

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The curve ball that was crushed as setup for the inside corner and didn't have much bite on it. He made a lot of good pitches tonight and quite a few bad ones. A couple of those GB DP's were scorched. He didn't seem to want to go inside at all. Up to much on OOZ or hittable FB's. Lets face it, Matusz has to have pinpoint command to be good and he is not there yet. Better tahn last year, better than last start, but it's that's not gonna cut it. Lets see what he does next start.

[OFFNY]

Didnt Toronto get 1 run off a solo shot in the 4th?

Yes, they did. My bad. Thanks.

[justD]

I'm sorry, but I didn't think he looked good.

The majority of his pitches were up in the zone, when they were near it at all.

The pitches he tried to locate down and away weren't fooling anyone.

He did have a couple of good ABs, and the double play balls can't be completely dismissed. He threw a couple of great pitches there, before coming out of the game. But he couldn't put away the hitters when starting out with 1-2 counts, very frustrating. And it's also going to catch up with you when you put the lead-off runner on every inning.

In the 5th he looked tired already. In the 6th he looked tired, even though he'd only thrown 77 pitches. How can you come into Spring apparently stronger than ever and not be able to go 6 innings?

Regardless, he was hanging pitches up in the zone the entire game. I would think that the third time through the lineup, the hitters would start capitalizing on that. Which I think they did.

I don't think Norfolk is the answer. I don't think he was even bad enough to lose his rotation spot. But I didn't think he looked good.

[Lucky Jim]

Regardless, he was hanging pitches up in the zone the entire game. I would think that the third time through the lineup, the hitters would start capitalizing on that. Which I think they did.

I don't think Norfolk is the answer. I don't think he was even bad enough to lose his rotation spot. But I didn't think he looked good.

I don't think he looked good. But I'm encouraged by some things I did see. (While concerned about some things, too.)

I didn't see him "hanging" pitches, though, D. Reasonable minds can differ, but his curve and slider looked quite good to me, save for the third-in-a-row against Rasmus.

He certainly wasn't able to command his FB and that's what got him in trouble. By the fifth and sixth innings, the Jays were pretty much looking for his off-speed stuff, and so managed to get hits even on pitches that weren't terrible. I tend to agree with Palmer in his take on the game: the stuff is light-years better than last year, but the command is lagging behind.

[Can_of_corn]

I think he looked like a #5, which is good enough for now. I don't think Norfolk is going to solve his issues.

[scottbbfm]

I think he looked like a #5, which is good enough for now. I don't think Norfolk is going to solve his issues.

No - his stuff would eat up AAA guys right now. It struck me as he is one between start bullpen away from turning the corner. Having Gregg come in there and earn a meltdown did nothing for his confidence though.

[Todd-O]

I know Gregg made his line look worst but frankly he was pretty fortunate to have only given up what he had at that point. One of his double plays was a lucky line drive. His command still has not returned to what it was.

I'd give him another 2 starts or so. If he still looks the same and Wada seems healthy and effective, let Wada take his spot for now and let Matusz continue his comeback at Norfolkl.

You are right on.

[RavNMadMan]

He looked OK to me as I mentioned in another thread. At times he looked good while not having good command of his fastball. He got in trouble when the Jays figured his breaking pitches were his "crutch" so to speak in the middle innings. He gave up the runs in favorable counts. No reason to think at this point he'll be heading to Norfolk. Some good and not so good in todays start. There is something to build on IMO.

[mrpennybags]

He looked OK to me as I mentioned in another thread. At times he looked good while not having good command of his fastball. He got in trouble when the Jays figured his breaking pitches were his "crutch" so to speak in the middle innings. He gave up the runs in favorable counts. No reason to think at this point he'll be heading to Norfolk. Some good and not so good in todays start. There is something to build on IMO.

Our relative pitching depth works against him. If Wada/Tillman/Eveland/etc look ready to join the rotation, someone has to go and Matusz is the only candidate right now. He should get at least one more start, hopefully more

[Redgrape]

He didn't look terrible, the stuff is there but his command is just absolutely atrocious right now. He'll be sent down to Norfolk when there's Wada or Britton to take his place.

[Moose Milligan]

I didn't watch...but 4k's and 4 walks tells me all I need to know.

[Flacco Machado]

I didn't watch...but 4k's and 4 walks tells me all I need to know.

It does? Huh? So, if a batter goes 0 for 3, but advances a runner or runner(s) up a base in each of his at bats, then he had a bad game?

The walks were not good, I'll give you that. But, Brian had a quality start going with one out to go in the 6th inning.

[Moose Milligan]

It does? Huh? So, if a batter goes 0 for 3, but advances a runner or runner(s) up a base in each of his at bats, then he had a bad game?

The walks were not good, I'll give you that. But, Brian had a quality start going with one out to go in the 6th inning.

To paraphrase SG, "That's a piss poor comparison."