Could Zach Clark be this year's Miguel Gonzalez?

[RichmondVA Orio]

They are about a year apart in age, approximately the same size in height, Clark is 30lbs heavier, each bounced around the minors for 5 to 6 years, each had injury problems mid way through their minor league years, each throws right handed, each have 5 pitches(2 seam, 4 seam, change up, slider and curve) that sit between the same speeds of 88 to 93 mph and each rely on pinpoint accuracy.

Per Baltimore Sun:

Clark -- who pitched at UMBC -- had a breakout season that largely went under the radar, going 15-7 with a 2.78 ERA in 28 games this past season at Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.

Clark, a Wilmington, Del., native was a dominant pitcher at Norfolk, going 5-2 with a 1.75 ERA there in eight games (seven starts), allowing just 38 hits over 46 1/3 innings. He threw a complete-game three-hit shutout in his last start of the season Aug. 31.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-10-31/sports/bal-orioles-select-contract-of-umbc-product-zach-clark-20121031_1_triple-a-norfolk-40-man-roster-umbc

And then there is their minor league stats that look awfully similar:

Miguel Gonzalez

Year Team W L ERA G SV IP

2005 ANG 1 0 0 3 0 4

2005 CR 2 5 4.7 28 8 44

2005 RC 0 0 0 2 0 4.2

2005 Minors 3 5 3.93 33 8 52.2

2006 RC 1 0 1.71 14 1 26.1

2006 ARK 0 2 3.88 31 4 53.1

2006 Minors 1 2 3.16 45 5 79.2

2007 ARK 8 4 3.37 30 1 130.2

2007 Minors 8 4 3.37 30 1 130.2

2010 SAL 6 4 4.54 17 0 73.1

2010 Minors 6 4 4.54 17 0 73.1

2011 SAL 0 1 1.8 2 0 5

2011 POR 0 5 6.17 15 0 46.2

2011 PAW 0 1 1.8 1 0 5

2011 Minors 0 7 5.4 18 0 56.2

2012 NOR 3 2 1.61 14 1 44.2

2012 Minors 3 2 1.61 14 1 44.2

Zach Clark

Year Team W L ERA G SV IP

2006 BLU 5 4 2.11 13 0 64

2006 ABD 1 1 7.36 3 0 11

2006 Minors 6 5 2.88 16 0 75

2007 ABD 3 1 1.03 5 0 26.1

2007 DEL 2 3 3.1 10 0 58

2007 FRE 0 1 11.05 3 0 7.1

2007 Minors 5 5 3.14 18 0 91.2

2008 DEL 1 2 4.11 6 1 15.1

2008 FRE 2 2 3.25 12 1 27.2

2008 BOW 4 2 3.6 10 0 60

2008 NOR 1 2 5.4 4 0 18.1

2008 Minors 8 8 3.86 32 2 121.1

2009 ORI 0 0 0 4 0 9

2009 FRE 0 0 1.13 4 0 8

2009 BOW 2 1 5.06 13 0 26.2

2009 NOR 0 0 3.86 2 0 4.2

2009 Minors 2 1 3.35 23 0 48.1

2010 DEL 0 0 0 1 0 2

2010 FRE 2 3 5.25 9 0 48

2010 BOW 1 1 3.41 14 1 37

2010 NOR 0 5 4.13 6 0 28.1

2010 Minors 3 9 4.29 30 1 115.1

2011 BOW 10 9 5 24 0 138.2

2011 Minors 10 9 5 24 0 138.2

2012 BOW 10 5 3.19 20 0 121.1

2012 NOR 5 2 1.75 8 0 46.1

2012 Minors 15 7 2.79 28 0 167.2

He has looked pretty good so far in Spring Training. McGregor is high on him. He seems to have figured things out a bit last year. In a WBAL interview from this past November, he was asked what was the key to his surge over the last half of the 2012 season. he stated that he stopped paying so much attention to the radar gun and concentrated more on his location.

Is it too late for Clark? Other than maybe a cup of coffee? If he has a great Spring, does he have a chance to make the 25 man without injury to those perceived ahead of him?

[weams]

They are about a year apart in age, approximately the same size in height, Clark is 30lbs heavier, each bounced around the minors for 5 to 6 years, each had injury problems mid way through their minor league years, each throws right handed, each have 5 pitches(2 seam, 4 seam, change up, slider and curve) that sit between the same speeds of 88 to 93 mph and each rely on pinpoint accuracy.

Per Baltimore Sun:

Clark -- who pitched at UMBC -- had a breakout season that largely went under the radar, going 15-7 with a 2.78 ERA in 28 games this past season at Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.

Clark, a Wilmington, Del., native was a dominant pitcher at Norfolk, going 5-2 with a 1.75 ERA there in eight games (seven starts), allowing just 38 hits over 46 1/3 innings. He threw a complete-game three-hit shutout in his last start of the season Aug. 31.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-10-31/sports/bal-orioles-select-contract-of-umbc-product-zach-clark-20121031_1_triple-a-norfolk-40-man-roster-umbc

And then there is their minor league stats that look awfully similar:

Miguel Gonzalez

Year Team W L ERA G SV IP

2005 ANG 1 0 0 3 0 4

2005 CR 2 5 4.7 28 8 44

2005 RC 0 0 0 2 0 4.2

2005 Minors 3 5 3.93 33 8 52.2

2006 RC 1 0 1.71 14 1 26.1

2006 ARK 0 2 3.88 31 4 53.1

2006 Minors 1 2 3.16 45 5 79.2

2007 ARK 8 4 3.37 30 1 130.2

2007 Minors 8 4 3.37 30 1 130.2

2010 SAL 6 4 4.54 17 0 73.1

2010 Minors 6 4 4.54 17 0 73.1

2011 SAL 0 1 1.8 2 0 5

2011 POR 0 5 6.17 15 0 46.2

2011 PAW 0 1 1.8 1 0 5

2011 Minors 0 7 5.4 18 0 56.2

2012 NOR 3 2 1.61 14 1 44.2

2012 Minors 3 2 1.61 14 1 44.2

Zach Clark

Year Team W L ERA G SV IP

2006 BLU 5 4 2.11 13 0 64

2006 ABD 1 1 7.36 3 0 11

2006 Minors 6 5 2.88 16 0 75

2007 ABD 3 1 1.03 5 0 26.1

2007 DEL 2 3 3.1 10 0 58

2007 FRE 0 1 11.05 3 0 7.1

2007 Minors 5 5 3.14 18 0 91.2

2008 DEL 1 2 4.11 6 1 15.1

2008 FRE 2 2 3.25 12 1 27.2

2008 BOW 4 2 3.6 10 0 60

2008 NOR 1 2 5.4 4 0 18.1

2008 Minors 8 8 3.86 32 2 121.1

2009 ORI 0 0 0 4 0 9

2009 FRE 0 0 1.13 4 0 8

2009 BOW 2 1 5.06 13 0 26.2

2009 NOR 0 0 3.86 2 0 4.2

2009 Minors 2 1 3.35 23 0 48.1

2010 DEL 0 0 0 1 0 2

2010 FRE 2 3 5.25 9 0 48

2010 BOW 1 1 3.41 14 1 37

2010 NOR 0 5 4.13 6 0 28.1

2010 Minors 3 9 4.29 30 1 115.1

2011 BOW 10 9 5 24 0 138.2

2011 Minors 10 9 5 24 0 138.2

2012 BOW 10 5 3.19 20 0 121.1

2012 NOR 5 2 1.75 8 0 46.1

2012 Minors 15 7 2.79 28 0 167.2

He has looked pretty good so far in Spring Training. McGregor is high on him. He seems to have figured things out a bit last year. In a WBAL interview from this past November, he was asked what was the key to his surge over the last half of the 2012 season. he stated that he stopped paying so much attention to the radar gun and concentrated more on his location.

Is it too late for Clark? Other than maybe a cup of coffee? If he has a great Spring, does he have a chance to make the 25 man without injury to those perceived ahead of him?

Nice post. I think Zach Clark has three options, so I would assume that being on the 40 man roster, he will be optioned no matter how great his spring.

[Brooks The Great]

I have no idea, but if Clark does turn out to this year's Miguel Gonzalez, I would bet my house that the O's return to the playoffs this season (I think they will even if Clark doesn't contribute, I just wouldn't bet my house on it).

I really believe that the Orioles have the deepest quality starting rotation pool in the majors.

[BamaOsFan]

So far he has been very impressive. He comes in and gets ahead of the hitters consistently. There are some quality arms on this staff.

[luismatos4prez]

I really believe that the Orioles have the deepest quality starting rotation pool in the majors.

Absolutely.

And I haven't seen Zach Clark pitch, but Rick Peterson's positive comments on him make me think he has that sneaky Gonzo potential.

I'd bet on him being more like this year's version of Steve Johnson from last year. Make a few spot starts and pitch in long relief very effectively.

[gold21030]

I'm really rooting for him especially since he went to my college.

[wildcard]

Its hard to see Clark getting the opportunity that Gonzalez got. Clark is too far down the depth chart for that.

Watching Gausman pitch he is probably farther along than Bundy. He may he in the majors with that 97 mph fastball and that change up by July.

[Il BuonO]

He probably is too far down on the depth chart, but is McFarland really a better pitcher than Clark is? I doubt it.

[OFFNY]

.

Zach's thread last year was in the minor league section:O http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php/124219-Zach-Clark-Tonight

This year, it will be on the Orioles Talk section.

[markakis8]

Quality post, but Miguel Gonzalez is one in a several thousand. Meaning, a quality starting pitcher that was a diamond in the rough and neither of the 30 teams took a chance until AFTER spring training started.

Point being, guys like Miguel Gonzalez come like once a decade. He had to be the BEST valued player of 2012 besides Mike Trout and Bryce Harper in terms of payment/performance.

But DD has made some interesting claims and minor league signings that should pan out for us at some point in 2013.

[Frobby]

Quality post, but Miguel Gonzalez is one in a several thousand. Meaning, a quality starting pitcher that was a diamond in the rough and neither of the 30 teams took a chance until AFTER spring training started.

Point being, guys like Miguel Gonzalez come like once a decade. He had to be the BEST valued player of 2012 besides Mike Trout and Bryce Harper in terms of payment/performance.

But DD has made some interesting claims and minor league signings that should pan out for us at some point in 2013.

This. It's unlikely the O's will have another Gonzalez this year. Clark may play a useful role, but I wouldn't hold my breath on him replicating Gonzo 2012.

[SurhoffRules]

This. It's unlikely the O's will have another Gonzalez this year. Clark may play a useful role, but I wouldn't hold my breath on him replicating Gonzo 2012.

There are also considerable differences in their miLB peripherals.

Gonzalez struck out more and yielded less hits at the same walk rate. Clark's HR/9 was better, granted, but not that much.

Bergesen feels like a better comp. He had the better K/9, better the BB/9, and an almost identical H/9 and HR/9 and we all saw how narrow his margin for success in the majors was. Yes, I know he had some injuries, but his stuff really didn't give him a lot of wiggle room when on the way back.

I'm not saying he can't be a useful part, but I'm not expecting a breakout.

[Morgan423]

That would be great!

I also hope that Miguel Gonzalez is also this year's Miguel Gonzalez! :clap3:

[OFFNY]

.

Ouch, Zach. I have you as one of my 2 sleepers for the Orioles in 2013 (the other is Rick Zagone.)

The only saving graces are that you had 0 walks and 7 strikeouts, and 2 of the runs that you allowed were unearned.

ZACH CLARK O(vs. AAA-Durham, 4/05) O (Opening Day)

IP:O 4.33

H:o. 9

R:O. 6

ER:) 4

BB:. 0

SO:. 7

Pitches: 71 (52 Strikes, 19 Balls)

2013 ERA: 8.31 (AAA)

[OFFNY]

.

ZACH CLARK O (vs. AAA-Charlotte, 4/10)

IP:O 4.33

H:o. 3

R:O. 2

ER:) 1

BB:. 3

SO:. 3

Pitches: 92 (54 Strikes, 38 Balls)

2013 ERA: 5.19 (AAA)