PressBox: Is It Time to Cut Ties with Brian Matusz?

[PaulFolk]

He has faced 29 righties and 22 lefites. He is what he is, and he's not being used in the situations where he can succeed (even if that's limited).

Righties - .864 OPS

Lefties - .536 OPS

If we can accept him as a left specialist who embarrasses Big Slopi, then he's got a solid place in the bullpen.

Every lefty specialist in the majors is still going to face his share of right-handed hitters. It's unavoidable. Other teams can stack their lineup so they have a right-handed hitter in between their lefties. Or they can send up a right-handed pinch-hitter when a lefty reliever comes in. For people suggesting that Buck should only ever use Matusz against left-handed hitters, that's just not realistic.

Yesterday's game seemed like it was set up well for Matusz. When he came in, three of the first four batters were left-handed hitters, and it was the bottom of the order, so whatever right-handed batters he was facing weren't very tough. Yet Matusz still struggled. The M's sent up a couple of right-handed pinch-hitters, and he just couldn't defend himself.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I think that is when DD and Buck will have a hard decision. Until Wright is healthy, Matusz stays. By the way, I think it is at best only a 50/50 proposition that Wright is a better reliever than Matusz. Last couple of years:

2013: Wright 3.69 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, Matusz 3.53 ERA, 1.16 WHIP

2014: Wright 3.12 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, Matusz 3.48 ERA, 1.32 WHIP

Too broad of a brush. Wright's development and trends indicate he is a much better candidate to pitch to both sides of the plate than Matusz at this point. Wright did not really start to utilize his CH until the 2013 season (averaged less than 1% in 2011 and 2012 and more than 10.5% in 2013 and 2014). This point was emphasized when we acquired him. Wright's 2 seam FB (along with his 4 seamer) also is probably a more valuable tool than Matusz's mostly 4 seamer against RHB's.

Personally I think there is a place for both if TJ and Garcia are out of the picture.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Every lefty specialist in the majors is still going to face his share of right-handed hitters. It's unavoidable. Other teams can stack their lineup so they have a right-handed hitter in between their lefties. Or they can send up a right-handed pinch-hitter when a lefty reliever comes in. For people suggesting that Buck should only ever use Matusz against left-handed hitters, that's just not realistic.

Yesterday's game seemed like it was set up well for Matusz. When he came in, three of the first four batters were left-handed hitters, and it was the bottom of the order, so whatever right-handed batters he was facing weren't very tough. Yet Matusz still struggled. The M's sent up a couple of right-handed pinch-hitters, and he just couldn't defend himself.

I think it's pretty debatable what the share and utilization should be. Certainly, the overall makeup of the BP can make that tough to manage.

[backwardsk]

Too broad of a lense. Wright's development and trends indicate he is a much better candidate to pitch to both sides of the plate than Matusz. Wright did not really not start to utilize his CH until the 2013 season (averaged less than 1% in 2011 and 2012 and more than 10.5% in 2013 and 2104). This point was emphasized when we acquired him. Wright's 2 seam FB (along with his 4 seamer) also is probably a more valulable asset than Matusz mostly 4 seamer against RHB's.

Personally I think there is a place for both if TJ and Garcia are out of the picture.

Do you intend to bring Gausman back up if there are no injuries? I think I'd rather have M Wright up here too. And I'd rather have Garcia over Matusz long term.

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[Frobby]

But it has been proven over and over and OVER again that Buck doesn't want him just as a specialist. I get your point and understand but that just isn't how he is used. There is a big disconnect.

You are wrong about that. Matusz has ranked very high among lefties in fewest IP per appearance, and highest percentage of batters faced who are lefthanded. Just for example, last year we had Matusz, MacFarland and Britton in our bullpen. Matusz saw lefties 50% of the time, McFarland 42%, Britton 33%.

50% might not sound that high, but it is, because the vast majority of batters are righthanded. There are very few lefties who face LHB more than half the time.

And, it makes sense to let Matusz face a few RHB in low leverage situations, or when the rest of the bullpen has been overused. So is he used "just as a specialist?" No, but neither is any other LHP. He's used as a specialist a high percentage of the time compared to other pitchers.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Do you intend to bring Gausman back up if there are no injuries? I think I'd rather have M Wright up here too. And I'd rather have Garcia over Matusz long term.

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I think the situation with Gausman/Wright (SP)/Norris are too far influx to know. What Wright does in his next few starts might very well keep Gausman in AAA for awhile. I would bet Garcia is going to be on the DL for awhile and we'll get a select 2 week period to reach the 60 day mark at some point. If not they can manage that 2 weeks early next year from what I'm understanding.

[Frobby]

The thing that stands out to me about Matusz this year is that he's averaging 6.3 BB/9. Odd thing is, if I recall correctly, he walked either 0 or 1 batter this spring.

[Crazysilver03]

It was pretty ballsy for the Mariners manager to PH two lefties in the 4th yesterday. And it backfired on him later in the game.

[CA-ORIOLE]

The thing that stands out to me about Matusz this year is that he's averaging 6.3 BB/9. Odd thing is, if I recall correctly, he walked either 0 or 1 batter this spring.

One of the things I have heard is how great his CH was in the spring. From my point, they did look really good and even consistent at times, but I think a lot of them were probably out of the strike zone and/or against inferior/unprprepared hitters in retrospect. Fools gold. I'm not seeing any real ability to execute a good/consistent changeup that will get ML hitters out. Quite frankly he looks scared to throw strikes, particularly against a competent RHB. .

[Oriolesfan4life]

YES.

He has not been the same since he gave up the HR to Ibanez in the ALDS back in 2012.

It looks like he has no confidence on the mound and time and time again, he fails to get it done in big spots.

I would rather have kept Troy Patton.

[Crazysilver03]

YES.

He has not been the same since he gave up the HR to Ibanez in the ALDS back in 2012.

It looks like he has no confidence on the mound and time and time again, he fails to get it done in big spots.

I would rather have kept Troy Patton.

Troy Patton can be had on a minor league deal. He is definitely not what he used to be.

[sportsfan8703]

Matusz just doesn't have good stuff. We already have too many soft tossers on the staff. I don't think Matusz is going anywhere. Therefore he needs to be treated as the 7th guy in the pen and a loogy. That's his role. With hunter struggling and Gausman on the dl, we are short a set up man. Matusz is not the answer. I'd consider bringing Drake up for either Wilson or Mac. Or maybe Wright/Norris in that role.

[TouchemAll]

One of the things I have heard is how great his CH was in the spring. From my point, they did look really good and even consistent at times, but I think a lot of them were probably out of the strike zone and/or against inferior/unprprepared hitters in retrospect. Fools gold. I'm not seeing any real ability to execute a good/consistent changeup that will get ML hitters out. Quite frankly he looks scared to throw strikes, particularly against a competent RHB. .

JMHO Nobody in that bull pen grooves more FB's and it's his lack of control on the FB that kills him.

[ChuckS]

Matusz lacks both stuff and command. Not a guy I want to see pitch in any type of crucial situation. I would try to pass him through waivers and see if someone claims him. Otherwise, I would just cut ties. It's 3 mil. Not the end of the world.

I think Wesley Wright will need to come back and be effective for this to have any chance of happening.

[Going Underground]

YES.

He has not been the same since he gave up the HR to Ibanez in the ALDS back in 2012.

It looks like he has no confidence on the mound and time and time again, he fails to get it done in big spots.

I would rather have kept Troy Patton.

I think Patton is suspended for half the year.