Stan "The Fan" Charles: Could Brian Matusz Serve As Cheap Option In Orioles' Rotation?

[backwardsk]

No, that's from all righties he faced. You can look it up.

Nah, I'm saying Buck can cherry pick which righties he faces. He's going to get lifted if Nelson Cruz comes up.

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[CP0861]

You have your stats, I have mine.

Right handers batting against Matusz:

.387 in 2011

.327 in 2012

.302 in 2013

.277 in 2014

.244 in 2015

But if you look at ALL the numbers:

BA/OBP/W/K

2009

LHB .200/.222/1/11 SP

RHB .315/.367/13/27

2010

LHB .218/.288/11/51 SP

RHB .266/.332/52/92

2011

LHB .327/.367/4/15 SP

RHB .387/.451/20/23

2012

LHB .175/.230/8/40 SP/RP

RHB .327/.394/33/41

(16 starts/18 relief appearances)

.305 BA 5.42 ERA as starter

.114 BA 1.35 ERA in relief

Times facing opponent in game:

1st PA .273

2nd PA .282

3rd PA .376

2013

LHB .168/.225/7/33

RHB .302/.375/9/17

2014

LHB .223/.277/6/29

RHP .277/.351/11/24

2015

LHB .186/.231/4/38

RHB .244/.375/16/18

If those numbers don't scream LEFTY SPECIALIST, I'm not sure we're talking about the same game. He can't get righties out well enough to be a starter. His numbers are much much much better vs. LHB and he's clearly more comfortable vs. LHB. Even with the improved .244 BA vs RHB, he still can't get them out (.375 OBP) and walked just as many as he struck out. .186 BA vs LHB, 4 walks, 38 k's. LEFTY SPECIALIST.

He also has some scary numbers as a starter when you look at the opponents 3rd and 4th PA.

He's just not cut out for starting. Sorry.

[Tony-OH]

Matusz's fastball command and effectiveness with the pitch was much better last year and his slider has become solid average with flashes of plus. He was effective last spring as a starter though he wasn't stretched out very far. If the orioles are looking to steal some value, I could see them giving Matusz a chance to start. Saying that, my main concern is over the fact that Matusz has always tended to tire quickly and I'm not sure he has the endurance to be a starter.

I don't think it's as silly as some of you think because of the improvements in Matusz's fastball effectiveness last year to both righties and lefties. It wouldn't be plan A for me, but I could see it the realm of possibility.

[Can_of_corn]

Matusz's fastball command and effectiveness with the pitch was much better last year and his slider has become solid average with flashes of plus. He was effective last spring as a starter though he wasn't stretched out very far. If the orioles are looking to steal some value, I could see them giving Matusz a chance to start. Saying that, my main concern is over the fact that Matusz has always tended to tire quickly and I'm not sure he has the endurance to be a starter.

I don't think it's as silly as some of you think because of the improvements in Matusz's fastball effectiveness last year to both righties and lefties. It wouldn't be plan A for me, but I could see it the realm of possibility.

His BB rate against RHB doesn't alarm you?

[Oriolesfan4life]

If this means getting him out of the bullpen when he would fail in pressure situationstime and time again, I'm all for it.

[Tony-OH]

His BB rate against RHB doesn't alarm you?

No. I think a lot of that is him working to get better matchups in late inning situations. Most of the time Matusz will pitch carefully to the righty in a situation where a lefty is on deck. Honestly, his fastball effectiveness last year is really what is making me think he might be worth a shot. At times last year he looked like a guy who was starting to get it. My biggest concern is whether he has enough endurance. I swear Brian looks like he's gone 100 pitches 20 pitches into a game.