O's 3, Twins 2: Shutdown Sherrill and the chase for a record

by SC on Jun 5, 2008 8:33 PM EDT

With the O's win today, the team inched back toward .500, but more intriguingly, George Sherrill notched his 20th save on the season, good for second in the majors behind Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels.

The MLB record for saves in a season, of course, is Bobby Thigpen's 57 for the 1990 White Sox, a landmark season in an otherwise undistinguished career. I don't think Sherrill (or anyone else) has any hope of chasing Thigpen's mark any time soon.

But how about the single-season O's mark? That's a mere 45, set by Randy Myers in 1997, when he was killer and had the best season of his career. The former Nasty Boy was out of baseball after the 1998 season.

But can Sherrill really chase that mark? It'll be tough, but the O's are winning a lot of close games -- obviously, since Sherrill has saved 20 of 29 Oriole wins.

Myers' 45 is the only 40-plus save season in O's history. Here in early June, Sherrill is at 20, almost halfway to Myers' mark with the rest of this month, July, August and September to be played. Should be interesting.

Poll

Do you think Sherrill will break Randy Myers' single-season Orioles record of 45 saves?

Yes

70 votes

No

72 votes

142 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 24 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Sherrill is growing on me

I want him to break the record, if for no other reason than to see the flat-bill style become all the rage in Chesapeake area Little Leagues. No more wearing the hat sideways, barely atop the head, or backwards with the bill brutalized into a “V” shape. Just yanked down tight on the head, with the perfectly flat bill straight and center. I want to see kids with levels in their back pockets to check for the cap bill’s straightness.
Straight cap muthah f____kahs!

by Lothar on Jun 5, 2008 9:01 PM EDT 0 recs

I played when it was high stirrups.

You had to put elastic on the bottom to get them higher.

No stupidity with the caps back then. But flat bill >> crooked cap.

by drj on Jun 5, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

I wouldn't be surprised if the flat bill

is already “all the rage.” I see kids wearing them like that every day.

"We might as well just win this game." -Adam Jones

by exitfare on Jun 6, 2008 8:13 AM EDT up 0 recs

I voted No

Because I assume he’ll get traded. But if he sticks around, he could do it.

"Whether your name is Gehrig or Ripken, DiMaggio or Robinson, or that of some youngster who picks up his bat or puts on his glove, you are challenged by the game of baseball to do your very best day in and day out. That's all I've ever tried to do."

by spike2131 on Jun 5, 2008 9:10 PM EDT 0 recs

Damn. Did not think of that.

But if he does not get traded, I really think he can do it. Our offense is impotent. If we’re up, we’re probably not up by much. And if we win ~75 games, it’s definitely a strong possibility that Sherril has saved more than 45.

Sooo… voted yes.

by Y Not on Jun 5, 2008 9:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

He completely could...

i just dont think he’ll be around.
however, its cool that its even a thought. werent the o’s supposed to win less than 45 games or something to that effect?

"Don't worry, the fans don't start booing until July." - Earl Weaver

by daveh873 on Jun 5, 2008 9:11 PM EDT 0 recs

He's not a Nasty Boy.

Even if he isn’t traded, I suspect he’ll wear down a bit. He throws a lot of pitches.

Oh, and the team has to win some games for him to tally the saves.

by drj on Jun 5, 2008 9:19 PM EDT 0 recs

I say no.

First of all, George Sherrill scares the shit out of me. He’s been effective but I feel like there are lots of deep fly balls, lots of baserunners. Plus I’m not sure how he’ll hold up over the season. The past two seasons he has pitched less than 50 innings all year, and he already has 25 this year. I don’t really know much about pitchers wearing out (# of appearances vs. total innings, whatever) but who knows how he’ll fare down the stretch.

"We’re not concerned about what other teams think. I know teams come in here thinking we’re playing the Orioles. And then 9 innings later, they got the loss, they know what we’re about." ~Adam Jones

by Stacey on Jun 6, 2008 12:58 AM EDT 0 recs

Why?

There have not been a lot of deep fly balls. The defense is usually playing no doubles D in the 9th, so yes they are deeper than normal. However, most of the fly balls, the outfield has to come in for. There have only been the two HR and about a handful of others. That isn’t to bad, since all of you are playing FB% these days.

Also, he pitched less than 50 innings the past two years, yes, however, go back and watch the M’s games. Last year, he appeared in 70+ games, but was fully warmed up in almost 100. That was nearly the same the year before. Sure, they aren’t game innings, but it really doesn’t make that much difference—especially when you talk to the person who is doing it.

Sorry you are scared—guess winning scares you!

by elsid on Jun 6, 2008 6:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

oh yes, winning scares me

I don’t know what percentage of fly balls he allows or anything like that, but he does seems to allow a lot of fly balls. And he does allow a lot of baserunners. It’s the base runners that make it stressful to watch more than anything. Like I said, he’s been effective, but it’s scary watching him close out the game sometimes.

As far as him pitching 70+ games last year, that’s why I said that I don’t know much about pitchers wearing out based on # of innings vs. total appearances. But I think it’s simple common sense that when a pitcher’s workload changes drastically that it could affect him.

Oh and another reason to vote no is because the Orioles will probably win 5 games in August and September.

by Stacey on Jun 7, 2008 8:45 AM EDT up 0 recs

Well.

It’s not too out of the question for them to win 40 this month and next… right?

"Chickens are hard to catch." Jennifer Scott (Luuuuuuuke's Mom)

by dayzd toe on Jun 7, 2008 10:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

That is fine...

His WHIP is second on the team of regulars, behind only Johnson. Only 31 people in base in nearly 28 innings.

There are also different types of fly balls. Take out all the popups to the infield and soft line drives to the infield—as those are air outs too. It still would be close to 2:1, but sorry that worries you.

Also, I guess Guthrie must scare the living bejesus out of you. Every time it seems he gets a one run lead, he gives it up. Glad the 5th and 6th inning aren’t save situations, the O’s would have at least 5 blown saves from Guthrie alone—today the first was it. If that doesn’t count, then why would the 9th bother you so bad, when it doesn’t even happen that often?!?

by elsid on Jun 7, 2008 11:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

I am not even sure...

GS52 wil be with the O’s in August, so the 5 wins might not matter, except to O’s fans. So, in that case, your vote of “no” would probably be right. Congrats!

Although, I hope my brother gets the chance to break it or at least do well with another team.

by elsid on Jun 7, 2008 11:15 PM EDT up 0 recs