Checking in on Brian Matusz

by Stacey on May 31, 2009 10:10 PM EDT in Minor Leagues Comment 23 comments

With all the hullabaloo going on with the big club this week, I stopped paying much attention to the minors. But during today's broadcast, Amber Theoharris mentioned Brian Matusz's outing for Frederick today and re-piqued my interest.

On the road today against the Salem Red Sox, Matusz's line was 7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K. This is his third straight start where he has pitched 7 innings and his fourth time in 10 starts. His pitching lines for the season:

Date	IP	H	ER	BB	K
9 April	4.2	5	2	2	4
14 April	5.0	4	3	3	6
19 April	6.0	7	1	2	8
25 April	6.0	6	2	2	8
1 May	5.1	6	3	2	6
8 May	7.0	6	1	1	13
14 May	5.2	4	1	4	6
20 May	7.0	4	3	1	9
26 May	7.0	4	0	2	5
31 May	7.0	5	0	1	4
Totals:	60.2	51	16	20	69

Matusz's K/9 this season is 10.24, which is second for starters in the Carolina League (barely, Alexander Caldera of the Wilmington Blue Rocks is first at 10.3). He's also pitched the most innings of any pitcher in the Carolina League and is averaging just over 6 innings per game. That's tops on the Frederick Keys.

While his strike out numbers are impressive, Matusz isn't doing as great in the home runs and walks department, at least compared to other starters in the league. He has given up 5 home runs, which is 9th most in the league (HR/9 of 0.74). He's currently walking 2.97 per 9 innings, which is good for 23rd in the league out of 48 starting pitchers. Those aren't bad numbers, just average for the league. If you look at his individual games, he's only walked more than 2 twice. Like I said, it's not bad. Fortunately his 7.5 H/9 is good for 8th in the league, so his WHIP is a very respectable 1.17.

It seems that Andy MacPhail is instituting a plan to have all pitchers pitch at all levels of the minors. I have no idea if this plan details a minimum time at each level, but I am hoping Brian Matusz will get promoted to Bowie soon because his numbers indicate that he is more than a match for hitters in the Carolina League. I would love to get him into the rotation with Jake Arrieta and Troy Patton in Bowie and see how he matches up.

Just for fun, here is how some of his stats match up against other prospects in the Orioles system (I know, the level of competition is different, that's why it's for fun).

Name	Age	G	IP	ERA	HR	H/9	BB/9	K/9	K/BB
Brian Matusz (A+)	22	10	60.2	2.37	5	7.5	2.97	10.24	3.45
Chris Tillman (AAA)	21	8	38	2.13	1	7.8	3.1	10.4	3.38
Troy Patton (AA)	23	9	51	1.76	3	6.7	2.3	6.5	2.85
Jake Arrieta (AA)	23	9	45	3.00	3	7.4	4.0	11.2	2.8
Brandon Erbe (AA)	21	4	20	0.90	2	5.0	3.6	8.6	2.38
Zach Britton (A+)	21	9	47.1	2.47	3	7.4	4.9	8.9	1.81
Rick Zagone (A)	22	9	51.1	1.93	2	7.4	2.4	6.2	2.58

All stats are from Baseball Reference and MiLB.com. Matusz's comparisons to other Carolina League pitchers are only to pitchers with at least 5 starts this year.

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It seems

Like Troy Patton was supposed to be in the rotation last year. I know he was hurt all last year, but it seems to me that he is really dominating down there. I feel like he should be lifted up to at least AAA really soon if not the majors. If he was supposed to start last year, what is he doing destroying AA.

by WestcoastO'sFan on May 31, 2009 10:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He had surgery

to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. They started him in AA pretty much having no idea how his arm was going to hold up. So far so good. If anyone skips AAA and goes right to the team, I’d expect it to be him since he’s pitched in AAA and the majors before.

I’m smart, not a dummy. ~Adam Jones

by Stacey on May 31, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

And it seems like that should take place pretty soon, because if he is pitching well he doesn’t want to overstay in AA. But who exactly does he replace? Hernandez or Hill?

by WestcoastO'sFan on May 31, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see Patton put up a little more Ks

by NickMarkaces on May 31, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I noticed that too

I looked up his pre-injury stats, and it doesn’t look like he ever really established himself as a big K guy above single-A. The shoulder stuff kind of derailed his development — and it probably was affecting him in the later part of the 2007 season — so perhaps he can get it back up some. I definitely agree that you’d like to see a better K/9 as a predictor of big league success, though he’s showing very good peripherals otherwise.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Jun 1, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The O’s should use him in the pen if they’re worried about the durability of his shoulder.

"Your wife told you to play in New York.
Well, my wife told me you look like a dork." Boo Teixeira guys.

by birdman on May 31, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good idea

Especially if they can manage to trade Baez for something worthwhile.

by Joltin Joe Orsulak on Jun 1, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Matusz needs to be sent up

He has nothing left to prove in Frederick.

Although I’ll still be fine with the idea of Andy super methodically bringing up these prospects, a kid like Matusz theoretically could have started in Bowie, so an “early” promotion would be justified.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on May 31, 2009 11:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Seriously. He's ready for AA at least. It's not like he's super young either.

by O'sFan21 on Jun 1, 2009 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...we certainly have a future to look foward to : )

by Tetris on May 31, 2009 11:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Matt Wieters broke a bat last night. Nobody knows what happened to the ball.

by CoachOfEarl on Jun 1, 2009 12:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

thx for posting

I like looking at all the prospects. I’ll throw in one more:

Oliver Drake, 22 years old, A, 9 G, 8 GS, 45.1 IP, 31/12 K/BB (2.58), 2 HRA, 2.80 ERA, 1.09 WHIP

His page.

Librarians are hiding something

by dfa on Jun 1, 2009 12:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bundy too

If we’re talking about the younger guys.

My best game plan is to sit on the bench and call out specific instructions like 'C'mon Boog,' 'Get ahold of one, Frank,' or 'Let's go, Brooks.' -Earl Weaver

by Baltimo on Jun 1, 2009 3:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have a Bundy?

Awesome. I hope he makes it to MLB, so we can print up “GOOOOO BUNDY!” shirts.

"The United States is the New York Yankees of countries...powerful and respected until the year 2000." - Homer J. Simpson

by Brotz13 on Jun 1, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hard to say much about him....

…since he hasn’t pitched yet this season.

by James F on Jun 1, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The future's so bright, the Oriole Bird has to wear shades

With the recent excitement surrounding the likes of Riemold, Berken, some guy named Wieters, etc., I got to thinking this weekend about which prospects I was still excited to see debut with the big club. Matusz’s name came to mind first. It’ll take some time for him to get to Baltimore, but it’s nice that the O’s are generating excitement from the farm system and not just hot stove “What Ifs?” The very fact that there are multiple answers to the question “Who’s Next?” speaks to how much the organization has improved.

by Roarfrom34 on Jun 1, 2009 10:05 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

He'll take about as long as Wieters took to get to the bigs

As they were both college polished, first round draft picks. You might add a few months to Matusz’s time due to him being a pitcher, but I expect he’ll be sent up mid-late next year. Barring any issues of course.

Matt Wieters broke a bat last night. Nobody knows what happened to the ball.

by CoachOfEarl on Jun 1, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brandon Erbe

Great post. I really appreciate information about our young arms. I have been trying to get more information on Brandon Erbe, who has a lot of top side. Is he on the DL?

Also, I am all of letting the young guns develop in the minors. To draw a comparison, Jimmy Connors’s manager kept him in the minors of tennis for a long time so that Connors would learn how to win and develop confidence. When he hit the big time, Connors had that winning intangible.

by BaltoBen on Jun 1, 2009 10:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brandon Erbe started off the season really well

But he’s been on the DL for awhile. He hasn’t pitched since April 29th. Arm fatigue, I think? I think our resident Baysox fan (baysox39? I’m not sure of the # on the end of his name) said he’ll start throwing soon. I didn’t see any info on the baysox webpage about his status.

I’m smart, not a dummy. ~Adam Jones

by Stacey on Jun 1, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

spoone is also hurt...

tony butler, one of the lesser bits from thebedard trade is also hurt.

echoing an earlier comment, i DO love me some oliver drake. rick zagone, too.

"If they pitch to you, make them pay."

--Diamond Dave to the Phenom

by j.q. higgins on Jun 1, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had a lot more guys on the comparison list

including Oliver Drake. Also I threw in D. Hernandez and Berken since they’ve only been up for a bit. But then I didn’t feel like typing all that in, so those guys got cut.

I will lead these Peoples to the promised land, also known as "Slightly Ahead of the Blue Jays." ~WietersRunDry

by Stacey on Jun 1, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great post

I love me some minor league action. It is great to know that each level features multiple pitching prospects. I have been fortunate enough to meet and briefly chat with everyone on the list (minus Zagone), and I can tell you that these fellows know that they will be facing tough competition for a rotation slot in the future. Nothing is guaranteed, not even for the Big 3.

Of the people on the list, Zach Britton is my ‘sleeper’ of the bunch…the one who could really exceed expectations.