George Sherrill: Specialist to Closer?
This week, MASNsports.com's Steve Melewski introduces us to some of the Bird's latest acquisitions. Today we take a look at pitcher, George Sherrill.
Can a pitcher with four career saves, who has been a left-handed specialist at times in his career, become a full-time closer and battle left and righty hitters with success ?
The Orioles say that answer is yes and new Bird George Sherrill is the man.
Sherrill, acquired in the February 8th trade that sent Erik Bedard to Seattle, recorded three saves last season and one in 2006. But he is coming off a great 2007 season when he was 2-0 2.36 in 45.2 innings. He fanned 56 and gave up just 28 hits, yielding an opponent batting average of .179, 3rd-best among AL relievers.
Sherrill pitched in 73 games, 7th among AL bullpen pitchers and averaged 11.04 strikeouts per 9 innings and that was 4th-best among AL relievers.
The O's site Sherrill's toughness as the biggest reason he can succeed injured Chris Ray as O's closer. Ray underwent Tommy John elbow surgery last August 16 and is expected to miss most, maybe all of the 2008 season.
The lefthanded Sherrill dominated left-handed hitters last year, to a .156 batting average. But he was also stellar vs. right-handed hitters, with a batting average against of only .212. And batters hit just .167 vs. him with runners in scoring position.
Sherrill, who was born and still lives in Memphis, will turn 31 on April 19. He was arbitration eligible this year, but was signed by the Mariners to a 2008 contract, on January 15.
He has pitched in 145 games the past two seasons, that ties Anaheim's Scott Shields, for most AL appearances in 2006 and 07.
His four-year big league record is 10-8, with an ERA of 3.65 and four saves.
Sherrill throws a fastball, slider and change and is usually in the mid 90's with his velocity.
Pitching coach Rick Kranitz says "George is one tough guy that has the right temperate to pitch late in games. He has a real deceptive delivery and the deception can make his fastball look even faster to a hitter. He really hides the ball well with that delivery. And sometimes pitchers who have that deception can make mistakes with thier pitches and not get hit.
We have three guys that can close in George, Chad Bradford and Jamie Walker. Ideally you'd like one to be the main guy for the job. Sherrill will get a real shot and we'll see.
I've talked to others who have worked with him before and they say he wants the ball at the end of the game. You want guys like that."
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