Guthrie headed back here?
Pitching coach Rick Kranitz has Jeremy Guthrie scheduled to pitch on Sunday, which might be a neat trick, considering that the staff ace has accompanied Team USA to Los Angeles.
The Orioles would like to get Guthrie back in a routine here and make sure he's built up enough innings for his Opening Day start. Guthrie had another rough outing last night in the World Baseball Classic and might not be used again in the tournament.
Guthrie allowed six runs (two earned) and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings against Venezuela. He kept the ball down, but gave up some loud doubles.
"I texted him last night," said Kranitz, who attended the game in Miami. "I just let him know that I thought it was time for him to come back and get in a regular turn here. I know he went to L.A. I'll call him on my way back from Viera, but I have tentatively penciled him in to pitch on the 22nd. I don't think they really need any more starters, so in my mind, there's no need for him to be there. He needs to be here and he needs to pitch, and that would work out perfectly for scheduling purposes and for him, too."
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
He really does need to get his butt back there...he has pitched terrible in the WBC....don't want him pitching and have some mechanical flaw that may have popped up...O's need him more than team USA...he does not have any small injury does he???
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Not that we're aware of. - Roch
For whoever asked.... Yes, Ben Sheets did sign somewhere. He signed with the Fort Worth County MVA Organ Donor program. That way when his arm falls off, it can go to someone in need.
Actually, he was going to sign with Texas then came the physical. The exam revealed that his arm is held on by a chewed piece of bubble gum. I just can't stop today.
Anyway, he underwent surgery, and he hopes to be good to go later in the summer. However, things were delayed when the only surgeon willing to undertake the procedure was Mary Sheilly's Frankenstein.
In reality, I think the Ravens have a better shot at signing Walter Payton than the O's attempting to sign Sheets. OK, Poor taste.
Anyway, the O's need a starter with little injury history, or make sure they are 110%, has top of the rotation stuff, and will work for food.
Think Roy Hobbs right at the point where he K's the Whammers tubby dumper.
If only I had known this entry was coming, I wouldn't have vented my little Anti-WBC rant a couple posts back.
I'm sure Jeremy will be disappointed, but I really think it's for the best. Hard to tell if his performance last night was because of inactivity, the poor weather conditions or a combo of both...but he needs to get in regular innings and have the chance to work on things that may need some tweaking without the competition factor coming into play.
Suddenly Tim Spooneybarger isn't such a far-fetched idea, now is it? Hmmphhh!
Roch,
This doesn't make any sense to me. Why would Guts head to the west coast....why wouldn't Kranny have kept him back if that is what he was planning? I think Kranny wants to get some work in on him back at home because Guts has pretty much been shelled in the WBC. It just doesn't make any logical sense. I know Guts is proud to be playing on Team USA and he is a stand up guy who respects the game but it looks as though he still has some work to do in order to be ready for opening day. And I love the way you are using the Rich Hill thing to take a couple of days off, good cover (just giving you grief of course)! Keep up the great blogging.
Boston yanks there guys out of the WBC (position players too) for a hang nail so I would not feel bad getting Guthrie out of there. I have watched more than a few of the games & want the USA to win, but not at Guthrie's expense. The best part, Cuba is out. Now as long as Venezuela loses, things will be OK.
I did not watch the game but did look at the box score and saw that only two of the runs were earned. Still looks like a very poor performance but does that explain some of it?
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Adam Dunn air-mailed a throw to the plate that, I'm told, missed the catcher by at least 10 feet. - Roch
Relax guys, Guthrie just wanted the frequent flyer miles....
Adam Dunn's throw looked like he launched it out of a sling shot. It gave me flashbacks of Chuck Knoblauch throwing from 2nd base. It was so bad the on deck hitter got confused and hit a double down the left field line.
Guthrie needs to get back to training and get his regular work. His fastball has been 90-91 in the WBC, which is why he got shelled both times out. Everyone was turning on them and hitting line drives right down the line. 7 hits, 6 runs, and 5 outs. It was ugly.
And yes, Dunn can't throw a baseball, he made two throwing errors last night.
So I didn't think I'd have to ask this again for a while given the crowd at camp, but are the O's looking to pick up any more pitchers, ie late spring cuts?
good for Kranitz.
Perfect example of a pitcher who is not ready to pitch in a competitive enviorment...
I've seen his two outings and they've remind me of Steve Trachsel... UGLY.
I am a supporter of the WBC idea, but I think they have to make a huge list of changes in order to give the tournament a chance...
Roch, is it just me or is this a horrible case of miscommunication between the O's (specifically Kranitz) and Guthrie?
A conversation should have taken place IMMEDIATELY after Team USA advanced to L.A. Maybe then everyone would have been on the same page. Now, you risk the possibility of our only starting pitcher getting peeved (I cleaned it up for the younger audience!) for hopping a flight to L.A. and being pulled with one week left in the WBC. My thought is that once the team allows a player to join the WBC, unless there's an injury, it makes no sense to pull him out prior to elimination. It alienates the player and leaves Team USA another player short.
Terrible communication by the O's!
It's funny how if the USA lost the other night they were done but they lost last night and are still in it.This thing is a huge joke that needs to be done away with. We have one decent starter and now he's in ruin. The USA only has two bench players anyway and Wright is hobbled.
I am so glad you posted this today. This is a very important topic. Jake Peavy has been lousy in the WBC, too, so I'm not worried about Guthrie. They just need regular starts and more innings. I hate this aspect of the WBC...
That said, it has been a fun tournament to watch. There is no other better time to hold such a tournament, so this may be something we just have to deal with.
Get Guthrie home for the last 15 days or so. Our rotation can't get any worse!
Why is the WBC neccesary?
What a distraction.....