A conversation with the Orioles new closer (with audio)
Like his idol, Nolan Ryan, new O's closer Mike Gonzalez is a strikeout pitcher.
Last year, with Atlanta, Gonzalez fanned 90 in 74 1/3 innings. In his career he averages 10.6 strikeouts for every nine innings pitched. The great Ryan averaged 9.5 per nine.
With some young starting pitchers on the staff, O's president Andy MacPhail said the O's needed a reliable closer to hold their leads and help their collective confidence.
As a free agent this winter, the 31-year Gonzalez researched the O's. He knew they had some good young pitching, but said he was also impressed with the Oriole hitters.
"These guys are going to score runs, and as a pitcher that's what you want. You want opportunities. Last year, the starting rotation was obviously very young, two or three of them, that was their first year. They've taken some lumps, but now they are ready to show what they can do."
Audio: Mike Gonzalez talks with Steve about preparing for his first season with the O's
In 80 games in 2009, the left hander went 5-4, 2.42 with ten saves. National League batters hit just .209 off him and lefties batted just .194 vs. Gonzalez, who was 7th in the Majors in strikeouts by a reliever.
Gonzalez, who throws a fastball that can hit the mid 90's, along with a slider and change, says he'll spend time at spring training getting to know his new teammates.
Gonzalez, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2007, had a career high 24 saves and an ERA of 2.17 with the Pirates in 2006.
He loves the challenge of holding a one-run lead in the final inning.
"That's where you want to be. That's what makes me tick and gets my blood pumping. That's definitely where I feel most comfortable."
Gonzalez was a 30th-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in 1997 out of San Jacinto junior college. He signed a two-year deal with the Orioles in mid December and says he is ready to tangle with the Yankees and Red Sox in the AL East.
"I'm ready to get it done already, man. That's what I'm definitely looking forward to. That was one of my deciding factors (in signing here)."
Coming tomorrow - An interview with Billy Rowell, who has spent the past two months working out in Florida. He talks about his time in Frederick, his hopes for this year and some changes with his swing.
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Categories (click for archive)Orioles News | Steve Melewski |
Gotta love Mike's attitude. Count me among his biggest fans already.
Worth mentioning, though, that when you compare strikeout rates, you have to consider that most of Nolan's outings were 7 or 8 innings, while most of Mike's are 1. Gives you even more respect for what Nolan accomplished.
Pretty impressive numbers. Sure hope the O's get the ball into his hands many times this season. Our other relievers have to be able to bridge the gap from our starting pitchers to get to Gonzales. If they can do that, I like our chances. Have a great season, Mike!
Steve you commented recently..I don't think you will ever see it return to yesteryear when pitchers in a four-man rotation could throw 300 innings and 15-20 complete games. Teams get spooked because there are so many pitching injuries.
maybe guys get hurt these days more often because they don't throw enough to build their arms up. With the lack of overall pitching depth I don't understand why teams don't start all their young pitchers in the minors every 4 days. Pitching every 4 days worked well for decades and decades and it certainly seemed like guys got hurt less often than today.
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You would have to do it all thru your minor leagues as well. I don't see any way pitchers could handle it today since they've been training all their pro lives to pitch every 5th day and go 175-200 innings. Those days are gone.....Steve
Steve,
I echo OCJ's and Ed's comments as well. I really like the fact that he's ready to tangle with the Yankees and Red Sox. We are going to need that attitude after going 7-29 against them last year. Just finishing .500 against them would get us to 75 wins.
It sounds like the players (especially the vets) are really buying into what the Orioles are doing. You can hear it in the comments by Roberts and Markakis. They really feel like we've turned a corner this year. Do you get that sense as well from them?
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Yes, but many teams talk in a real positive manner on the eve of spring training, Tom. The proof will be what we see starting in April.......Steve
Why is everyone so concerned about the yanks and bsox? NY spent 2 trillion to win one ws* (with an admitted juicer) and bsox, thanks to manny, won 2 ws since 1918. Manny is gone.
They have more to fear from the o's and rays than we do from them. Young, potential dynasties that can send them both back down the rabbit hole.
Being a lefty that can throw from mid to upper 90's he should be more than capable of neutralizing some of the AL East's left power hitters such as Ortiz, Lind, Pena. Plus he brings a nasty slider that can come in on righties and jam them up pretty bad. Im looking forward to the prospects of his upcoming season, because as long as he can stay healthy I think he should be a dominant force coming out of the pen in the 9th inning.
SAM
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I think he could have a super year. Of course, getting a lead to the 9th inning is not up to him and hopefully the team will get him plenty of chances, especially vs. those hitters and clubs you mentioned, Sam.........Steve
Great stuff! He's always been one of my favorites since his days in Pittsburgh. I love that part in this intv about him being just who he is -- so true given his very unique delivery.
I was happy to hear the O's signed Gonzalez. I happened to be in Los Angeles back in the late 90's (or was it the early 00's?) and caught a game at Chavez Ravine between the Dodgers and the Pirates. I remember this young lefty coming out of the bullpen and escaping a pretty nasty jam. From that point on, I always had an eye open for how MG was doing. As he played in the NL and I didn't follow NL teams as much, I didn't keep THAT close of a watch on him, but I was happy to hear of his successes and that ultimately he's become an Oriole. He'll be a nice anchor that'll let the other guys settle into their roles. And if the rotation goes 6 or 7 innings instead of 4 or 5, I think things will shape up nicely.
It will be interesting to hear Billy Rowell's interview. He has regressed. He needs a good year obviously another year with a batting average of 225 and lousy defensive play will probably be his last in the O's organization. The O's have been patient but he needs to show something to be protected from the rule 5 draft next yearI'd like to see Billy, Brandon Snyder , and Josh Bell become productive major leaguers
Too funny...it was bugging me about which game I saw in LA. I dug through a bunch of my old scorebooks (yeah, I kept score at games for 7 or 8 years before I found I could get all this stuff on the Internet...my how that little invention changed the way we live!) and found it. July 16, 2000. Pittsburgh at Los Angeles.
Funny thing is...Mike Gonzalez hadn't debuted yet. I think the guy I was thinking of was Jimmy Anderson, who had a short, unremarkable 6-year career with the Pirates, Cubs and 5 games with the BoSox in 2004. That particular game he pitched well (http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2000/B07160LAN2000.htm), but his bullpen failed him.
Now I'm curious as to why I always kept and eye on Gonzalez!