Two of my favorite players are Jeremy Guthrie, and Matt Albers.
Not only do I like the physical abilities of both players, I like their character, and how they have handled theirselves in an Oriole uniform.
However, both have had numerous struggles during the 2009 season, and unacceptable outings vs. LA today.
Guthrie has now started 24 games in 2009:
8/15: 5.2 innings, 10 hits, 7 er, 2 bb’s, 2 k’s
8/10: 4.2 innings, 11 hits, 5 er, 1 bb, 2 k’s
8/5: 7.1 innings, 6 hits, 3 er, 2 bb’s, 3 k’s
7/31: 6.2 innings, 9 hits, 6 er, 2 bb’s, 4 k’s
7/25: 6.2 innings, 8 hits, 5 er, 3 bb’s, 2 k’s
7/19: 8 innings, 3 hits, 2 er, 1 bb, 5 k’s
7/7: 2.1 innings, 2 hits, 3 er, 4 bb’s, 0 k’s
7/2: 7 innings, 9 hits, 5 er, 2 bb’s, 5 k’s
6/27: 5 innings, 5 hits, 3 er, 3 bb’s, 2 k’s
6/21: 7 innings 3 hits, 1 er, 2 bb’s, 4 k’s
6/16: 6.1 innings, 6 hits, 3 er, 2 bb’s, 4 k’s
6/10: 6 innings, 6 hits, 3 er, 0 bb’s, 2 k’s
6/5: 0.2 innings, 7 hits, 6 er, 0 bb’s, 0 k’s
5/30: 6 innings, 7 hits, 3 er, 1 bb, 10 k’s
5/25: 7 innings, 7 hits, 1 er, 1 bb, 4 k’s
5/20: 7 innings, 5 hits, 5 er, 3 bb’s, 2 k’s
5/14: 5 innings, 6 hits, 4 er, 2 bb’s, 2 k’s
5/8: 6 innings, 7 hits, 3 er, 2 bb’s, 8 k’s
5/3: 8 innings, 4 hits, 4 er, 1 bb, 3 k’s
4/27: 5 innings, 6 hits, 3 er, 1 bb, 4 k’s
4/22: 6 innings, 8 hits, 5 er, 3 bb’s, 2 k’s
4/17: 4.2 innings, 8 hits, 5 er, 4 bb’s, 5 k’s
4/11: 6 innings, 5 hits, 0 er, 0 bb’s, 2 k’s
4/6: 6 innings, 7 hits, 3 er, 3 bb’s, 3 k’s
2009 – 140 IP, 157 hits, 80 k’s, 45 walks, 28 homers. Guthrie came into today with a 829 OPS against, and a 0.62 Grounder to Fly-ball ratio. Both numbers will regress even further after today.
In his 81 career starts as an Oriole, Guthrie has now had:
0 earned runs allowed – 3 times
1 earned run allowed – 19 times
2 earned runs allowed – 14 times
3 earned runs allowed – 20 times
4 earned runs allowed – 8 times
5 earned runs allowed – 12 times
6 earned runs allowed – 3 times
7 earned runs allowed – 2 times
2007 – 175.1 IP, 165 hits, 123 k’s, 47 walks, 23 homers, 711 OPS, 0.78G/F
2008 – 190.2 IP, 176 hits, 120 k’s, 58 walks, 24 homers, 693 OPS, 0.81G/F
Guthrie is Arbitration eligible in 2010, and not eligible for FreeAgency until 2013. I believe that based on that, the O’s had to keep him in an Oriole uniform at-least until the young arms had progressed to the Majors.
That has now occurred.
I do think you could argue that if Guthrie were to improve during the 1st-half of 2010, he might bring back more in a trade.
Despite that, you have to shop him this off-season. He still has plenty of value. If he can help you get Hardy, that is a trade you have to make.
The O’s can have an April rotation of Matusz, Tillman, Bergesen, Hernandez, and Arrieta… if Guts brings you back an upgrade at SS, you have to do that.
Guthrie turned 30 April 8th. While that is not ‘old,’ it does make him a bit older than the rest of the core you are moving forward with.
If Guthrie was back next year, he has to get his control back to where it was, and consistently pitch lower in the zone.
If the O’s could not obtain a SS for Guthrie, I would want to keep him, with Hernandez moved to the pen. (When Arrieta arrived)
Unless Guthrie can now go on a positive-run to end 2009, I think we are seeing Guthrie’s last starts in an Oriole uniform.
Matt Albers entered August with a 3.50 era. After allowing 5 er in his 1 inning of work today, Albers has now seen his era elevated to 5.85.
Today means Albers has allowed 16 er, in his last 6 innings of work.
Despite the recent beatings, Albers entered today with a .782 OPS against, and Grounder to Fly-ball ratio of 0.86. Neither number is anywhere near as good as his 2008 numbers, but both are acceptable.
After recording just 26 k’s in 49 innings of work during 2008, Albers entered today with 36 in 51.1 innings during 2009. However, where had had allowed only 43 hits last year, he entered today having had allowed 62.
Albers was consistently good from May 22nd (when he was recalled from AAA) through July 31st. During that time, he pitched 35.2 innings, and allowed 10 er. It is a shame to see him imploding as this year moves to a conclusion.
I think Albers can be an important and productive part of the bullpen during the immediate future (2010-11). As I have been saying for a while now, it might be time to either shut-down, or completely limit his use the rest of the way.
Reaching the total innings he pitched in 2008, Albers has clearly hit a wall. I think after another winter of rehab, Albers will be ready to pitch, and be more consistent through-out 2010.
Regardless, Albers is going to have prove himself during Spring Training next-season, with numerous RH relievers (Mickolio, Meredith, Sarfate, Bass) going after limited roster-spots.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.