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2009 MLB American League East Notebook
Baltimore really had nothing to lose when it recalled phenom right-hander Brian Matusz earlier in the week.
Matusz, the fourth overall pick in the 2008 First Year Player Draft, made his big league debut on Aug. 4 against Detroit and picked up his first career win. Watched carefully, Matusz allowed one run and six hits in five innings. He allowed three walks and struck out five.
You could consider it rushing because Matusz is only 22. However, the Orioles saw all they needed to see from him in the minor leagues. At Double-A, he was 7-0 with a 1.55 ERA. Orioles’ manager Dave Trembley called him top of the rotation starter. That comment may be a bit premature.
NEW YORK
The Yankees have moved past Boston because of great starting pitching. But the one thing they haven’t done is beat the Red Sox.
In spite of carrying the best record in the American League, the Yankees are 0-8 against their arch rivals. They get a chance to cut into that and also create some distance in the AL East with a four-game series that starts Thursday in Yankee Stadium.
One other storyline to watch with the Bronx Bombers is what they want to do with Joba Chamberlain. The right-hander appears to be finally coming into his own as a starter but the team is still quite protective of him. They want to hold his innings to about 150. Well, he’s at 110 for the year and is 7-2 with a 3.58 ERA. It’s going to be hard to justify holding to that number with nearly two months remaining.
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TORONTO
With the Roy Halladay talks behind them, the other offseason concern the Blue Jays may have is what are they going to do about center fielder Vernon Wells?
This season has turned into a joke. The former All-Star center fielder is floundering in the mid-.250s and has hit only 10 home runs along with 42 RBIs. And then the other problem is that he has a very poor .303 on-base percentage.
After this season, he’s owed about $103 million on his current contract. Talk about money being wasted. Perhaps the Blue Jays should have seen this decline coming. After hitting a career-high 32 home runs in 2006, Wells hit 16 in 2007 and 20 2008.
TAMPA BAY
When Carlos Pena arrived in the big leagues with Texas in 2001, many scouts thought he could hit for average and power.
Well, one out of two isn’t bad. Pena is second in the American League in home runs with 27 but is hitting a meager .215. Ouch!
In fact, that’s pretty much been Pena’s profile for all of his career. Pena has only hit above .250 only once in his career when he has collected at least 300 at-bats. Pena, though, has hit 25 home runs in a season four times. So the Rays know they are getting the good and the bad but can live with it because they have become a contender.
BOSTON
Designated hitter David Ortiz said he is awaiting further word about his positive test result from 2003. Ortiz, though, has hit 13 of his 15 home runs in the last two months. However, the average is still suffering in the .220s.
Meanwhile right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has been out with a right shoulder strain, is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session next week. There is still some hope he can pitch this year but it’s unknown what role he could fill.
August is a pivotal month for the Red Sox as 20 of their 28 scheduled games are against teams with winning records – New York (7), Tampa Bay (2), Texas (3), Chicago (4) and Detroit (4).
By: Kevin Lonnquist
MLBcenter.com Staff Writer
> View all of the 2008 MLB team previews from Pro Baseball Fans
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