Here’s a litte of my latest piece for MASNSports.com. Keep in mind, this was written before Mike Gonzalez’s excellent outing on Saturday…
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It’s no mystery to anyone that reliever Mike Gonzalez has had his share of struggles as a member of the Baltimore Orioles.
When Gonzalez signed with the team before last season, I thought it was a decent signing at the time despite the money involved.
Baltimore needed bullpen help after yet another lackluster season in 2009 and I thought that Gonzalez fit the bill. The southpaw reliever had a solid track record in the National League with Pittsburgh and Atlanta, so one would think he certainly be able to replicate it in the American League.
Although Gonzalez always had that weird, herky-jerky motion on the mound that rattled my mind, the guy was deceptive and got people out. He was not a star, but at the same time was a very good relief pitcher that could finish off a game or at very least serve as a bridge to a team’s closer.
So far with the Orioles, Gonzalez has been a disappointment.
Once again last night against the Red Sox, the southpaw struggled on the mound. It’s fairly obvious that Orioles manager Buck Showalter has not used Gonzalez in key situations in the past week; however, he was used in the eighth inning of the final game of the Red Sox series to get some work and give him a chance to succeed.
Gonzalez, in his outing, only got one out against a tough and gritty lineup full of professional hitters. He was charged with two runs, gave up a two singles, walked one and struck out one and once again was booed off the mound by Orioles fans in attendance.
I’m sure most of us don’t know what to think about Gonzalez. At the moment, he looks like a pitcher who’s lost and is trying to find his way. It seems that he’s struggled from the moment since he’s put on an Orioles uniform and has earned the ire of many fans in Birdland.
