The Baltimore Orioles got shelled by the Florida Marlins, 12-2, and the big concern heading into Monday is that status of starting pitcher, Jeremy Guthrie.
Right now, the results out of the exhibition season and the World Baseball Classic for the team ace has not been good. Guthrie only lasted four innings, and gave up eight runs — all earned — on ten hits. I watched the game on MASN in the evening, and while he looked good at spots, he got hit hard.
As it is, Guthrie has given up 24 hits and 18 runs in four Spring Training outings — extremely scary considering the fact he will starting on Monday against the powerful Yankees.
Could he be hurt, the result of the World Baseball Classic, not prepared (I don’t think this is the case with Guthrie considering how he is), or just going through a spell of bad luck?
Here’s a few thoughts from Guthrie from Roch’s blog…
Jeremy Guthrie noted that his velocity was down again today, though it’s close to normal.
“It’s been a couple (mph) down, and that’s led to some of the hits,” he said. “Just the readings I’ve received in the WBC and a couple others, it’s been a little lower than I’d like.”
Asked if he’s concerned about the spring numbers, he replied: “Yeah, certainly. There should be concern. I haven’t gotten anybody out. Execution-wise, I’ve actually been relatively pleased. I just can’t seem to get any breaks. Some good pitches are being hit. If people want to be concerned, they can. I personally don’t get worried about it, but to say you can’t be concerned would be ignoring the numbers. I personally will not be concerned, but that’s not ignoring the performance.”
Is he ready for the regular season?
“I’d like to be in a better spot,” he said. “I’d like to have done better, I’d like to have gotten a few more innings and gotten my pitch count up higher. But as far as my pitches, I feel as close as I’ve ever felt in any other spring. I think it’s just a matter of getting my confidence, getting going and getting people out consistently.”
Was the WBC experience detrimental to his preparation for the season?
“My preparation hasn’t gone well, but I would do that 100 out of 100 times with the same results,” he said. “I really enjoyed it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I don’t blame my time there. If I had pitched well there, my innings would have been fine. I don’t think it’s so much the World Baseball Classic as much as it is Jeremy Guthrie.”
For sake of the Baltimore Orioles, let’s hope Guthrie can find his way. They’ll need him, or what is already projected by most to be a long, winding and perhaps painful season for Baltimore may even be worse.
