Guthrie has no issues with White Sox's Pierre
Jeremy Guthrie had pretty good command today, walking just one batter over eight innings and throwing 76 of his 116 pitches for strikes. However, he was rather erratic when White Sox leadoff man Juan Pierre was at the plate.
Guthrie knocked Pierre down twice and hit him another time, prompting one reporter to ask Guthrie after the game whether "Something is going on with you and Juan?"
Guthrie chuckled at the question and then said: "Nothing is going on between Juan and I. I am very happily married. There are no rumors. I’ve never faced Juan Pierre in my life, but he is a great baseball player. When you need to command the inside part of the plate, you have to pitch there. You don’t try to hit guys, but you try to command that part of the plate.
Guthrie hit Pierre with one out in the fifth inning, and it is unfathomable to believe he'd intentionally put the major league leader in steals on base while trying to protect a 1-0 lead. When he knocked him down again in the seventh inning, the Orioles were leading 3-1.
Guthrie has hit 11 batters this season, second in the American League behind New York Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett.
"I’m not a very good pinpoint command pitcher, and I’ve got the numbers to prove that," Guthrie said. "You try to throw a pitch inside, if you miss by six inches sometimes, it hits them. If you miss by six inches the other way, it’s right down the middle and it gets hit for a home run. So you can pick your position, but you try to execute pitches. And I knew that one of the places he doesn’t like to hit it, from what I’ve seen, is inside, so you attack it."
Guthrie has already hit two more batters than he did all last season and four more than he did in 2008. It has been obvious since spring training that Guthrie is more committed to pitching inside, and that's a good thing. Guthrie allowed 35 home runs last year in 33 starts. This season, he has surrendered 18 home runs in 23 starts.
His stuff and command are obviously much better this year than they were last season, but it doesn't hurt that the hitters look much less comfortable in the box against him this season. The rest of the Orioles' pitchers should take note and pitch inside more.
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Totally agree about the need for Guthrie to pitch inside more. (Imagine if Mussina had done it throughout his career.) When we talk about an organizational philosophy -- e.g., Showalter mentioning how pitchers need to come to the Bigs able to hold runners on base -- well, we should add pitching inside to that list. Not hurting people, but brushing them back and letting them know who's in charge in the batter/pitcher match-up.
Posted by: Dimitrios | August 8, 2010 11:14 PM
Still irks me that Joe Girardi called out Guthrie for supposed "lack of command" when Burnett leads the AL in hit-batsmen. Last year as well Sabathia and Burnett were right up there as well as Joba (in far fewer innings).
It's about time an O's pitcher takes control of the inner part of the plate.
Posted by: Kenny from Pikesville | August 9, 2010 12:06 AM
Guthrie likes to paint both sides of the plate... with your bloooood!!! Boogada boogada boogada... Seriously, is it possible for the team to convince Guthrie to pitch a game in full KISS makeup?
Posted by: James | August 9, 2010 1:02 AM
Just a Few Names---------
Bob Gibson, Nolan Ryun, Don Drysdale oh yea Jim Palmer.
Not Bad Company eh, Jeremy??????
Posted by: Richard Old O's Fan | August 9, 2010 9:24 AM
What makes me angry about this article is when I read that AJ Burnett leads the league in hit batters. I remember Joe Girardi crying like a baby when Guthrie hit a few Yankees earlier this year. It's okay for HIS guy I guess..... I love that Guthrie throws hard and inside. It's old school pitching. Like Jeremy implied, hitters don't mind when he misses 6 inches at it's down the middle. Don't whine when he misses 6 inches into your hip!! I love it.
Posted by: Tony | August 9, 2010 10:02 AM
Beaned????? He hit his shirt!!!!!!
A beaning is when you hit a guy in the head. Come on Jeff, you should know that.
Posted by: Todd | August 9, 2010 11:06 AM
I find the term "Beaned" to be offensive.
Posted by: Ozzie | August 9, 2010 11:29 AM
Jeff,
I trust you will find time later today to answer some of the reader comments, especially the one that questions your use of "beaned" for a pitch that did not hit Pierre in his head.
Thanks,
John
...............................................................................................
Jeff Z's reply: Wrong word choice. I fixed it. I obviously am aware that the ball didn't hit Pierre in the head. I've seen words like beaned and drilled and hit used interchangeably, but as it's been poiinted out, beaned shouldn't be used unless ball hits batter up high.
Posted by: jackdunn'sbaby | August 9, 2010 12:00 PM
Whoa, that pitch that split Pierre's legs when he was trying to bunt could have technically qualified if.....
Posted by: Dennis | August 9, 2010 2:20 PM
Carl Crawford was "beaned" in the beans a few weeks back...poor guy.
Posted by: Senor Frijole | August 9, 2010 3:16 PM