Orioles, Sherrill come to terms
Sun baseball writer Jeff Zrebiec just clued me in on the news that the Orioles have come to terms with reliever George Sherrill (right) on a one-year, $2.75 million deal, averting and arbitration showdown with their last arbitration-eligible player. Sherrill was asking for $3.4 million and the Orioles were offering $2.2 million. The final number was $50,000 below the midpoint.
Sherrill saved 31 games last year after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the Erik Bedard deal. He made the American League All-Star team and pitched well on the national stage, but his numbers declined due to a tired arm during the final two months of the 2008 season.
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Comments
Dammit, Peter, we had a bet on this; I had Sherrill and you had Smouse. Now how am I going to win one from you? Flat Breezy, you let me down. (hope it's the last time.)
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Pete's reply: He settled below the midpoint, so that means I win, doesn't it?
Posted by: section 34 | February 6, 2009 9:03 PM
Feel lucky Section 34, with Sherrill's numbers last season no way Smouse was going to lose that case.
Here is hoping that Sherrill has a nice season as a left handed set up man and spot closer for the O's.
Posted by: Jeff V. | February 6, 2009 9:17 PM
Pete--H. Russell Smouse evokes F. Lee Bailey and L. David Sloan.
Before coming to terms, did G. Freiderich Sherrill say "Leave me alone"?
Posted by: Barry | February 6, 2009 11:04 PM
Good move by management, This could really turn out to be a great bullpen this year. I sure wish spring training would get going. I really look foward to this starting rotation. Who are your 5 starters Pete?
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Pete's reply: I already did this, I think, but that was before Looper dropped out of contention. I guess I'd say Guthrie, Uehara, Hendrickson, Pauley and Penn, but it would be easier to pick the lottery.
Posted by: Michael...FL | February 7, 2009 8:42 AM
Pete,
About the Sheets situation...To quote Fletch Lives, "It take a big man to admit when he's wrong. I am NOT a big man!"
You are the man.
Posted by: Rich | February 7, 2009 8:53 AM
$2 million too much. This guy can't throw strikes. A closer needs to get three outs, usually, and to keep runners off of base. He loves runners. Like 1.5 per inning. I think he does it to spite me. I can't stand him. I can't stand the way he wears his hat. He looks like a damn fool. I am embarrassed as an Oriole fan to see that guy wear MY uniform. Overpaying for a "so so" closer is the worst move this off-season.
Posted by: Eugene B | February 7, 2009 9:12 AM
They really are going to have one hell of a bullpen this season.... and I really mean that.
Posted by: Bear the Birdfan | February 7, 2009 9:27 AM
Pete-
This is very good news providing Sherrill's stamina improves down the home stretch this coming season. I do expect that from him, because I believe he pitched many more innings
last season than he previously had. I do believe, however, that he would fill the closer's role better than Chris Ray.
Posted by: patrick lynch | February 7, 2009 10:24 AM
Never a doubt, Georgie, never a doubt!
Posted by: Ken Francis | February 7, 2009 11:07 AM
Nope, you can't count that as a win, it's a 4-inning rainout with your team ahead.
What are you giving out for closest-to-the-pole on guessing the O's win total this year? I could use some Sun paraphrenalia -- or a silk flower shirt.
Posted by: section 34 | February 7, 2009 11:45 AM
Now that A-Rod has been outed, it made me wonder how far this gov't investigation will go. Then the dreaded thought, what if in the end, even Cal Ripken is named as a user? I would never expect it, but who knows? Ahh, I don't really care anymore anyway. Steroids are just old news now.
Posted by: Dave | February 7, 2009 11:48 AM
how could you play 8 months of ball,for 6-8 hours a day, and not need
something,besides food,to help
repair the body.?
steroids do far more good than harm
and are being labeled dangerous by the misinformed
ask any cancer or ms patient what roids do for them!
roids in sports is stupid witch hunt
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Pete's reply: Really silly reasoning here. Of course, steroids are good for what they are intended for -- helping cancer patients retain muscle mass and counteract dwarfism. They are administered in those cases by doctors, not former jazz musicians and slimy trainers.
Posted by: mike bohle | February 8, 2009 6:45 PM