Now, the Baltimore Orioles Have a Future: Matusz Wins Debut

In 2002, the Baltimore Orioles Earned Run Average was a mediocre 4.46, their pitching staff one of the worst in the American League. In 2003, that number grew to 4.76, with no one winning more than 14 games; only two pitchers, Sidney Ponson and Jason Johnson, had 10 or more wins. In 2004, their pitching staff was slightly better–4.70–but sill far from acceptable. In 2005, that mark decreased to 4.56 and, upon hiring pitching coach Leo Mazzone, who groomed the likes of Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Greg Maddux, all of whom are future Hall of Famers, Baltimore’s future in the pitching department appeared bright. Mazzone’s tenure with the Orioles was short, to no fault of his own. Baltimore’s rotation was worse than ever. Their team ERA ballooned to 5.35, with no one, aside from ace Erik Bedard, mounting anything close to a successful season. It wasn’t as if their pitchers were too young and struggled because of inexperience and undeveloped pitches. ...