Sherrill to Slam Door for Orioles

March 19, 2008 @ 18:25:57

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Herija C. Green

Proving the old adage true that good things come to those who wait, Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher George Sherrill was officially named the team's closer Tuesday, March 18, holding on to a job that many believed was his when spring training began.

Sherrill had bounced around the Independent Leagues before locking on with the Seattle Mariners at the tail end of the 2004 season. Since then, he slowly worked his way up from bullpen fodder to functioning as the team's situational lefty and setup man last year. He did well enough to warrant inclusion in the team's trade with the Mariners earlier this offseason that also saw outfielder Adam Jones come over to the O's.

Sherrill will hold the job for Opening Day this year, but the question still remains: What does this mean for both your fantasy team and the Orioles?

From Coast to Coast

Sherrill had spent his whole four-year major league career with the Mariners. In that time, he picked up four saves with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. However, his numbers were substantially better last year as he sported a 2.36 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. His first half was especially impressive as he had a 1.29 ERA and 0.64 WHIP in 28 innings pitched.

One big question for O's fans will be how he functions facing both left- and right-handed hitters. Against lefties, Sherrill has been tough, holding them to just a .167 career batting average against (BAA). Even more impressive is the fact he has struck out 98 in just 76 1/3 innings pitched. His career numbers against righties are a lot worse (1.79 WHIP), although he was substantially better against them last year. In 19 innings, he allowed right-handed hitters to bat just .212 and had a WHIP of 1.11. If he can continue that this year, he should be able to function well as the team's closer.

Will He Hold Up?

One item to keep an eye on is how well Sherrill responds to longer outings as his 145 appearances over the past two seasons encompassed just 95 2/3 innings. In fact, last season Sherrill worked one inning or more only 23 times out of 73 games. He has yet to throw 50 innings in a year at the major league level, which means his ability to handle an increased workload remains a bit of an unknown.

Another worrisome sign is the move to the more hitter-friendly ballpark in Baltimore. Safeco Field in Seattle could be considered one of the top 10 pitchers' parks in the league, whereas Camden Yards in Baltimore is one of the worst for pitchers. Sherrill's numbers last year already show how he benefited from the “Safeco Factor.” In 22 1/3 innings at home, Sherrill had an ERA of 1.21 and a WHIP of 0.99. On the road, while his WHIP remained the same, his ERA rose to 3.47 over 23 1/3 innings. With him out of Seattle, it could lead to a spike in his ratios.

His jump to the Orioles could also hurt his chances at being a top closer as he will be in a tougher division. Last year he had the benefit of pitching against one of the worst American League offenses in the Oakland Athletics, as well as the Texas Rangers, who were nowhere near a powerhouse, especially down the stretch. This year he will be facing the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox 18 times each. Both ranked in the top three in runs scored last year. As well, the Tampa Bay Rays figure to be much improved and the Toronto Blue Jays are perennially ranked among the top half of AL offenses. Facing tougher competition, Sherrill could find it harder to keep his ERA and WHIP down.

This is not to discourage you from taking Sherrill in fantasy leagues. The Orioles as a team had 30 saves last year. However, that number could have been significantly higher if they had a good, or even passable, closer at the back end of games. If Sherrill can provide them with some stability in the ninth inning, he could easily reach 30-35 saves this season.

Biding Time for Ray?

There is also the question of reliever Chris Ray (elbow), Baltimore's closer last year until going down with an elbow injury. Ray is currently months from returning and with the team rebuilding, they likely won't rush him back. He is not expected to return until August, at which point he could cut into Sherrill's opportunities. If the Orioles are out of contention come August (as many pundits predict they will be), the team might be more apt to work Ray into some game innings provided he is healthy. This is a situation to keep an eye on later in the season, especially if you own Sherrill in fantasy leagues.

Fantasy Outlook

Sherrill, at 31, should still have some good innings left in him. For his career, he has thrown just 128 1/3 innings in the majors, although that number does not take into account his Independent League numbers. He also does not have many challengers to his position as manager Dave Trembley wants to establish set roles this year, meaning Sherrill should be given every chance to hold on to the job. The closer-by-committee approach was a disaster last year for the O's and some stability at the most important bullpen position should help the Orioles achieve some success. At the very least, it should buy them time until Ray can return.

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Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.

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