Orioles Have High Hopes for Guthrie

Here's an interesting article from the BaltimoreSun.com:

Jeremy Guthrie
by Roch Kubatko
January 31, 2007, 8:59 AM

The Jeremy Guthrie signing gets more interesting by the day.

Guthrie spent parts of three seasons with the Indians. He's out of minor league options. He has to make the Orioles' 25-man roster in spring training or be exposed to waivers before they can send him down.

"I'm sure he would not make it through," said Dave Stockstill, director of minor league operations (or farm director, if you prefer the simple version).

"I'm sure a lot of people have him rated very highly. He'll be given every opportunity to make it, and from what we've seen, I think he should. And if he doesn't, we'll have to deal with that when the time comes."

The Orioles really do like his chances of making the club. Stockstill says Guthrie, a right-hander with a 95-mph fastball, projects as a long reliever or fourth or fifth starter. Not exactly what the Indians envisioned when they used the 22nd overall pick on him in the 2002 draft and gave him a major league contract, but the Orioles would be satisfied.

For Guthrie to crack the bullpen, the Orioles either would have to enter the season with one left-hander, Jamie Walker, or Todd Williams and Scott Williamson would battle it out for a spot.

Another scenario, depending on how everything unfolds in spring training, is Guthrie making the rotation and Adam Loewen being the second leftie in the 'pen.

Either way, Hayden Penn might want to start looking for housing in Norfolk right now.

Dave Trembley, former manager at Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Ottawa, has raved about Guthrie for the last three or four years. One of the Orioles' scouts, Dave Hollins, placed an immediate call to Stockstill once Guthrie was designated for assignment earlier this month when the Indians signed free-agent outfielder Trot Nixon.

"He's got a very good power arm," Stockstill said.

So why did Guthrie post a 6.08 ERA in 16 games, including one start, with the Indians, allowing 42 hits in 37 innings, with 23 walks and 24 strikeouts?

"It very easily could be that they rushed him up there," Stockstill said. "He got a big league contract and that's a lot to handle, and he didn't necessarily do what they expected. They made him available and we were very happy to get him. A change of scenery could do him good, and the opportunity we have for him has got to help his mental outlook."

Interesting that Stockstill mentioned "mental outlook." Though he didn't say it, some Orioles officials are aware that Guthrie's confidence begins to crumble as soon as he starts to struggle, and that's something that has held him back.

Guthrie joined the Indians on April 22 last season and was optioned on May 16, the first time he stepped through their revolving door in 2006. He also was recalled on June 13 and optioned seven days later, returned on Aug. 13 and was optioned the following day. The Indians recalled him again on Sept. 5.

Then they cut him loose. And the Orioles rushed to sign him.
Somebody will be proven wrong.