Right Off Russell

With the Orioles starting rotation up in the air after Guthrie and Uehara, the bullpen has gone overlooked for a good part of the spring.  It seems that the O’s have the arms to make the bullpen a strength.  Provided they are healthy Sherrill, Ray, Johnson, Sarfate, Albers, Liz and Walker form a solid unit.  But who is the closer?

George Sherrill laid claim to the role in place of Chris Ray last year.  The guy was good enough to be an all-star.  He did however fade and go down with an injury as the season wore on.  Sherrill has also gotten hit pretty well this spring, allowing 13 hits and 17 base runners in just 5 1/3 innings.  Sherrill, however, has often been a slow starter in the spring citing that his mechanics take a bit of time to get themselves worked out.

Chris Ray, on the other hand, has looked pretty dominant at times this spring.  Ray seems poised to take the closer job back, but to this point Dave Trembley is sticking by Sherrill as the closer based on his performance for much of last season.  Trembley may not be using hard and fast roles when it comes to who finishes out games, but it seems he is making a mistake if Sherrill is the guy.

Apart from last season Sherrill has never been more than a left handed specialist.  He performed well closing out games for the O’s, but he faded with the larger work load and also struggled as he began to see teams the 2nd and 3rd time around.  The O’s ‘pen might be better served with Sherril returning to the specialist role.  Sherrill himself said he is not concerned whether he or Ray is the closer:

“He (Ray) has looked good this spring,’’ Sherrill said. “If that’s something they want to do, that’s fine. All I want to do is win. I don’t care what my title is.”

I appreciate Sherrill’s willingness to put his role aside for the benefit of the team.  It seems inevitable that Ray will have the closer job back.  Ray has pitched well enough to have won the job this spring.  Why not give it to him now?