Charlie Morton met with the Baltimore media over Zoom a couple of days in the past, and as could be anticipated, the 41-year-old right-hander was equal elements considerate and interesting. That’s who Morton is. A lot for that motive, I made it a degree to hitch in on the session.
His response to a query from Matt Weyrich was traditional Morton. The Baltimore Solar scribe requested the introspective veteran of 14 big-league seasons if he sees himself as a job mannequin and/or mentor for a comparably inexperienced workers.
“I’d like to say that I’ve the solutions,” replied Morton, whom the Orioles inked to a one-year deal value $15 million. “I don’t. I feel that, as a person, you slot in in several methods with completely different teams of men. I’m not going to be the identical man that I used to be with the Rays, within the clubhouse. I’m not going to be the identical man I used to be with the Astros or the Braves. Every individual in these rooms, they’re only a piece of that bigger puzzle. Whereas I’m the identical individual, there are various factors that direct you in the direction of behaving a sure method… the worth to an individual, within the clubhouse, is the human being that they’re.”
As a lot as baseball is in his blood, Morton is a household man. In August 2023, shortly earlier than his fortieth birthday, I requested him how for much longer he may proceed to defy Father Time and excel in opposition to baseball’s greatest hitters. He instructed me that he doesn’t give it some thought that method. Quite, he considered it as “When am I going to go residence?” Blessed with a spouse and children, Morton has contemplated strolling away from the sport he loves for a number of years operating. Because the 2024 marketing campaign was winding down, he as soon as once more thought there was “a extremely good likelihood [this] was going to be my final yr.”
That’s he’s continued to carry out effectively sufficient to not have the choice made for him is a giant a part of his story. Going from “Floor Chuck” to a pitcher who misses bats helped enable that to occur. Echoing what he instructed me again in 2017, his first season with the Astros, Morton associated to the Baltimore beat writers that his career-altering transformation occurred upon his arrival in Houston.
“They’d a little bit board room and a projection display with charts and graphs, they usually had been suggesting to me to throw pitches in areas the place I might get no swings, or a swing-and-miss,” defined Morton, who has loved markedly extra success since revamping his pitching model. “For seven years with Pittsburgh, I used to be attempting to get the ball on the bottom with three pitches or much less, and now they’re telling me, ‘Don’t allow them to hit it’… you’re not counting on the destiny of the place the ball goes, you’re relying in your stuff.”
Which brings us again to the place he’s going now, which is Baltimore and at the least another season on a big-league mound. Morton admitted to having been on the fence as as to whether he even needed to listen to if there have been any gives this winter, however when the Orioles referred to as, the scenario sounded proper. Not solely would he be getting an opportunity to pitch for a legit World Collection contender, it might “work logistically with myself and my household.”
When Morton does lastly resolve to “go residence,” saying goodbye to the sport will include a heavy coronary heart. Given the way in which he approaches life, it is going to additionally include a wholesome dose of reflection.
“I don’t know in regards to the want to play baseball going away,” mentioned Morton, who had a 4.19 ERA and a 4.46 FIP over 165-and a -third innings with the Atlanta Braves in 2024. “I don’t assume that may ever occur. I feel it’s only a recognition that it’s time.”———
RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Ben Zobrist went 10 for 25 in opposition to Andy Pettitte.
Manny Ramirez went 14 for twenty-four in opposition to CC Sabathia.
Adam Jones went 16 for 41 in opposition to Mark Buehrle.
Jimmy Rollins went 4 for 11 in opposition to Francisco Rodriguez.
Ian Kinsler went 6 for 18 in opposition to Fernando Rodney.
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A number of folks have requested me why I put a checkmark subsequent to Andy Pettitte’s title, and never subsequent to Mark Buehrle’s, on my Corridor of Fame poll. Here’s a temporary rationalization:
Pettitte had 68.2 fWAR, 4 seasons with a fWAR of 5 or larger, a 3.74 FIP, and 256 wins, Buehrle had 52.3 fWAR, one season with a fWAR of 5 or larger, a 4.11 FIP, and 214 wins. Pettitte additionally has the extra sturdy postseason resume. (The diploma to which postseason ought to be valued — ditto win totals — is clearly subjective. Nonetheless, every is a part of a participant’s résumé.) With all due respect to Buehrle — an completed pitcher who made 5 All-Star groups and was awarded 4 Gold Gloves — I really feel that Pettitte is the extra deserving of the 2, As for whether or not I ought to have voted for each, the 10-player restrict is an impediment. My voting for Buehrle sooner or later stays a risk.
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Who was higher, Félix Hernández or Jon Lester? The latter turns into Corridor-eligible in two years — King Felix debuted this yr and acquired my vote — so I requested that query in a Twitter ballot. The outcomes weren’t shut. Lester acquired a paltry 16.7% of the votes solid, whereas Hernández acquired a whopping 83.3%. Given their respective numbers — put up in practically the identical variety of innings — in addition to their awards and honors, I anticipated a better race.
Hernández went 169-136 with a 117 ERA+, a 3.52 FIP, and 54.0 fWAR. Lester, who pitched for higher groups, went 200-117 with a 117 ERA+, a 3.78 FIP, and 46.2 fWAR.
Hernández was a six-time All-Star, received a Cy Younger Award, a pair of ERA titles, and threw an ideal recreation. Lester was a five-time All-Star who received three World Collection rings (two with the Pink Sox, one with the Cubs). His Fall Traditional résumé features a 4-1 report and a 1.77 ERA, whereas his total postseason ERA was 2.51 over 154 innings. He additionally has an LCS MVP to his credit score.
Will Lester get my vote when he turns into Corridor-eligible? That’s but to be decided. He has a sound argument, no matter whether or not his profession is deemed as spectacular as Félix’s.
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I additionally ran a ballot asking which of Derek Jeter or Ichiro Suzuki was higher. I received’t trouble to quote any of their numbers — what the first-ballot Corridor of Famers did over of the course of their careers is well-known — however I’ll move alongside the outcomes.
Ichiro garnered 79.1% of the votes solid. Jeter acquired simply 20.9%. Make of that what you’ll.
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Yet one more on the Corridor of Fame:
I’m of the opinion that Firpo Marberry deserves a plaque in Cooperstown. The primary MLB pitcher prominently utilized as a “nearer,” Marberry led the American League in saves six instances, and in appearances one other six instances. Furthermore, he did so whereas additionally serving as a starter. Taking part in primarily for the Washington Senators — the right-hander additionally took the mound for the Detroit Tigers, and really briefly the New York Giants — Marberry logged a 148-88 won-lost report, 101 saves (B-Ref has him with 99), and a 116 ERA+ throughout the 1923-1936 seasons . His greatest yr was 1929, when he went 19-12 with 11 saves whereas beginning 23 video games and popping out of the bullpen 26 instances. His prime saves totals had been 22, 16, and 15, these in seasons the place no different hurler reached double digits.
Given his physique of labor and pioneer standing, Frederick “Firpo” Marberry could be a worthy Corridor of Famer.
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A quiz:
Cal Ripken Jr. drew 1,129 walks, probably the most in Baltimore Orioles historical past. Which Oriole has drawn the second most walks? (A touch: He’s the franchise’s all-time chief in reaching base through HBP.)
The reply will be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
Bob Veale, a left-hander who received 120 video games whereas pitching primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a profession that spanned the 1962-1974 seasons, died on January 7 at age 89. A flame-throwing Birmingham, Alabama native who made a pair of NL All-Star groups, Veale led the senior circuit with 250 strikeouts in 1964.
Felix Mantilla, a local of Isabela, Puerto Rico who spent the primary six of his 11 big-league seasons with the Milwaukee Braves, died on Friday at age 90. An infielder/outfielder, Mantilla had his greatest yr in 1964 when hit 30 residence runs with the Boston Pink Sox. Two years earlier, he was within the beginning lineup when the New York Mets performed their first recreation in franchise historical past.
Brian Matusz, a left-hander who pitched in 280 video games for the Baltimore Orioles, and in a single recreation for Chicago Cubs, from 2009-2016, died earlier this month at age 37. No reason for dying has been reported.
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The reply to the quiz is Brady Anderson, who walked 927 instances as an Oriole. His franchise-most HBP complete was 148.
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A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Ray Culp was a shrewd commerce acquisition for the Pink Sox in November 1967. Lower than two months after shedding the World Collection to the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston acquired the 26-year-old right-hander from the Chicago Cubs in trade for Invoice Schlesinger and a PTBNL (Al Montreuil), a nondescript duo whose mixed careers comprised all of six video games and one hit in a dozen at-bats. Culp’s profession was much more distinguished. At his greatest in his first 4 Boston seasons — this earlier than arm woes entered the equation — the Elgin, Texas native went 64-44 with a 3.34 ERA over 937 innings. All instructed, Culp received 122 video games pitching for the Cubs, Pink Sox, and initially the Philadelphia Phillies, from 1963-1973.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
NPB’s Seibu Lions signed a pair of gamers who noticed motion in MLB this yr. Proper-hander Trey Wingenter made a smattering of appearances with the Boston Pink Sox and Chicago Cubs, whereas Tyler Nevin performed in 87 video games for the Oakland Athletics.
Hiroto Takahashi is working so as to add a two-seamer to his repertoire (per Yahoo Japan). The Chunichi Dragons right-hander went 12-4 with a 1.38 ERA, and simply 107 hits allowed in 143-and-two-thirds innings, this previous season. Takahashi turned 22 in August.
Alex Wells is 5-1 with a 1.56 ERA over 52 innings for the Australian Baseball League’s Sydney Blue Sox. The 27-year-old southpaw made 13 appearances with the Baltimore Orioles throughout the 2021-2022 seasons.
Brennon McNair is slashing .254/.361/.574 with a circuit-best 11 residence runs in 145 plate appearances for the ABL’s Brisbane Bandits. The 21-year-old infielder/outfielder within the Kansas Metropolis Royals group had a .660 OPS final yr with the Excessive-A Columbia Fireflies.
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What has been the most effective recreation of your life? I requested that query to plenty of gamers this previous season, initially for a standalone piece that ran in early June, and subsequently for inclusion in a handful of Sunday Notes columns. Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Colin Holderman was amongst these to share his reminiscences.
“I used to be at Heartland Neighborhood Faculty, it was one in every of our first video games of the yr, and we had been taking part in Walters State,” Holderman instructed me at PNC Park in late September. “I went eight innings, and I feel I struck out 12. I additionally went 3-for-4 with two homers, one in every of them a go-ahead homer within the eighth. They had been the No. 1 group within the nation for junior faculty, and we had been No. 2, so it was a fairly large matchup. That put us on prime of the leaderboard. It’s one thing I take into consideration typically, so that may most likely need to be my greatest total recreation.”
The suitable-hander considers an immaculate inning he threw in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays on Might 4, 2023 his “greatest big-league second.” It was his first immaculate inning at any stage, and he turned the trick throwing “one sinker, the remaining had been cutters and sweepers.”
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
At CBS Sports activities, Mike Snyder addressed plenty of false Corridor of Fame narratives, together with the misguided perception that the Corridor is getting watered down.
Baseball America gave us minor league park components for 2024 (subscription required).
Baseball America surveyed evaluators on the present state of scouting (in contrast to most BA articles, this isn’t behind a paywall).
The Kansas Metropolis Royals had Brent Rooker on their roster late within the 2022 season, solely to lose him to the Oakland Athletics through the waiver wire. Max Rieper wrote in regards to the ill-fated resolution to chop Rooker unfastened, at Royals Evaluation.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Justin Verlander is 24-24 with a 4.42 ERA in his profession in opposition to the Cleveland Indians/Guardians. The 24 losses are his most in opposition to any group. Essentially the most losses Verlander has in opposition to every other membership is 14, in opposition to the Chicago White Sox.
Clayton Kershaw is 11-0 with a 2.03 ERA in 17 profession begins in opposition to the New York Mets. He’s 4-7 with a 2.73 ERA in 17 profession begins in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies.
In 1968, Baltimore Orioles left-hander Dave McNally went 22-10 with a 1.95 ERA over 273 innings. He had a 5.3% stroll charge and a .202 BABIP-against.
Melvin Mora had a three-year stretch (2003-2005) with the Orioles the place his common season included a .312/.391/.513 slash line, 23 residence runs, a 142 wRC+, and 5.1 WAR.
Juan Marichal and Brooks Robinson had been elected to the Corridor of Fame on immediately’s date in 1983. Robinson was on the poll for the primary time. Marichal was on the poll for the third time.
On immediately’s date in 1982, the Minnesota Twins chosen Kirby Puckett third total within the January section of the MLB draft out of Triton Faculty. The primary two picks had been Kash Beauchamp, by the Toronto Blue Jays, and Troy Afenir, by the Chicago Cubs.
Gamers born on immediately’s date embrace Nigel Wilson, an outfielder who had three hits in 35 at-bats whereas taking part in for the Florida Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians throughout elements of the 1993-1996 seasons. The Oshawa, Ontario native had much more success in Japan, logging 37, 33, and 37 residence runs in his three full seasons with NPB’s Nippon Ham Fighters.
Additionally born on immediately’s date was Togie Pittinger, a right-hander who went 115-113 pitching for the Boston Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies from 1900-1907. The Greencastle, Pennsylvania native received 27 video games in 1902, then misplaced an NL-worst 22 video games the next yr. His 1903 season additionally noticed him give up probably the most earned runs, hits, residence runs, and walks. Pittinger did hit his solely profession residence run that yr, going yard in opposition to left-hander Luther Taylor, who received 116 video games after signing with the New York Giants out of the Kansas Faculty for the Deaf.
