Panic Button

If you were one of the few who was wavering with your hand hovering over that big red button, "emergencies only" written above it, go ahead and drop the hammer. It's official. Matusz is terrible. Whatever hope you had left, please leave it at the door on your way out, because just like the fans at Camden Yards, Matusz's stuff isn't coming back.

Trust me, I wish it wasn't true. But it's time to be honest with ourselves. His fastball was never great, but serviceable. Especially when you factor in his pin point accuracy and above average change-up to keep hitters guessing. The rest of his bag of tricks was pretty pedestrian but he didn't need it.

But that's all gone. These days he can't make anything work. It's harder to hit batting practice. And if he's really healthy, what the hell do you do? For me, I'd send him down to figure things out. Because, right now, he's not even giving us a chance. Considering his short run through the minors to the majors, he's got to have a couple options left. I never thought he'd be an ace. He just doesn't and didn't have that kind of stuff. But I never imagined it'd be this bad. Truly disappointing.

Notes:

Vlad needs to drop in or out of the lineup. He's not hitting for power and he's a double play machine. Enough said.

Speaking of double play machines - Hi, Adam. Hi, Nick. Hi, Andino. Is there anyone on this team that can hit with a man on base? That can hit situationally? That can hit with a man or two men in scoring position? It's bad enough when you make one out, much less two at a time. These 15 hit, 6 run or worse 8 hit 1 run games are really getting old.

Finally, can we get Riemold a few more at bats? At this point, Luke and Vlad are just road blocks. We've got to get rid of them, get what we can and open things up to players like Pie and Riemold. Let's let them bring some other team down. Sometimes I wonder what AM is doing/thinking. Even if you don't get anything for them, clearing their paycheck off the books would be reward enough.

Update: Matusz optioned to triple A. Ha!