What's Wrong With Brian Matusz? (UPDATED)

I was going to do a post tonight about the awesome trade I completed at the card show with fellow blogger Ryan from "O" No Another Oriole Blog, but I'm so mad right now at a player who is supposed to be a key component of the Orioles' future rotation, one Brian Matusz.

He had a wart removed from the index finger on his pitching hand right as spring training was getting under way. A very questionable decision that caused him to miss a little bit of time.

Then, he strained an intercostal muscle as spring training went along and missed the first month of the season.

Finally, he is back from the disabled list... Or at least I think he's back. He showed up. Well, maybe he hasn't shown up... Over the course of the last few starts, Matusz has looked winded as the second inning starts. Also, his velocity has fallen off the table. Many fellow O's fans are starting to question his conditioning. Did he let himself get out of shape? Is his arm hurt and he's not telling anyone? Who knows.

All I know is, he allowed 8 runs in 3.1 innings tonight to the Pujols-less Cardinals and doesn't look anything like the pitcher that closed last season with 6 straight victories. He's looking more like a shell of the phenom pitcher all O's fans expected to flirt with around 15 wins this season.

I don't usually use my blog to rant about a player, but I honestly believe it is time to option Matusz to AAA Norfolk and let him figure out what's wrong. I'm really hoping it is something that can be corrected instead of yet another O's pitching prospect flaming out (a la Matt Riley, Adam Loewen, etc.).

See you in Norfolk, Brian. Don't come back til you are 100% healthy and have figured out what's wrong. The O's need you big time.

**UPDATE: The Orioles optioned Brian Matusz to AAA Norfolk after tonight's loss to the Cardinals.

Card Show Pickup - Ernie Harwell Autographed Baseball

I was able to get my hands on another Hall of Fame announcer's signed baseball this weekend at the Raleigh card show. I have wanted an Ernie Harwell ball for the past couple of years; ever since I heard an interview with him on my XM radio. I thought it was awesome that he had called games almost 70 years ago and was around to relate the stories to a younger generation.

Sadly, Harwell died last year due to cancer and his voice has been silenced forever. I think Harwell is one of the iconic voices of baseball along with Red Barber, Jack Buck, Vin Scully, Bob Uecker, Harry Caray, etc. I want to try to get autographed baseballs of some of the legendary announcers. I have Phil Rizzuto, Bob Uecker and Harwell now.

Ernie Harwell makes my 41st Hall of Fame autographed baseball. I hope to keep them coming.

Card Show Pickup - Robin Yount Autographed Baseball

I picked up some cool stuff at this weekend's card show in Raleigh. The first of which is my 40th Hall of Fame baseball.

I have wanted to try TTM to Robin Yount for a while, but it looks like he doesn't sign a whole lot. I made a trade to a dealer who had some awesome autos and got a good deal on this ball and another that will be shown in a later post (they always seem to come in twos don't they?).

As you can see, the Yount sig is beautiful. I would have liked a HOF inscription, but who can complain, really? I did meet his son Dustin when he played for the Chattanooga Lookouts, so there's a six-degrees of Kevin Bacon going on there.

What do you guys think of the ball? I think it looks pretty amazing. I'm glad I was able to knock him off my list, that's for sure.

TTM Success - Pat Gillick

I got my 39th Hall of Famer and my 22nd TTM success. Gillick was elected as a member of the 2011 Hall of Fame class via the Veterans Committee in December 2010.

He was the general manager for the Blue Jays, Orioles, Mariners and Phillies; winning the World Series with the Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993 and the Phillies in 2008.

I mailed to Mr. Gillick on May 27 and got the ball back today (June 23), making this almost a month TAT. Not too bad. I think one thing that held it up was that Mr. Gillick lives in Seattle, so it took a good 3 days for it to get to Washington from NC.

Mr. Gillick signed the ball for free and as you can see, inscribed his Hall of Fame induction year on it for me.

***Be sure to check my TTM Successes tab above to see the other baseballs that I have gotten. Also, if you have any questions on how to send TTM, please email me, and I will definitely try to help you out!!

Raleigh Card Show - This Weekend June 25 and 26

Just letting anyone in the area know, I will be setting up 2 tables at the Raleigh Card Show this weekend. Saturday and Sunday June 25 and 26. Please come by and check it out. Lots of relics and autos, older Topps, a Longoria Jersey (Medium) for sale. I definitely could use the sales, haha. Hope to see fellow bloggers and/or readers there.

Please comment if you plan on attending!

Another Card SHow Pickup - 2005 Topps Gold Cal Ripken

I traded some kids at the card show a couple cards for this Topps Gold Cal Ripken that I definitely didn't have in my collection. I don't know much about the card; it is definitely the 2005 Topps design, but as we all know, Cal was long since retired when 05 Topps hit the shelves.

The card has the old school Topps logo, so maybe it was a Target or Wal Mart exclusive? Anyone have any clues?

I have tried looking it up and haven't been successful.

Anyway, it is a pretty cool card and I now have it in with all 400+ of my Cal cards.

TTM Success - Bob Uecker

I mentioned yesterday that I got 2 baseballs in the mail, well, here is the second. None other than Hall of Fame Announcer Bob Uecker. I remember coming home from school and watching Mr. Belvedere with my oldest brother (before Major League came out) and Mr. Uecker was a star of the show.

Obviously many know him from his character Harry Doyle from the Major League movies. Uecker was also a catcher in the majors from 1962 to 1967 for the Braves, Cardinals and Phillies. He retired with 146 hits, 14 home runs and a .200 batting average.

Uecker makes my 38th Hall of Famer and my 21st TTM success!