I had a chance to catch up with Matt and find out a little bit about him and his background:

Matt Antonelli is a new name to the people of Baltimore.  Tell us a little about yourself as a person and also about your baseball style and past.

I am from a city about fifteen minutes north of Boston, Massachusetts and have lived here my entire life. In high school I played baseball, hockey, and football. My biggest hobby is sports. I love every sport there is and in some ways have an unhealthy addiction to the NFL. I played baseball at Wake Forest University from 2004-2006. I was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2006 and made my Major League debut in 2008. In 2010 I signed a one year deal with the Washington Nationals and then signed with the Baltimore Orioles this past November.

How do you feel about the culture of losing that has manifested itself in Baltimore over the past decade and a half, and how were you able to overlook that when signing a contract with the Orioles?

I think the Orioles are a great baseball franchise and have established a great tradition throughout the years. I know that the last few seasons have not gone the way Orioles fans would have liked, but I think the organization is headed in the right direction. I am really excited about joining the Orioles and helping them build a successful team.

Explain a bit about the difficulty of living up to the hype as a (former) top prospect.

I don’t really think about the idea of being a former top prospect. Prospect really means that you have potential but haven’t had the opportunity to play at the Major League level yet. In the end I don’t want to be a prospect. I want to be a player that is contributing to a team at the Major League level.

Joining a new team, who do you think the main leaders in the O’s clubhouse are?  Other than front office staff, have you been in touch with any of your new teammates or coaches at all?

I’m not sure exactly what the clubhouse is like for the Orioles because I haven’t had the chance to meet any players yet, but I do know that they have some very good veteran players throughout their organization. When I was in Baltimore a few weeks ago I was able to speak with Buck Showalter a little bit and will meet most of the players at Fan Fest which is coming up in a few weeks.

What’s your offseason been like?

My off-seaon basically consists of getting ready for the upcoming season. I don’t take much time off once the season ends. I was into working out and getting my body prepared for the season a few days after this season ended. I also spend a lot of time working with younger baseball players around the area, trying to improve their skills as well.

You seem to understand advanced baseball statistics pretty well; do you feel like this helps yourself when communicating/understanding GMs and analysts in MLB front offices?

I’m not sure if it helps as far as communicating in anyway. I don’t really need to speak very much to GMs and members of the front office. I just need to understand what type of player I am, what I need to continue to improve on, and what our manager asks of me when I get on the field.

Have you read Moneyball?
If so, what was your reaction when one of the things you do particularly well (walks) was so overtly praised and described as undervalued in the book? Do you think that walking received too much coverage in the book?

I have read Moneyball. Well, on base percentage was something that probably wasn’t stressed as much back ten or twenty years ago, but is definitely something that is looked at very closely in today’s game. The ultimate goal on offense is to score runs, and the only way to do that is to get on base. Whether that means getting a hit or walking, it really doesn’t matter. Also working the opposing pitcher by going deeper into the count is something that is stressed much more in todays game. I think the idea of OBP has more to do with just walks.

Any other words you’d like to convey to the fans in Baltimore:

I’m just really excited for the season to start and will do anything in my power to help in club be successful in the 2012 season.

Position Players:

• Vladimir Guerrero – $8MM salary, -$400K value ($8.4MM deficit)
• Derrek Lee – $7.25MM salary, $200K value ($7.05MM deficit)

Pitchers

• Koji Uehara – $3MM salary, -$400K value ($3.4MM deficit)
• Jeremy Accardo - $1.08MM salary, -$900K value ($1.98MM deficit)
• Kevin Gregg – $5MM salary, $0 value ($5MM deficit)

 
 
That is a $25.83MM total deficit.
 
 

It is obvious to fans and media alike that the Orioles are struggling.  While Guerrero, Lee, and Gregg seem to be getting a bit better, this summary puts the off season into perspective for those who claimed the Orioles overpaid for many free agents in the first place.

The Orioles signed a total of seven free agents this past season to major league deals.  Five are listed above.  The other two are Cesar Izturis ($1.5MM salary) and Justin Duchscherer ($700K salary).  With Izturis getting extremely limited playing time and Duchscherer still on the 60 day DL, they are obviously costing the Orioles money, but not significant enough amounts to be listed here.

In the end that means that the Orioles have so far completely failed at signing even one worthwhile free agent contract this off season.

Royals hitting has always been their strong point. The brightest star this year so far has been Alex Gordon who had an 18 game hitting streak. Jeff Francoeur comes in a very close 2nd with 6 Home Runs to put him in the top 10 for the AL HR stat. Finally, Billy Butler is always a hitting threat especially for gap doubles that can really drive in base runners at Kauffman Stadium.

Here is a review of the pitching matchups for the series:

Game 1: Tuesday, May 3
8:10PM EST
RHP Brad Bergesen (0-3, 4.76) vs. LHP Jeff Francis (0-3, 5.03)

Brad Bergesen is morphing into a totally different pitcher than we saw of him dating back two years ago.  Coming through the system relying on a sinker to induce lots of ground balls, Bergesen incorporated a 4 seam fastball last season that changed how he attacked hitters, using the 4 seamer as a set up pitch for his 2 seamer.  After 1.55 and 1.33 ground ball to fly ball ratios the last two seasons respectively, Bergesen is turning into a fly ball pitcher now, hosting a 0.77 mark on the year in that category.  He faces the Royals, the team that, by way of Billy Butler line drive, took him and his knee out for a chunk of the 2009 season.

Jeff Francis’ pitching performance doesn’t match his record. Francis has had solid appearances he would have won if he could get run support. He has almost taken over Greinke’s spot of being the Royals best pitcher with the corresponding offensive failure during his starts.  Francis was completely shelled in the Rangers game but it was a windy day in a tiny ballpark and that added 2 points to his ERA.

Game 2: Wednesday, May 4
8:10 PM EST
RHP Jake Arrieta (3-1, 5.01) vs. RHP Kyle Davies (1-3, 7.98)

Jake Arrieta has had mixed results this season, still trying to bounce back fully from his awful game against the Rangers the first week of the season.  Though Arrieta is walking almost a full batter less per nine innings and striking out over two more, he is allowing more home runs in his starts.  The key for Arrieta is if he can mix his pitches well and establish the fastball in the zone as he has as of late.

Kyle Davies is just plain awful, doesn’t deserve the 1 win he has and his ERA shows that. The only positive is that he doesn’t walk as much which results in either a quick inning or a Home Run Derby.

Game 3: Thursday, May 5
2:10 PM EST
RHP Chris Tillman (1-2, 5.25) vs. LHP Bruce Chen (3-1, 4.04)

Though Chris Tillman has kept his walk and home run numbers down so far (comparing to an awful 2010, none the less), he has looked quite flat on the mound, continuing with his extremely straight fastball that has dropped quite a bit in velocity.  A pitcher who was expected to throw in the 92-95 MPH range, Tillman is ending up around 87-89 this season, and it isn’t pretty.  He has two starts allowing one run or less, both in which he received a lot of luck in the BABIP category.  Unless he picks up the velocity or incorporates the cutter some more, the Royals fiery offense may bring him some trouble.

Bruce Chen continues to amaze Royals fans with his ability and can really frustrate opposing hitters. His ERA, like Francis, was inflated by the Rangers really hammering him. He somehow seems to get better with age.

The Orioles get two southpaws in this three game series, matchups that may not be pretty considering how they have done against lefties so far this season.  Including the loss last night to Mark Buehrle, the O’s are now 2-6 vs. left handed starters, a stat that was expected to go up with all of the right handed batters signed in the off season.  27th in the majors in batting average vs. lefties (.213), the O’s will have their hands full.  If the Royals take a lead into the 9th inning, they are almost guaranteed a win with closer Joakim Soria being one of the most dominant in the game.

Our bullpen could be the best in the American League with Aaron Crow really shocking people and his 0.00 ERA through 12.2 innings pitched.

Mike Gonzalez, one of the other high end contracts given out prior to the 2010 season, has definitely had his ups and downs in the Orioles system.  After saving ten games (in seventeen chances, none the less) with a 2.42 ERA in 2009, Gonzalez came into Baltimore last year to be the team’s primary closer for two years.  At least that’s what the organization had planned on.

Flash back to April 6, 2010.  On Opening Day in Tampa Bay, the Orioles took a 3-2 lead into the 9th inning after Kevin Millwood pitched five solid innings followed by three stellar relief innings from the O’s.  Adam Jones, Luke Scott, and Matt Wieters each had solo home runs in the game, and Dave Trembley was prepared to give a positive post game interview about the team’s first win coming on that day.

In comes Mike Gonzalez.  After striking out Pat Burrell to start the inning, the excitement grew on O’s fans that the season was about to begin with a W.  Then came a Sean Rodriguez single, a Kelly Shoppach double, an intentional walk of Jason Bartlett, and ending with a Carl Crawford two-RBI line drive single to right field.

Rays win, 4-3.

48 hours later, Gonzalez was on the mound again with the O’s clenching on to a 5-4 lead.  Pat Burrell strikes out.  Here we go again.  Sean Rodriguez strikes out.  And next?  Walk, single, walk.  In order.  A Ben Zobrist pop out ended the game.  Luckily.

The next day?  Gonzalez in with a 6-5 lead, and after a walk, double, and two sacrifices, the O’s found themselves losing again.  Four days into the season, and the club found themselves with a 1-3 mark.  Even worse were the stats behind the new $12 million closer, who was now sporting an 18.00 ERA and 4.50 WHIP in three brutal appearances.

Finally admitting to shoulder pains, Gonzalez rehabbed shoulder injuries through mid-July, time that Orioles fans wished had gone on longer.  Even once he got back into games during rehab appearances, he was letting up home runs and multiple hits per inning in the minor leagues.  But rest assured, he was “healthy.”

Finishing the season off with a 4.01 ERA in 24.2 IP, Mike Gonzalez certainly was not who anybody had hoped he’d be for the Orioles.  It seemed that all he really fixed during his three mixed months was that he didn’t have a 45-step windup.

Fast forward to April of 2011.

Here we are today, as Mike Gonzalez now has an ERA of 13.50 and WHIP of 2.44 in seven appearances.  With only one scoreless outing this year so far (yes, he has allowed at least one run in six of seven appearances), Gonzalez is becoming a liability in the Orioles bullpen.  Check out his game by game results for yourself.  It’s just not pretty.

Last Sunday, against the Yankees, after the rain delay and into extra innings, the Yankees had Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher coming up to bat in the top of the 11th.  Instead of using the left handed Gonzalez who had two days of rest since his last time on the mound, manager Buck Showalter brought in righty Jason Berken, who had let up three runs just the night before.

It is obvious that Mike Gonzalez is not a quality asset to the Orioles organization at this point.  Brought in to pitch the 8th inning just last night, Gonzalez managed to only record one out while allowing two runs on two hits and a walk.

In his post game interview, Gonzalez said the following:

“The results, seriously, I don’t feel bad or frustrated whatsoever. What I wanted was to go out there and have my mindset. It really didn’t even have to do with the velocity. It just had to do with my mindset. I felt really good today. I felt really comfortable and it just didn’t go my way. But I will fight like this all day. I’ll go every day to work like that feeling the way I felt today. No frustration whatsoever.”

No frustration?  You don’t feel bad for the results?  Atkins may have gotten a lot of money as well, but when he struggled consistently, it was time to release him.

Is it time to let go of Michael Gonzalez and look at other options?  I believe so.

Catching a lineup and rotation like Boston brings during a hot streak can’t be good news for the Buck Showalter and the O’s.  After losing by twelve to the Yankees on Saturday and then in an extra innings battle on Sunday, the Birds look to get back in the win column by taking advantage of any holes they can find in the Red Sox’ lineup.

Here is a review of the pitching matchups for the series:

Game 1: Tuesday, April 26
7:05 PM EST
LHP Zach Britton (3-1, 3.16) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (1-2, 5.31)

After finding his first struggles as a rookie in Cleveland, Britton looked solid back in Baltimore, allowing three runs in six innings in his last start.  The sinker baller has been changing up his routine each time on the mound, mixing up which pitches he focuses on, so it will be interesting to see what he relies on against Boston’s stacked lineup.

Buchholz, while struggling early on in the season, actually rebounded really well in his last outing against Oakland, throwing 6 innings and only allowing only 1 run (a homer). He’s been letting up a lot more homers this year, serving up 6 while last year he gave up 9 all season.

Game 2: Wednesday, April 27
7:05 PM EST
RHP Jeremy Guthrie (1-3, 3.12) vs. RHP Josh Becket (2-1, 1.93)

Guthrie, after a stellar opener in Tampa and then dealing with pneumonia symptoms through his next two starts, finally got back to his healthy self this past Thursday against the Twins, where he held Minnesota to two runs in seven innings (yet still notched the loss).  Run support continues to be the issue in the record for Guthrie multiple years going now, so the key for the O’s to win here is to overcome those struggles and produce for Guts to get a W.

Beckett had a rocky start to his season, but has completely dominated in his last 3 starts. In his last start, against Anaheim, Beckett allowed 2 runs in 8 innings, RAISING his ERA to 1.93. Everything is looking up for Beckett, his velocity, strikeouts, everything is pointing to him being back to normal.

Game 3: Thursday, April 28
7:05 PM EST
RHP Brad Bergesen (0-3, 5.40) vs. LHP Jon Lester (2-1, 2.59)

Bergesen comes into this start with his same early season struggles that he found last year.  Opposed to 2010, Bergy is already incorporating a 4 seam fastball into his mix of pitches, but when he is leaving the sinker up in the zone, it creates too many problems for him to stay consistency.  He does bring a career 3.32 ERA vs. Boston into this game (in 6 previous starts), including two September starts last year in which he allowed only three runs in eleven and a third innings pitched.

Lester, who’s been known to struggle in April, had a rocky first start against Texas where he allowed 5 runs on 3 homers. However, in his last 4 starts, he’s struck out at least 5 every time out.

Obviously Crawford has started off slow, but Adrian Gonzalez hasn’t been himself at the plate. He has just one home run for the Red Sox right now, and is hitting .282. I’d expect to see him break out rather soon.

The Minnesota Twins, currently sitting in last place in the extremely competitive AL Central at 5-10, have has issues all around the diamond, whether it be starting pitching, no spark in their offense, and trouble closing out games.  Along with recently placing Joe Mauer on the DL with a viral infection retroactive to April 13th, it was just announced today that closer Joe Nathan would be removed from his role and replaced by Matt Capps for save situations after Nathan went 3-5 in save situations and has allowed five runs in five and a third innings pitched.

The only guys that have been hitting are Denard Span and Jason Kubel. Both players have had decent numbers so far with Kubel smacking two HRs in the last two games. As far as who isn’t hitting? Most of the team is an appropriate answer. The Twins haven’t scored more than 5 in any game this season. Justin Morneau has shown some signs coming back from his concussion but only has a .552 OPS to show for it. Michael Cuddyer has been even worse. He has 1 extra base hit and a .489 OPS.

The only other injury the Twins are dealing with is Kevin Slowey has been on the DL for a week plus, costing the team depth in the pen.

The pen has coughed up a couple leads lately, but it’s the bats that are killing the Twins right now.

Here is a review of the pitching matchups for the series:

Game 1: Monday, April 18
7:05 PM EST
RHP Chris Tillman (0-1, 7.30) vs. LHP Francisco Liriano (0-3, 9.42)

Chris Tillman has had some chancy outings so far in 2011.  After throwing six no-hit innings in Tampa Bay, Tillman has had two poor and short starts, making many question his status in the rotation and his ability to face major league batters overall.

Liriano has had a rough start as his ERA suggests. His velocity has been a little spotty with his fastball but his slider velocity has been in the 87-88 range, pre-Tommy John type velocity. He’s been victimized by poor command and bad BABIP/unlucky innings. He has had dominant stretches in his last couple starts, but seems to lose it for a time. If he could find the plate early in the count his stuff could allow him to dominate as soon as his next start.

Game 2: Tuesday, April 19
7:05 PM EST
RHP Jake Arrieta (1-1, 7.04) vs. RHP Carl Pavano (1-1, 3.60)

Jake Arrieta has been interesting to watch so far this season, with his worst start coming against the Rangers a little over a week ago when he only lasted three and a third innings, allowing eight earned runs.  His two other starts have been quality starts, both lasting six innings and allowing one and three runs respectively.  Arrieta will look to establish his fastball and not be predictable against these Twins hitters.

Pavano got shelled opening day but has been great. He’s been getting by the same way as he did last year. He pitches to contact and the fielders make the plays.

Game 3: Wednesday, April 20
7:05 PM EST
LHP Zach Britton (2-1, 2.75) vs. RHP Nick Blackburn (1-2, 3.06)

Zach Britton faced his first troubles in the majors this past Friday against the Indians (5 ER in 6 IP), but should be able to pick right back up where he left off before, allowing only one run between his first two starts combining for thirteen and two thirds innings.  The sinker ball pitcher just has to locate his stuff down in the zone and will continue to hit his strides as a top prospect southpaw.

Blackburn has looked pretty decent so far this year. He dominated his last start until his pitching to contact tendencys got to him. His K/9 rate has crept up a little so far this year. If he can keep the ball done, he is serviceable.

Game 4: Thursday, April 21
7:05 PM EST
RHP Jeremy Guthrie (1-2, 3.32) vs. RHP Scott Baker (0-2, 4.50)

Jeremy Guthrie, after coming back from pneumonia, has has some struggles with pitching deep into games since then and also an ineffective start in Cleveland, where he allowed six runs in five innings pitched.  The veteran on this staff, Guthrie looks to reestablish himself this series and be the quality pitcher he has shown he could be when healthy.

Baker has pitched decently. His HR and BB rates are a little high so far, but as a flyball guy, he will give up some HRs. His K rate is similar to prior years. Not a conventional strikeout pitcher, baker can rack up a decent amount of Ks and generally doesn’t give up many hits.

Overall, the Orioles face a tough challenge against the Twins, though may have caught them on a cold streak.  Though the Twins carry a worse record than the O’s, the ball club is known to have quality pitchers and an impressive lineup, so they could easily come to life at any time.  Both squads are looking to make a run back to the top of their respective divisions, and this four game series will be a test for both of them to see how far they can go at the beginning of this young 2011 season.

***All information about the Minnesota Twins in block quotes was provided by Shawn Berg. You can read more of Shawn’s writing on his blog “On the road with…” and also follow him on Twitter @ShawntheRoad.