Nanner
06-30-2002, 09:51 AM
The guy went 5 for 5 last night!!! :biggrin: It's great that the O's, and especially Crow, saw fit to stick with him and work with him!
From MLB.com:
-------------------------------------------
06/29/2002 10:49 pm ET
Matthews Jr. emerging as a force
Outfielder has raised average to .292
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The evolution of a five-tool player is taking place at Camden Yards. As Gary Matthews Jr. logs games for the Orioles, a potential Major League standout emerges.
Matthews was a star Saturday night against the Phillies, collecting his first five-hit game as a Major Leaguer in the Orioles' 11-1 win. Comparisons to his superstar father have followed Matthews since he was a 13th-round pick by San Diego in 1993.
Criticisms about his game have followed him all the way to Baltimore, his fifth team in three years. Matthews landed in Baltimore as a career .217 hitter, a player with immense skills who had never fulfilled his potential.
When Orioles Vice President of Baseball Operations Syd Thrift announced the club had acquired Matthews for left-handed reliever John Bale on April 3, skepticism abounded. Bale could have turned into a valuable commodity; Matthews was considered a player nearing his career crossroads.
Four months later, Matthews has catapulted himself into the starting lineup, hitting .292 with 15 doubles and a .470 slugging percentage. His bat has given the Orioles' lineup a much-needed injection of enthusiasm.
Orioles fans, who have come out in droves the past three nights, returned the favor by giving Matthews his first career curtain call after he homered off Rheal Cormier for his fifth hit.
"It felt kind of strange, to be honest," he said. "Baseball is a team sport, so to go out there an individual felt funny. But I appreciated it. It was a great feeling."
Matthews appears comfortable in the clubhouse. Before the game, he played clubhouse D.J., spinning a CD by the late R&B singer Aaliyah as he chatted with teammate and buddy Chris Singleton.
He knows he no longer is the 25th man on the roster, as he was with some of his previous teams. Instead of a defensive replacement or pinch-runner, he has become a major offensive contributor.
When Matthews arrived, Thrift turned him over to Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley, who said he had heard the same knocks on Matthews.
"Teams don't let players go with that kind of outward talent," Crowley said. "You can go on about a lot of [good] things that he is. I figured that we had to back up a little bit and break down the techniques of his hitting. He needed to back off a little bit on the long, powerful swing and shorten it up and look for line drives and ground balls."
Matthews admitted he came to Baltimore as a power hitter. Because of his size -- he is 6 feet 3 and a sculpted 215 pounds -- he said he felt inclined to hit home runs for his former teams.
The 27-year-old hit 14 homers last season in just more than 400 at-bats but batted .227 with the Cubs and Pirates.
"With today's game, you fall in love with the homer," Matthews said. "It took awhile for me to learn the mental aspects of the game and the techniques of hitting. Terry has been so important to me as a hitter. He has really worked with me."
So as the Orioles develop into a more talented club, Matthews has become part of the rebuilding process. It's safe to say he has joined the club's group of young cornerstones: Jay Gibbons, Brian Roberts, Melvin Mora, Jason Johnson and Sidney Ponson.
Manager Mike Hargrove said he read all the scouting reports on Matthews, whom some described as a player who struck out too often and had regressed since flourishing in the Padres' minor league system.
"You have to keep an open mind when you see a kid like Gary," Hargrove said. "We knew he had tremendous skills. The light is on with Gary, and hopefully it stays on. Sometimes it just takes time for certain guys."
With the Orioles probably a year away from competing for the playoffs, Matthews is in an environment where he can get significant playing time without the short leash he has perhaps received with other teams.
"He hasn't had much of a chance in those other places," Crowley said. "He's a hard worker. And as long as a guy comes here and is willing to work, I will do my best to help him improve. He's always here, you never have to look for him. He's a pretty talented young man. We got him at a good time in his career and a good time for the Orioles."
Gary Washburn covers the Orioles for MLB.com. He can be reached at gwashb7519@aol.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
From MLB.com:
-------------------------------------------
06/29/2002 10:49 pm ET
Matthews Jr. emerging as a force
Outfielder has raised average to .292
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The evolution of a five-tool player is taking place at Camden Yards. As Gary Matthews Jr. logs games for the Orioles, a potential Major League standout emerges.
Matthews was a star Saturday night against the Phillies, collecting his first five-hit game as a Major Leaguer in the Orioles' 11-1 win. Comparisons to his superstar father have followed Matthews since he was a 13th-round pick by San Diego in 1993.
Criticisms about his game have followed him all the way to Baltimore, his fifth team in three years. Matthews landed in Baltimore as a career .217 hitter, a player with immense skills who had never fulfilled his potential.
When Orioles Vice President of Baseball Operations Syd Thrift announced the club had acquired Matthews for left-handed reliever John Bale on April 3, skepticism abounded. Bale could have turned into a valuable commodity; Matthews was considered a player nearing his career crossroads.
Four months later, Matthews has catapulted himself into the starting lineup, hitting .292 with 15 doubles and a .470 slugging percentage. His bat has given the Orioles' lineup a much-needed injection of enthusiasm.
Orioles fans, who have come out in droves the past three nights, returned the favor by giving Matthews his first career curtain call after he homered off Rheal Cormier for his fifth hit.
"It felt kind of strange, to be honest," he said. "Baseball is a team sport, so to go out there an individual felt funny. But I appreciated it. It was a great feeling."
Matthews appears comfortable in the clubhouse. Before the game, he played clubhouse D.J., spinning a CD by the late R&B singer Aaliyah as he chatted with teammate and buddy Chris Singleton.
He knows he no longer is the 25th man on the roster, as he was with some of his previous teams. Instead of a defensive replacement or pinch-runner, he has become a major offensive contributor.
When Matthews arrived, Thrift turned him over to Orioles hitting coach Terry Crowley, who said he had heard the same knocks on Matthews.
"Teams don't let players go with that kind of outward talent," Crowley said. "You can go on about a lot of [good] things that he is. I figured that we had to back up a little bit and break down the techniques of his hitting. He needed to back off a little bit on the long, powerful swing and shorten it up and look for line drives and ground balls."
Matthews admitted he came to Baltimore as a power hitter. Because of his size -- he is 6 feet 3 and a sculpted 215 pounds -- he said he felt inclined to hit home runs for his former teams.
The 27-year-old hit 14 homers last season in just more than 400 at-bats but batted .227 with the Cubs and Pirates.
"With today's game, you fall in love with the homer," Matthews said. "It took awhile for me to learn the mental aspects of the game and the techniques of hitting. Terry has been so important to me as a hitter. He has really worked with me."
So as the Orioles develop into a more talented club, Matthews has become part of the rebuilding process. It's safe to say he has joined the club's group of young cornerstones: Jay Gibbons, Brian Roberts, Melvin Mora, Jason Johnson and Sidney Ponson.
Manager Mike Hargrove said he read all the scouting reports on Matthews, whom some described as a player who struck out too often and had regressed since flourishing in the Padres' minor league system.
"You have to keep an open mind when you see a kid like Gary," Hargrove said. "We knew he had tremendous skills. The light is on with Gary, and hopefully it stays on. Sometimes it just takes time for certain guys."
With the Orioles probably a year away from competing for the playoffs, Matthews is in an environment where he can get significant playing time without the short leash he has perhaps received with other teams.
"He hasn't had much of a chance in those other places," Crowley said. "He's a hard worker. And as long as a guy comes here and is willing to work, I will do my best to help him improve. He's always here, you never have to look for him. He's a pretty talented young man. We got him at a good time in his career and a good time for the Orioles."
Gary Washburn covers the Orioles for MLB.com. He can be reached at gwashb7519@aol.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.