Nice to be Wrong

Yesterday I said that it was great to have Brian Matusz making his major league debut, even though he would probably lose.

Wrong. He pitched a nice game, though he was pulled after five innings when his pitch count reached 99. He showed the best stuff of any pitcher the Orioles have had since Mike Mussina--who coincidentally made his major league debut on the exact same date 18 years ago. Mussina pitched great but lost 1-0. Fortunately, the O's gave Matusz plenty of run support.

Yesterday marked the sixth time this season that a rookie pitcher made his major league debut for the Orioles, and five of them have won, with the other getting a no-decision in a game the O's went on to win. That's 6-0 in debut games. I see the beginning of a strategy forming here.

So now everyone will learn how to pronounce Matusz's name. I've been saying "Mah-TOOZ," but it's "MATT-is." I have a feeling people in both leagues will be saying that name for a long time.

And for the first time in years, I'm actually thinking it would be fun to go to Camden Yards and watch an O's game. Maybe when Matusz is pitching.