Return to the Stadium****Updated with Photos*****

Weather this season has been not favorable to photographers; not to mention the 7 PM start times (dont' see that changing considering attendance has increased this season). Ongoing state budget negotiations and other work issues have limited my trips to the park this season. After a few weeks away from Metro Bank Park I made my way back last night to see the Senators face-off against Bowie (Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles). With all the player moves since last weeks all-star break I wanted to check out the ‘new’ look Senators.

I know this is a Senators site but in all honesty my primary reason for attending the game was to see Baysox starting pitcher Brian Matusz (2008 1st round Draft Pick, 4th overall). Scouting reports on him are overall pretty positive but some people have issues with his delivery and command of his low-to-mid 90’s fastball; his delivery was pretty average but he didn’t show any command issues with his fastball last night. Only mistake he made was hanging an off-speed pitch that was drilled off the scoreboard in left field by Senators SS Freddie Bynum.

Scouts say he has 4 pitches in his arsenal, an above average fastball and changeup to go along with outstanding curve and slider. One thing I noticed is he works fast. He takes only a few warm up pitches before the inning starts and he is ready to go. During the inning, when he receives the ball back from the catcher he is ready to fire the ball back in. He knows what he wants to throw and usually has no problems locating his pitch. Fielders tend to ‘get the night off’ when he pitches.

So far this season Matusz, 22, has a combined record of 10-2 with a 2.06 ERA with Frederick (4-2, 2.16) and Bowie (6-0, 1.88). He pitched 105 innings and struck out 114 batters. Opposing hitters have a trifling .212 average vs. Matusz so far. He has earned Pitcher of the Week honors twice this season.

Two of Matusz's six starts for Bowie have been against the Senators (7/7 and 7/21). In those two starts he combined for 15 IP, 1 run and 15 strike outs. The game on 7/7 he 1 hit the Senators in 8 IP.

His days in Bowie are numbered. I highly expect him to be promoted very soon, with a possible call up to Baltimore in September. Predicting a pitchers long-term future is always difficult but I see him as a 1 or 2 starting pitcher at the MLB level.

PS - Photos will be posted in the next few days.