Fall 2008 - Austin Peay State University

“They (scouts) finally stayed, I finally
got looked at,” he said. “There were scouts
from the Mariners, the (New York) Yankees
and (Arizona) Diamondbacks there.”
And they all liked what they saw. However,
the Diamondbacks were not ready to make
an offer. The Yankees, meanwhile, were willing
to sign him to a Class Acontract.
“They told me they needed a lefthander,
but back then their reputation was if they
needed someone (for the major league club)
they would just go and buy it or trade for
it,” Sherrill said.
Meanwhile, the Mariners scout was
Charley Kerfeld, perhaps a kindred spirit to
Sherrill. Kerfeld was never a svelte figure
during his major league career. The former
Astros pitcher was able to bring Sherrill the
exact offer he was seeking – a chance to
sign and go immediately to Class AA San
Antonio Missions, just two steps below the
major leagues.
“Seattle was the right fit for me,” he said.
“I thought I would have the best opportunity
with them.”
The call comes
In helping the San Antonio Missions to
win both the West Division crown and the
overall league championship, Sherrill saw
action in 16 games, covering 27.1 innings.
He allowed just one run for an unbelievable
0.33 earned-run average. He struck out 31
and walked just 12 in his transition to affiliated
baseball.
In 2005, Sherrill went to spring training
in Peoria, Ariz., and the Mariners’ upper
management certainly was more than curious
about him. After less than a half season
at Class AA, Sherrill advanced to Class AAA
Tacoma, of the Pacific Coast League. More
importantly, he was given the opportunity
to serve as closer early in the season. In
23.2 innings pitching, he struck out 38
batters and walked only six, a phenomenal
strikeouts-to-walks ratio. He also had a
2.28 earned-run average while posting
seven saves.
The Mariners certainly noticed. On July
15, 2004, Sherrill got the call. The
Mariners needed a left-handed reliever at the
major league level – and that lefty was Sherrill.
The 27-year-old was finally a major
league player.
“I was in Pawtucket (R.I.) for the Triple A
All-Star game and we were at the luncheon,”
Sherrill said. “I remember there was a roundtable
discussion going on with (former
major league stars) Johnny Pesky, Dom
Sherrill’s popularity as the closer for the Orioles has resulted in fans wearing baseball hats with straightened
bills. To add to the frenzy, The Baltimore Sun ran this illustration by Mike Ricigliano on May 18, 2008.
DiMaggio and some others. They took a
break so we could finish our meals, and I
got the call. It was just amazing timing!
”I wasn’t really expecting it, really wasn’t
even thinking about it. I was in the
Triple A All-Star game. I just wanted to
keep pitching well, maybe force their hand
later. But things were not going too well in
Seattle at the time. It was a chance for me to
show them what I could do.”
His first day in the majors, he pitched
against the Cleveland Indians. He finished
the season with the Mariners, appearing in
21 games, owning a more than respectable
2-1 record and 3.80 earned-run average.
He pitched well again in Spring 2005,
but Sherrill was the victim of a numbers
game—those numbers being dollars. The
Mariners elected to keep former top draft
pick Matt Thornton, whom the team had
invested much money.
Sherrill returned to Tacoma and made his
case again. In just 22 games he tallied
seven saves with a sporty 2.28 ERA. He
also had 38 strikeouts compared to just six
walks. He was called up for a week in May,
making one appearance and then was sent
back down.
Sherrill then battled injuries before
rejoining the Mariners for good on July 31.
He finished that season with 29 appearances
and solidified his role for Seattle.
In fact, he tied for fifth in 72 American
League pitching appearances in 2006 and
tied for seventh a year ago with 73. It was
2007 that saw his major league career really
evolve. In 45.2 innings, Sherrill allowed
merely 28 hits while posting an impressive
2.36 ERA. He also fanned 56 and walked
only 17. Baseball experts believe to be a
quality pitcher, a hurler must strive for a 2-
to-1 strikeouts-to-walk ratio. Sherrill’s was
more than 3-to-1.
The former baseball nomad entered the
offseason secure not only in his ability but
his status as a major league player as well.
Then rumors surfaced. Seattle was seeking
to acquire Erik Bedard, one of baseball’s
best starting pitchers. The rumors had Sherrill
and young outfielder Adam Jones as the
primary targets for the Orioles.
After several weeks of talks, the trade
occurred Feb. 8, just prior to spring training’s
start. Certainly, Sherrill was disappointed
because he was loyal to a franchise
that gave him his chance.
“They treated me well in Seattle,” Sherrill
Continued on Page 33
Courtesy The Baltimore Sun/Mike Ricigliano
Fall 2008
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