Sherrill brings ray of hope

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George Sherrill struck out 56 batters in 45 innings last season with Seattle. — AP

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Map, News) - The Orioles are not the first birds on George Sherrill’s pitching résumé. He’s a former Canary — having pitched in every role from starter to closer for the team in Sioux Falls, S.D.

It was one of three stops in the independent Frontier and Northern Leagues and American Professional Baseball Association, as the left-hander tenaciously held on to his baseball dreams for 4 1/2 seasons. He was also an Otter in Evansville, Ind., and a Goldeye in Winnipeg, Canada, where the team is nicknamed the Fish.

The independent leagues are populated by aging ballplayers who hold out against giving up their aspirations to play professionally, with younger players hoping to get noticed.

But not usually for as long as Sherrill.

“I just wanted to keep playing. I didn’t want to do anything else,” Sherrill, 30, said in a chat during spring training here in Fort Lauderdale, where he won the closer’s job. “I just kept playing and it ended up working out.”

Sherrill, the younger of two sons of county government employees in Memphis, Tenn., started playing the game as a 5-year-old.

And it’s been an up-mound climb ever since, from Evangelical Christian School — Class of 1995 — to Tennessee’s Jackson State Community College and Austin Peay State University.

Sherrill and his fastball that often tops 90 mph attracted the attention of the Yankees and Mariners, and the latter signed him in a 2003 deal that reportedly provided the Goldeyes with all of $3,000. He pitched for the Double-A San Antonio Missions and Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers before being called up to the majors by the Mariners in July 2004.

Sherrill said he was never sure he could make a living purely from baseball until he got to Seattle. Among the jobs he had held to make ends meet over the early years was loading trucks for UPS after his college graduation — a blue-collar work ethic, to be sure.

Last year, largely in situation roles where he would pitch against just a few hitters in each appearance, Sherrill played in 75 games, pitching 45.2 innings, with 28 hits, 12 runs, 4 home runs, 17 walks and 56 strikeouts. He had a record of 2-0, with 3 saves, and a .236 earned run average. The numbers pretty much mirror his four-year major league career, but bettered his overall era of 3.65.

He’s no stranger to Camden Yards, having pitched there for the visiting Mariners. Now, he’ll be the one who will be called to close out games, as last year’s closer, Chris Ray, likely will be out for the season recovering from elbow surgery.

“It’s not really suitable for pitchers,” Sherrill joked. “But it’ll do. Hopefully, we can keep some balls in the yard this year.”

Manager Dave Trembley said he had wanted to see Sherrill working against right-handed batters before making the decision, and was satisfied with the result.

“I don’t think it matters,” he said.

Sherrill’s reaction to the decision alluded to his long path to the majors: “Looking back at the trip I’ve taken, it feels good.”

Sherrill said he will draw on his experiences as the closer with Triple-A Tacoma, Wash.

“Put the bad ones behind you, kind of remember the good ones, but never get too high or too low. Just keep doing the same thing every day, and don’t make too much of it.”

SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY

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60 days ago: Baltimore Orioles take Indians: 6-1

60 days ago: Payton’s finally found his place in center field

61 days ago: Cleveland beats Orioles

63 days ago: BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTEBOOK: Cherry on top of O’s bullpen

63 days ago: BALTIMORE ORIOLES REPORT CARD: Orioles fail to sweep, again

63 days ago: ORIOLES REPORT CARD: Texas sent packing - again

63 days ago: Birdwatching: Sweep on O’s radar

64 days ago: Baltimore Oriole's Report Card - O's take Texas

68 days ago: Orioles committed to Trembley

70 days ago: Orioles’ minor leaguer hopes Beijing trip is golden