John Parrish represented the earliest pitching hope of the new Baltimore Kiddie Corps, with a strong and gutsy pitching debut in the dog days of summer. As happens so often, the initial promise left more question marks than anything else after a few starts, but Parrish seemed to handle his initial foray into the ML ranks in an admirable, if not successful, fashion.

What this means for his future is difficult to determine, and not really the function of this exercise, which is to review and analyze what WAS rather than what MAY be. So what WAS, was a pretty wild ride from a talented but VERY unpolished righthander.

Hurling a seven inning four hitter with nine strikeouts and only two walks against the hated Yanks in his debut, the town was buzzing over this 22 year old with the moving fastball and big curveball.

His second start brought his first win, against the Tribe, no less. The Indians garnered five walks to their five strikeouts, however, and other teams were watching. Shortly, they felt they had the key to the young man’s wheelhouse.

Parrish did sport a 2:1 strikeout/walk ratio…unfortunately, it was two walks for every strikeout instead of vice versa. After only two starts, the opposition began laying off the rising fastball that had been the bane of the Yanks in his first start. Once they did that, Parrish began walking opposing batters with alarming regularity. (He walked 28 batters in 23.1 innings in his last six starts.)

He started six more games after the first two, and his effectiveness seemed to diminish with each start. He had pitched what for him was already a record number of innings, so Grover decided wisely to shut him down.

So, what are we to make of his performance? Can he adjust to the hitters’ adjustments? Was he really arm weary, or just ripe for the taking (he got hit VERY hard after 75 pitches)? Does he belong in the majors?

Only time will tell. Meanwhile, the Orioles’ fans got a glimpse of a brighter tomorrow. Perhaps John Parrish will be a vital part of that future.

TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE 2001 ORIOLES, PARRISH MUST:

Get the ball over the plate early in the count. His fastball ended up in too many hitters’ eyes.

Work on his stamina. He needs to be able to pitch over a long season, and deeper into games.

Continue to develop control of his curveball.

NOTES: another daytime wonder. Was 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA in day games…pitched much better at home (2-2, 5.73 ERA) than on the road (0-2, 9.42)…allowed a .542 slugging percentage with runners on, suggesting he grooved pitches to prevent walking hitters.