Sid Sherrill is 34 years old and a Licensed Customs Broker for an international freight and logistics company in Texas. Sid’s younger brother also happens to be the Orioles closer and lone All-Star representative George Sherrill. I talked to Sid about what it’s like to have a brother in the majors, how he deals with all the trade rumors, and if he has the same sense of humor his brother shows in his interviews.
Mick: First off Sid, this past year has been a tumultuous one for your brother. What was the off-season like, with George getting traded from Seattle to Baltimore?
Sid: It was definitely a little strange, especially going from one side of the country to the other. His name has been mentioned in trades, but really to be mentioned in a trade of that magnitude, I think, was really an honor. The worst part of it all was that he had just gotten to Arizona, got a place, was getting ready for ST (workouts and pre-ST things), then had to fly to Baltimore for the medical stuff. We were told right after he got the call, but we couldn't tell anyone. Now it is much better being able to watch a game at 6 Central Time instead of 9 Central Time for the Seattle games. It was brutal going to bed after midnight every night.
Mick: George had always really been a situational reliever coming into this year. How has him shifting to closer changed how you've watched his games?
Sid: Part of it was that I never was a Seattle fan. I got into some last year when they were playing well and trying to make a run for it, but in the end it fell through. Now, it is a little different in some ways. I am not really an Orioles fan either, since I grew up a Blue Jays and Cubs fan. However, I do find myself rooting for them more, since they have to be winning for my bro to come in. I love baseball all the way around, so I can watch the games, no matter who is playing. Even suffered through a Phillies/Mets game on ESPN the other night.
Mick: George has been incredible nearly all year as the Orioles closer.
However, a few weeks before the All-Star break, he blew back to back saves on home-runs, one a walk-off against the Nationals. Did you get a chance to talk to him about how tough it was to bounce back from that? And how tough was it on you having to see him struggle through a rough patch like that after being so great for most of the year?
Sid: I really don't think it is tough for him. I know he hates when he throws a bad pitch or a pitch that doesn't do what he wanted. Even if a guy makes an out, George is upset that he didn't get the pitch where he wanted. It really isn't a tough thing for him to overcome. He is tough on himself to make things happen, but he doesn't like to show any fear or contempt for anything. Kind of why he threw his glove into the stands. More or less, hey, let's start over here and try again. That glove didn't seem to work (or he just ran out of mojo).
Mick: George's appearance in the All-Star Game was exciting for every Orioles fan to watch. What was it like for you to see George pitch so well in front of a national audience? Did you get a chance to talk to him about how it felt?
Sid: It was very special. It was an honor to know he got chosen. I wanted to thank Mr. Francona myself. Now, with having games on TV stations everywhere, you get to see him all the time. Just seeing him that night, pitching in front of the world, gave you a great feeling of being proud of him for sticking with it all these years. I got calls, texts, emails from everyone and everywhere, even wall hits at Facebook, especially after he struck out Gonzalez with the bases loaded in the 12th.
Mick: As you're obviously well aware, there are lots of rumors abound now about George being moved before the deadline? How do the rumors now about George affect you?
Sid: They really don't affect me. I like the "hubbub" and gossip that goes back and forth. It is fun to read and see everyone's opinion on it, most way overselling. There is more publicity this year with him, since he is a closer, that most everyone is involved in it.
Mick: How do you think George would deal with a trade to a team where he would be taken out of the closer position and moved back into a more situational role? Is that something that would be tough for him?
Sid: I don't think it will be an issue. He likes pitching. He would prefer a full inning, but he whatever is asked of him. He loves the game, just loves to play it. It will be a little different depending on the team, as it will be another switch, another move.
Mick: There is so much new media these days (internet message boards and blogs are certainly included). How do you deal with people openly criticizing your brother, whether it's fair or not?
Sid: Of course, honestly, I don't like it. Some of it is needed and/or warranted. At the same time people don't always realize what is going on in a game or why something happened in a certain situation, or for that matter, what happened in a particular situation.
Mick: As most Oriole fans know, George spent some time in the independent leagues. How tough was it for him to go from there to the majors?
Sid: The first year was tough. Just to elaborate a little, he spent 4 1/2 seasons in the independent leagues. At the end of his first season with Winnipeg (4th overall in the Indy leagues), Seattle picked up Bobby Madritsch from the Winnipeg Goldeyes. So George knew there was a chance.
The Northern League was a full bus league. They were about half way through the season and had just made a trip from Winnipeg to Schaumburg, IL (outside of Chicago). George was approached by the New York Yankees at first, and he was about to accept their deal of A+ ball. Then at the last minute, Seattle swooped in and offered AA ball (without knowing what the Yanks had offered). He knew Seattle was going to need a LH reliever in the future, and he knew that the Yankees didn't move many guys through their system.
He was sent to AA San Antonio. He pitched half a season there. They went to the playoffs of the Texas League and won the championship of the Texas League. Since he had done so well there (3-0, 0.33 ERA, 26 IP), the Mariners decided to send him to the Arizona Fall League. That league lasted for a couple of months, before they were out of the playoff picture, so he went to Puerto Rico for winter ball. He played for Puerto Rico until they were out of the playoff picture, then went to Venezuela to finish off their winter ball season.
Once all that was done, it was time for pre-conditioning Spring Training (or early Spring Training), where you go to work out and throw a little every day. It is a full work out regimen for up and comers. He then went through his first Spring Training, missing the team on the final cut. He was sent to AAA Tacoma. He pitched very well there, making the AAA All-Star team. However, when he went to Pawtucket for the game and other ceremonies, he received a call at the luncheon stating not to pitch in the game as he was being called up. He got to watch the game from the dugout. Then was chartered back to Seattle to pitch there. That was July 2004. He pitched until September, when they decided to shut him down due to fatigue before the end of the season. He had just pitched 18 straight months with only a couple of weeks off.
Mick: Did you always get the feeling George could become a major leaguer?
Sid: Not really. I knew he wanted to be, but with only 1% making it, you never knew. I knew he could pitch, but you never know if someone is watching or not. I thought he had the stuff, but then again I was his brother.
Mick: How tough was it facing him as a kid?
Sid: I never really faced him being older, except in the back yard or playing around during the Summer. Catching him in the winter, when he was waiting for the Indy leagues to roll around -- now that was tough.
Mick: How often do you get to see George off the field? And actually get a chance to be there when he pitches?
Sid: Off the field, during Christmas and maybe during my daughter's birthday as it falls after the MLB season. Then when we get to watch him pitch, we get to see him and spend time with him after the games and have lunch before the games.
As for seeing him pitch in person, I saw 16 games last year (he only pitched in a few of those being a reliever). This year I have only seen 4 games, though I might catch a couple of more, depending on where he is in August and September.
Mick: What is it like being the brother of a major leaguer? Is there any sense of jealousy (intentionally or not) on your part?
Sid: It’s kind of a weird notoriety, but it was that way in high school too. With his classmates, it was like "you are George's brother". My classmates always called him "Little Sid", due to me. No jealousy. I was a decent pitcher and hitter, nothing special. Soccer was my sport to play, even though I loved playing baseball. Just couldn't play both in Tennessee in high school, as they were at the same time.
Mick: Ok, we have to know. Where'd the "Flat Breezy" start? How cool was it for you to see the whole team rally around him the first time they all flipped their brims up after George closed out a game?
Sid: He just hates bending his cap. Neither one of us could really bend one correctly. It was always crooked or lopsided. I didn't like it, but I couldn't wear it straight. He has had it for years like that. The orange of the O's bill cap is what makes it stand out. With the blue or grey of the Mariners (depending on which cap they wore), you never could really notice. The O's announcers and fans brought it out and to everyone's attention. He thought it was funny when Millar did it. Of course, Millar is the funny one around (the class clown). Everyone just decided to follow suit, since they were getting wins.
Mick: Tell us a funny story about you and George as kids. We know he has a great sense of humor from his interviews, so I'll expect something good.
Sid: We always loved to go play sports as kids. Whether it was soccer, baseball, football, basketball, golf, you name it. Whatever was cheapest. Basically only golf cost money, but it was cheap for us back in the late 80's, early 90's. We lived in mid-town Memphis, about 3 blocks from a park which had baseball fields, soccer fields, a football goalpost, a lake, the zoo, art museum and a small 9-hole golf course. We walked over there one day, dodging traffic (seven lane major road through Memphis runs right beside the park) -- so it was like playing Frogger before golf. Neither of us are that good at golf, but it was cheap for juniors at only $1.50/9 holes. I started playing in 10th grade P.E. class, since the teacher decided to teach all sorts of sports. My grandfather and myself were trying to teach George how to play. He is a lefty, so it is a little different. I got my granddad's old clubs, and he found my brother some used lefty clubs.
The 9-holes goes through the woods and around. Once you get to the tee of the 7th hole, you are right against the major street. Well, wouldn't you know, that street runs perpendicular to a lefty golfer. I have a slice, but mine being righty, it fades from the street. George shanked his right into the busy traffic. It was bounding down the street, then, "Crash!". A lady drove right into the ball, breaking her head light. She was pissed. She drove up and around to try to find out who did it. She found us, but the golf shop manager told her that she was taking the risk driving on the road beside a golf course. No one was responsible since it was not aimed at the car directly, nor was it done intentionally. She left fuming mad.
Mick: Sid, thanks so much for taking the time for talking to me, I really appreciate it. I'll also be rooting for George wherever he goes (unless it's Boston or New York, sorry!) and hoping he gets a WS ring. He is great in interviews and always seems like he is having fun, something you love to see out of a player.
Sid: Appreciate the asking. Thanks for taking the time to get with me. We will see where he goes and it goes from here. Take care, and all the best.
Great stuff from Sid. Fascinating story about George’s trip from the independent leagues to the majors, and apparently he isn’t the guy you want to go golfing with! Also, breaking news from Sid! Kevin Millar is the class clown! Shocking!
Keywords: Baltimore Orioles
