We’re going on three weeks into the baseball season and there have been some serious issues with some elite aces. Below are my thoughts on a few of these big name pitchers and why I think they are struggling.
CC Sabathia- The defending AL Cy Young winner has been struggling mightily. His numbers through 4-18-2008 are 18 IP, 13.50 ERA, 2.56 WHIP, while striking out 14. The strikeout rate isn’t bad but that WHIP is awful. The Indians say he’s not injured and I believe them. CC still has had the great velocity on his fastballs (94-96MPH). He has just not been able to locate his pitches. When he’s throwing strikes, they are “fat” strikes (and no I am not making a CC fat joke). CC is missing inside the strike zone. He is not locating very well and all his pitches are very hittable. I think CC will find his groove and break out of this slump. CC will find his rhythm soon enough as the weather gets warmer, and by the end of the year, his ERA will be back in the 3.5 range.
Justin Verlander- The pitcher who I thought would win the AL CY Young is also struggling. His season to date numbers are 24.1 IP, 7.03 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, while striking out 14. Mr. Verlander has been struggling just as bad as Sabathia even if his overall numbers look better. Word is that his velocity is actually down. He’s throwing around 93-94 MPH, which would be a great thing if you used to seeing him throw 99-101 MPH. Verlander may just have a bit of a tired arm from last year. It’s a cause for concern when a pitcher is not throwing as hard as he used to. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Verlander spend a short stint on the DL soon. He may just not be 100 %. Ultimately, Verlander will be OK and I expect he’ll be in the running for a CY Young Award before it’s all said and done.
Roy Oswalt- This year, even after a good start his last outing, Roy’s numbers are 23 IP, 6.65 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, while striking out 16. Roy has been on my worry radar for two seasons. Last year he showed some signs of decline with a high WHIP and lowering strike out rate. I’ve learned to watch for things like that since Jason Schmidt had the same issues a few years back. Now Schmidt is hardly ever healthy and is nowhere near the pitcher he once was even when healthy. Back to Oswalt, while you still may see a solid start from him here and there, it’s time to realize the decline. He still has a great name but he’ll no longer be the Roy Oswalt that we have come to expect.
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4 comments:
I am all for these declining pitchers who still want to pitch to go the bullpen and become setup men or closers. Take Randy Johnson. I think he would save his back and knees and probably eeked out a few extra (productive) years if he would have just swallowed some pride and become a closer. The yr after he and big mouth won their rings with Arizona he started the descent. There is a guy in Atlanta that became a closer for a bit and I believe it made him a much better pitcher because of it. If Kerry Wood could have seen the light he might have avoided some missed seasons had he made the move. I just think pitchers hold on to past glories and refuse to move forward. They are really the only position that can extend their careers while still playing the same position..just in a different capacity.
You make a great point about moving decling pitchers to become closers. I agree 100 %. Guys who are constantly on the DL should make the move, like Rich Harden or even Mark Prior, just to name a few.
Mark Prior is a prime example. The guy has a great arm but unfortunately his body fails him. If he were closer or even a setup man he wouldn't have such grueling seasons and his career would be prolonged who knows how long. I've heard it said I've said it for a while now, "pride before fault."
Speaking of pitchers...one thing that has bothered me for a while now is how umps & whining batters have completely taken away the brushback pitch. Take Manny...he crowds the plate and a pitch on the inside comes in tigt and whines & cries...the next thing you see is an ump warning the pitcher. Recent accusations aside, Roger Clemens knew how and very often threw high & tight to back up Manny & those like him..if he complained the next pitch came higher & tighter. MLB has taken a pitcher's best defense away.
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