This post is primarily a list. It includes the rankings of the 109 pitchers who, as of the Memorial Day weekend, were on a pace to qualify for the ERA title.
The pitchers are divided into four relatively equal groups, or quartiles, in each of two statistics. Those measures are opponents' batting average (Hittability, or Hit) and strikeout:walk ratio (Strikeability, or Strike). The pitchers are assigned a number from 1 (top quartile) to 4 (bottom quartile). Those numbers are added for the total rating.
Thus, the best overall rating is 2 (1 in Hit plus 1 in Strike equals 2), and the worst is 8 (4+4=8).
The lists follow.
Above average
2
(1 Hit, 1 Strike)
Jason Hammel
Max Scherzer
Matt Harvey
Johnny Cueto
Jake Odorizzi
Felix Hernandez
Zack Greinke
3
(1 Hit, 2 Strike)
Madison Bumgarner
James Shields
Clayton Kershaw
Gerrit Cole
Jake Arrieta
Jacob deGrom
Rubby De La Rosa
(2 Hit, 1 Strike)
Chris Archer
Aaron Harang
Ubaldo Jimenez
Aaron Sanchez
Sonny Gray
Cole Hamels
4
(1 Hit, 3 Strike)
Bartolo Colon
Michael Pineda
Corey Kluber
Danny Salazar
Carlos Carrasco
Matt Shoemaker
Collin McHugh
David Price
Kyle Hendricks
Jeff Samardzija
(2 Hit, 2 Strike)
Chris Sale
Dan Haren
J.A. Happ
Colby Lewis
A.J. Burnett
(3 Hit, 1 Strike)
Wei-Yin Chen
Shelby Miller
Chase Anderson
Michael Wacha
Francisco Liriano
Jimmy Nelson
Trevor Bauer
Dallas Keuchel
Miguel Gonzalez
Average
5
(1 Hit, 4 Strike)
Phil Hughes
Trevor May
C.C. Sabathia
(2 Hit, 3 Strike)
Clay Buchholz
Andrew Cashner
Lance Lynn
Kyle Lohse
Jon Lester
Jordan Zimmermann
Jered Weaver
Chris Heston
Jose Quintana
Rick Porcello
(3 Hit, 2 Strike)
C.J. Wilson
Scott Kazmir
John Lackey
Alfredo Simon
Shane Greene
Joe Kelly
Carlos Martinez
Tyson Ross
(4 Hit, 1 Strike)
Hector Santiago
Nathan Karns
Edinson Volquez
Garrett Richards
Anthony DeSclafani
Tim Lincecum
Below average
6
(2 Hit, 4 Strike)
Josh Collmenter
Stephen Strasburg
Brett Anderson
Mike Fiers
Scott Feldman
Nathan Eovaldi
(3 Hit, 3 Strike)
Yordano Ventura
Yovani Gallardo
(4 Hit, 2 Strike)
Tom Koehler
James Paxton
Nick Martinez
Mike Leake
Ryan Vogelsong
R.A. Dickey
Anibal Sanchez
7
(3 Hit, 4 Strike)
Drew Hutchison
Wily Peralta
Julio Teheran
Gio Gonzalez
Jerome Williams
Eric Stults
Jeff Locke
Jon Niese
(4 Hit, 3 Strike)
John Danks
Roberto Hernandez
Matt Garza
Adam Warren
Mike Pelfrey
Kyle Gibson
8
(4 Hit, 4 Strike)
Jeremy Hellickson
Alex Wood
Mark Buehrle
Tim Hudson
Kyle Kendrick
Jordan Lyles
Jeremy Guthrie
Chris Tillman
Kyle Lobstein
If you look closely at individual pitchers on the list, you can get some idea why some of them are doing well this season or why they aren't.
For example, look at C.C. Sabathia on the list of average pitchers rated 5. Why is he just an average pitcher, when he once was one of the majors' best. It's right there in his rankings. He's still difficult to hit, still in the first quartile. But he's in the 4 (bottom) group in Strikeability. That can mean he's having control problems, but it also could indicate that he's no longer able to put batters away by striking them out.
A note on Jeremy Guthrie: He ranked this badly even before giving up 11 runs in a start against the Yankees.
Also, I was listening on Sirius XM radio to a Twins game started by Kyle Gibson. During the pregame show, Minnesota's announcers were going on about his ERA and the wins he'd provided. I was thinking, without being able to look at my rankings, that he was pretty low in the Hittability/Strikeability combo. You'll see him on the 7 list. That portends struggles for him during the remainder of the season. Struggles the team's broadcasters never saw coming.
I'll have another post about what the collective individual rankings might mean in the pennant races. And this weekend, I intend to come up with similar rankings for batters, and what those might mean for them and their team.
Showing posts with label C.C. Sabathia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label C.C. Sabathia. Show all posts
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
If not Tanaka, who?
The Yankees' battered rotation took the biggest hit of all Wednesday when RHP Masahiro Tanaka went on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore elbow.
Tanaka leads the majors with 12 wins. He has a 2.51 ERA. He didn't give up more than three earnies in any of his first 16 starts, but surrendered four July 3 and five more Tuesday night. That performance led to a trip back to New York for an MRI exam.
The first question is how long he might be out? With a 4-day All-Star break coming up, he would likely miss just two starts before the minimum 15 days when he could return.
But if the injury is more serious than a 15-day ailment, the Yankees could be in an awful place with their rotation.
Without the ace, could New York count on RHP Brandon McCarthy, who brought a 3-10 record with him when he was traded from Arizona, to head the rotation? Or Hiroki Kuroda, whose second half last season was a train wreck? David Phelps? Rookie Chase Whitley?
Early candidates for the rotation -- LHP C.C. Sabathia and RHPs Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda -- are all on the 60-day DL.
The trouble isn't just at the top of the rotation, but all the way down to who would fill the No. 5 slot.
Could they move someone from the bullpen, such as LHP David Huff? Or RHP Bruce Billings, just brought up from Triple-A Scranton, where he was in the rotation? Other possibilities from Scranton could be Shane Greene or 35-year-old former outfielder Brian Gordon.
Among them, Billings, Greene and Gordon have a .500 record (13-13). In Triple-A.
The Yankees have been barely a .500 team even with Tanaka. Without him, .500 would look pretty good.
Tanaka leads the majors with 12 wins. He has a 2.51 ERA. He didn't give up more than three earnies in any of his first 16 starts, but surrendered four July 3 and five more Tuesday night. That performance led to a trip back to New York for an MRI exam.
The first question is how long he might be out? With a 4-day All-Star break coming up, he would likely miss just two starts before the minimum 15 days when he could return.
But if the injury is more serious than a 15-day ailment, the Yankees could be in an awful place with their rotation.
Without the ace, could New York count on RHP Brandon McCarthy, who brought a 3-10 record with him when he was traded from Arizona, to head the rotation? Or Hiroki Kuroda, whose second half last season was a train wreck? David Phelps? Rookie Chase Whitley?
Early candidates for the rotation -- LHP C.C. Sabathia and RHPs Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda -- are all on the 60-day DL.
The trouble isn't just at the top of the rotation, but all the way down to who would fill the No. 5 slot.
Could they move someone from the bullpen, such as LHP David Huff? Or RHP Bruce Billings, just brought up from Triple-A Scranton, where he was in the rotation? Other possibilities from Scranton could be Shane Greene or 35-year-old former outfielder Brian Gordon.
Among them, Billings, Greene and Gordon have a .500 record (13-13). In Triple-A.
The Yankees have been barely a .500 team even with Tanaka. Without him, .500 would look pretty good.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Santana, Buckner, Tazawa take their lumps
The Yankees won 6-2 in a pitching battle between their left-hander C.C. Sabathia and Tigers RHP Rick Porcello. It was a game Sabathia might have needed; his pitching line of 5 1/3 42228 brought his ERA down to 6.43. Porcello’s ERA went up a tick to 0.75. Three of the runs against him were unearned; his line was 344113. New York 3B Alex Rodriguez hit a home run.
The Twins defeated the Mets 7-3 in another good pitching matchup, which didn’t go the way most people would have expected. Minnesota RHP Kevin Slowey had a line of 331122, giving up a homer to New York C Omir Santos. The Twins battered LHP Johan Santana for a line of 3 1/3 95513. Rookie 3B Danny Valencia, who could take the starting job away from Brendan Harris and Nick Punto, homered against Santana.
Four days after leaving 16 runners on base, the Royals stranded 11. They also scored 24 times in a 24-9 rout of the Diamondbacks. Kansas City built an early 21-0 lead – battering Arizona’s starter, RHP Billy Buckner, for a line of 298813. KC OF Brian Anderson was like one of those old Army ads – “We get more done by 9 a.m. than most people do in a day.” He went 5-for-5, hit for the cycle, drove in seven runs and scored three – and left the game in the fifth inning. The winning pitcher, RHP Brian Bannister, kept his concentration to post a line of 420013. The Royals’ scoring onslaught didn’t stop until the D-backs’ pitching stiffened when RHP Abe Woody pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Pirates defeated the Red Sox 9-7 with OF/2B Delwyn Young hitting his fifth home run this spring, against Boston RHP Josh Beckett. OF John Raynor, a Rule 5 draft pick, also homered against RHP Junichi Tazawa, who apparently will be battered this spring all the way to Triple-A Pawtucket.
The Orioles held the Phillies to one hit, OF John Mayberry’s eighth-inning single against RHP Dennis Sarfate, to win 2-0. Baltimore’s starter, LHP Brian Matusz, was sensational. His line was 500026. He could be a reasonable third or fourth fantasy starting pitcher.
The Cubs treated White Sox LHP John Danks badly, handing him an 8-4 loss. He allowed homers to 1B Derrek Lee and OF Marlon Byrd as part of a line of 565514.
RHP Stephen Strasburg was the Nationals’ winning pitcher in their 13-5 victory over the Cardinals. He gave up solo homers to 3B/1B Allen Craig and SS Tyler Greene in his line of 442208. RHP Kyle McClellan took a step backward in his quest for a starting role. He was the losing pitcher with a line of 453242.
Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols hit his first homer, against Marlins RHP Anibal Sanchez, but St. Louis lost 7-6 in another split-squad game. That was because Florida lit up Cards RHP Chris Carpenter for a line of 4 10 7705. RHP Scott Strickland earned a save for the Marlins, who might need help closing games.
Teams are beginning to get serious about using closers in their regular-season role. The Giants had RHP Brian Wilson pitch the ninth inning in their 7-6 victory over the Indians. He struck out the side to pick up a save. LHP Tony Sipp, who could save some games for Cleveland, pitched the eighth and was the losing pitcher. A passed ball led to an unearned winning run; Sipp’s line was 111011. Giants OF/2B Eugenio Velez went 3-for-3 at bat and 2-for-3 stealing bases.
Because the Astros’ scheduled starter, RHP Bud Norris, had the flu, RHP Josh Banks made an emergency start and posted a line of 320012. He was the winner in a 2-0 win over the Blue Jays. The save went to RHP Roy Corcoran, who could have some regular-season saves.
An Indians split squad pounded the Rangers 12-2. Cleveland had a good start, with 1B/3B Andy Marte hitting a grand slam against RHP Brandon McCarthy. His line was 455534. OF Shin-soo Choo also homered against RHP Luis Mendoza.
Athletics 1B Daric Barton hit a home run and went 2-for-3 to raise his average to .440, but the Rockies won 10-4.
The Padres assaulted Dodgers RHP James McDonald for a line of 1 1/3 66621 in relief to take a 9-4 victory. C Dusty Ryan’s three-run homer contributed to raising McDonald’s ERA to 20.25.
The day’s tie game was the Tigers 4, Braves 4, in 10 innings.
Major league leaders:
HR – Rays 2B Sean Rodriguez and Pirates OF/2B Delwyn Young, 5
RBI – Rays SS Reid Brignac and Young, 14
BA (30-plus at-bats) – Mets OF Fernando Martinez, .500, and Cubs OF Tyler Colvin, .486 (at the other end is Braves OF Nate McLouth, .032, 1-for-31)
SB – Brewers OF Carlos Gomez, 8
R – Rangers OFs Julio Borbon and Nelson Cruz, Brewers OF Lorenzo Cain and Rodriguez, 11
W – Blue Jays LHP Ricky Romero, 3
ERA (10-plus innings pitched) – Marlins RHP Clay Hensley, 0.00
WHIP – Twins RHP Kevin Slowey, 0.82
S – Seven with 2 – including Giants RH Sergio Gomez and Astros LHP Wesley Wright, who might have some chances to save games in the majors this season
SO – Orioles LHP Brian Matusz, 18
A Derek Jeter Rule?:
Is Bud Selig running the NFL now too? That’s the only reason I could think of that would make the football league propose a ridiculous idea like the “Brett Favre Rule” that would change its overtime procedure in the playoffs. Of course, if that rule is enacted, expect Selig to decide that if the Yankees in Derek Jeter’s final year (or the Brewers in any year) lose the seventh game of the World Series, it would be extended to best-of-nine.
Sample Scouting Report:
Shin-soo Choo, OF, Indians
Ht.: 5-11 Wt.: 200 B: L Age: 27*
{2010} Choo began last season with a sore elbow that bothered him with South Korea’s entry in the World Baseball Classic. For the rest of the year, he was a pain to American League pitchers. He batted .275 against left-handers, allowing him to avoid being platooned. Choo strikes out a lot, but he also has walked enough to produce on-base percentages of .397 and .394 during the past two seasons. Batting third in Cleveland’s lineup, he should both drive in and score plenty of runs. Born: July 13, 1982, South Korea*. 2009: 583 AB, .300 BA, 20 HR, 86 RBI, 21 SB, 87 R.
Projection
AB: 556 BA: .302 HR: 21 RBI: 92 SB: 17 R: 93 Value: $17
The Twins defeated the Mets 7-3 in another good pitching matchup, which didn’t go the way most people would have expected. Minnesota RHP Kevin Slowey had a line of 331122, giving up a homer to New York C Omir Santos. The Twins battered LHP Johan Santana for a line of 3 1/3 95513. Rookie 3B Danny Valencia, who could take the starting job away from Brendan Harris and Nick Punto, homered against Santana.
Four days after leaving 16 runners on base, the Royals stranded 11. They also scored 24 times in a 24-9 rout of the Diamondbacks. Kansas City built an early 21-0 lead – battering Arizona’s starter, RHP Billy Buckner, for a line of 298813. KC OF Brian Anderson was like one of those old Army ads – “We get more done by 9 a.m. than most people do in a day.” He went 5-for-5, hit for the cycle, drove in seven runs and scored three – and left the game in the fifth inning. The winning pitcher, RHP Brian Bannister, kept his concentration to post a line of 420013. The Royals’ scoring onslaught didn’t stop until the D-backs’ pitching stiffened when RHP Abe Woody pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Pirates defeated the Red Sox 9-7 with OF/2B Delwyn Young hitting his fifth home run this spring, against Boston RHP Josh Beckett. OF John Raynor, a Rule 5 draft pick, also homered against RHP Junichi Tazawa, who apparently will be battered this spring all the way to Triple-A Pawtucket.
The Orioles held the Phillies to one hit, OF John Mayberry’s eighth-inning single against RHP Dennis Sarfate, to win 2-0. Baltimore’s starter, LHP Brian Matusz, was sensational. His line was 500026. He could be a reasonable third or fourth fantasy starting pitcher.
The Cubs treated White Sox LHP John Danks badly, handing him an 8-4 loss. He allowed homers to 1B Derrek Lee and OF Marlon Byrd as part of a line of 565514.
RHP Stephen Strasburg was the Nationals’ winning pitcher in their 13-5 victory over the Cardinals. He gave up solo homers to 3B/1B Allen Craig and SS Tyler Greene in his line of 442208. RHP Kyle McClellan took a step backward in his quest for a starting role. He was the losing pitcher with a line of 453242.
Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols hit his first homer, against Marlins RHP Anibal Sanchez, but St. Louis lost 7-6 in another split-squad game. That was because Florida lit up Cards RHP Chris Carpenter for a line of 4 10 7705. RHP Scott Strickland earned a save for the Marlins, who might need help closing games.
Teams are beginning to get serious about using closers in their regular-season role. The Giants had RHP Brian Wilson pitch the ninth inning in their 7-6 victory over the Indians. He struck out the side to pick up a save. LHP Tony Sipp, who could save some games for Cleveland, pitched the eighth and was the losing pitcher. A passed ball led to an unearned winning run; Sipp’s line was 111011. Giants OF/2B Eugenio Velez went 3-for-3 at bat and 2-for-3 stealing bases.
Because the Astros’ scheduled starter, RHP Bud Norris, had the flu, RHP Josh Banks made an emergency start and posted a line of 320012. He was the winner in a 2-0 win over the Blue Jays. The save went to RHP Roy Corcoran, who could have some regular-season saves.
An Indians split squad pounded the Rangers 12-2. Cleveland had a good start, with 1B/3B Andy Marte hitting a grand slam against RHP Brandon McCarthy. His line was 455534. OF Shin-soo Choo also homered against RHP Luis Mendoza.
Athletics 1B Daric Barton hit a home run and went 2-for-3 to raise his average to .440, but the Rockies won 10-4.
The Padres assaulted Dodgers RHP James McDonald for a line of 1 1/3 66621 in relief to take a 9-4 victory. C Dusty Ryan’s three-run homer contributed to raising McDonald’s ERA to 20.25.
The day’s tie game was the Tigers 4, Braves 4, in 10 innings.
Major league leaders:
HR – Rays 2B Sean Rodriguez and Pirates OF/2B Delwyn Young, 5
RBI – Rays SS Reid Brignac and Young, 14
BA (30-plus at-bats) – Mets OF Fernando Martinez, .500, and Cubs OF Tyler Colvin, .486 (at the other end is Braves OF Nate McLouth, .032, 1-for-31)
SB – Brewers OF Carlos Gomez, 8
R – Rangers OFs Julio Borbon and Nelson Cruz, Brewers OF Lorenzo Cain and Rodriguez, 11
W – Blue Jays LHP Ricky Romero, 3
ERA (10-plus innings pitched) – Marlins RHP Clay Hensley, 0.00
WHIP – Twins RHP Kevin Slowey, 0.82
S – Seven with 2 – including Giants RH Sergio Gomez and Astros LHP Wesley Wright, who might have some chances to save games in the majors this season
SO – Orioles LHP Brian Matusz, 18
A Derek Jeter Rule?:
Is Bud Selig running the NFL now too? That’s the only reason I could think of that would make the football league propose a ridiculous idea like the “Brett Favre Rule” that would change its overtime procedure in the playoffs. Of course, if that rule is enacted, expect Selig to decide that if the Yankees in Derek Jeter’s final year (or the Brewers in any year) lose the seventh game of the World Series, it would be extended to best-of-nine.
Sample Scouting Report:
Shin-soo Choo, OF, Indians
Ht.: 5-11 Wt.: 200 B: L Age: 27*
{2010} Choo began last season with a sore elbow that bothered him with South Korea’s entry in the World Baseball Classic. For the rest of the year, he was a pain to American League pitchers. He batted .275 against left-handers, allowing him to avoid being platooned. Choo strikes out a lot, but he also has walked enough to produce on-base percentages of .397 and .394 during the past two seasons. Batting third in Cleveland’s lineup, he should both drive in and score plenty of runs. Born: July 13, 1982, South Korea*. 2009: 583 AB, .300 BA, 20 HR, 86 RBI, 21 SB, 87 R.
Projection
AB: 556 BA: .302 HR: 21 RBI: 92 SB: 17 R: 93 Value: $17
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Spring rotations shaping up: C.C. vs. Doc Thursday
It’s too early to know for sure, but we’ll be getting some clues as to how teams will set their rotations for the regular season from what they do for their initial exhibition games. Those begin as early as Tuesday.
Some teams already have announced their Opening Day starter. In some cases, but probably not many, that pitcher also would be the first to pitch in exhibitions. We won’t really know for sure about some teams’ ace and rotation until mid-March, or maybe even March 20 in this season that begins later than in most recent years.
At that point, it would merely be an exercise in counting backwards five days at a time to find the likely starter for the opener.
Your team’s first regular-season game is scheduled for April 5? OK, five days back from that is March 31, another five days March 26 and another five would be March 21. So even if the manager is holding some suspense. You could figure that the March 21 starter would be the Opening Day pitcher. In spring training, off days on the major league team’s schedule don’t really count, because split-squad games, minor league games and even simulated games can allow two pitchers to go on the same day or a major leaguer starter to pitch when the rest of his team is off.
A couple of high-profile teams have announced their plans for the first few days of exhibition games, and set up a likely two-inning matchup between two pitchers that would be a battle of behemoths in October. In March, though, it’s just a time for Phillies RHP Roy “Doc” Halladay and Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia to work up a sweat and maybe work on another pitch.
That will happen Thursday afternoon in Clearwater, Fla. Though both pitchers are prohibitive favorites to start on the real Opening Day, neither is starting his team’s first exhibition.
Philadelphia’s initial rotation goes like this: LHP A.J. Happ Wednesday night against Florida State, Sabathia Thursday, LHP Cole Hamels Friday vs. the Blue Jays in Dunedin, RHP Joe Blanton Saturday against the Pirates in Bradenton and Happ again Sunday against the Rays. That’s just four starters, but you can expect RHP Kyle Kendrick to fit into one of those games in relief before getting some starts himself, and for LHP Jamie Moyer to pitch when he’s physically able.
For the Yankees, RHP Chad Gaudin will start Wednesday’s opener against the Pirates, which isn’t a lot different from pitching against Florida State. After Sabathia Thursday, RHPs Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain will pitch Friday in some order against the Rays. On Saturday, RHP A.J. Burnett will start vs. the Blue Jays. Sunday’s pitchers will be Gaudin and RHP Sergio Mitre in some combination.
Sabathia, whose current throwing day was pushed back to Sunday because of bad weather today, and Burnett are the only givens in the equation from among those pitchers. LHP Andy Pettitte also will be in the rotation, but his first start isn’t scheduled until Friday, March 12, against the Nationals at Space Ghost Stadium in Viera.
For now at least, Hughes and Chamberlain will be pitching on the same day. The better pitcher would go into the rotation, with the other taking a bullpen role. There’s a similar battle among Gaudin, Mitre and RHP Alfredo Aceves for the fifth starter’s job. All three are scheduled to pitch Wednesday.
The White Sox also have named the starter for their exhibition opener against the Angels in Tempe, Ariz.: LHP John Danks.
What they’re working on:
Hamels and the Phillies believe that National League batters caught up with him because he had just two effective pitches, a fastball and a changeup. For that reason, he’s working on a curve and a cut fastball, with whichever one works better likely to expand his arsenal.
Cubs RHP Jeff Samardzija spent much of the off-season rising early for 6 a.m. workouts with RHP Ryan Dempster and LHP Tom Gorzelanny. He also has worked on adding a curve. Because he doesn’t come over the top, he won’t be throwing a curve that breaks much vertically but more of a slurve.
Pitching futures:
Rookie RHP Stephen Strasburg, the closest thing the Nationals have ever had to a rock star, threw 35 pitches in 12 minutes during a batting-practice session when his teammates didn’t swing a bat but merely stood in and tracked the pitches.
Lining up:
New Indians manager Manny Acta is planning to move CF Grady Sizemore from leadoff to second in the batting order, with SS Asdrubal Cabrera moving up from ninth to first. Behind them would be LF Shin-soo Choo and DH Travis Hafner. There could be a huge positive domino effect if Hafner could return to his production of 3-4 years ago. If he’s a threat, pitchers would have to throw more fastballs to Choo, which would benefit him. In fact, mark him down as a breakout possibility. Choo’s presence and a base-stealing threat from Cabrera, the only Cleveland player likely to steal many bases, would give Sizemore many more fastballs and help him improve last year’s woeful average. Cabrera would steal more bases and score more runs than in 2009 for our 5X5 friends.
Speaking of speed:
The Athletics are planning to run more this year, using the speed of OFs Rajai Davis and Coco Crisp (if he isn’t hurt again). Rickey Henderson is helping as a special instructor in spring training. That approach could have Billy Beane, who dissed the effectiveness of base stealing as the “Moneyball” GM, turning over in his box seat.
Position battle:
For the Cardinals, David Freese or Joe Mather could be the starting third baseman. If neither impresses, newly signed 2B Felipe Lopez also could be a possibility at third.
For Mark Prior fans, an injury report:
The Mets’ bullpen will be slow in developing. They sent RHP Francisco Rodriguez, their closer, home from workouts because they didn’t want him spreading his pink eye through the clubhouse. RHP Kelvim Escobar, whom they’re hoping could be their setup man even though he has pitched only once during the last two major league seasons, is having more shoulder problems and isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day. That could leave RHPs Bobby Parnell, Sean Green, Fernando Nieve and 30-year-old rookie Ryota Igarashi battling for the setup job. The Mets also are negotiating with LHP Joe Beimel, who would seem to be a last resort.
Also, the New Yorkers were encouraged by LHP Oliver Perez in his first two throwing sessions. He’s back from surgery on his right knee. Best case, he could be the Mets’ number two starter. Worst case, he’d be the same inconsistent Oliver Perez who has frustrated his employers and fans.
Diamondbacks LF Conor Jackson missed most of last season because of a case of the Southwest’s own valley fever, seems on track to be productive after a successful winter season in the Dominican Republic.
Tigers 3B Brandon Inge had off-season surgery on both knees, which could slow him down in the field and curtail his style of diving after grounders.
C Rob Johnson has the Mariners’ starting job clearly in his sights. The question is whether he has healed from off-season operations on both hips and a broken right wrist to be able to withstand the demands of catching regularly. Behind him is only rookie prospect Adam Moore, who might not be ready for the majors this year.
All present and accounted for:
Infielders and outfielders for the Twins in Florida and the Brewers in Arizona had their first official workouts today, meaning that every player under contract to every team should be in camp.
Bring on the games!
Some teams already have announced their Opening Day starter. In some cases, but probably not many, that pitcher also would be the first to pitch in exhibitions. We won’t really know for sure about some teams’ ace and rotation until mid-March, or maybe even March 20 in this season that begins later than in most recent years.
At that point, it would merely be an exercise in counting backwards five days at a time to find the likely starter for the opener.
Your team’s first regular-season game is scheduled for April 5? OK, five days back from that is March 31, another five days March 26 and another five would be March 21. So even if the manager is holding some suspense. You could figure that the March 21 starter would be the Opening Day pitcher. In spring training, off days on the major league team’s schedule don’t really count, because split-squad games, minor league games and even simulated games can allow two pitchers to go on the same day or a major leaguer starter to pitch when the rest of his team is off.
A couple of high-profile teams have announced their plans for the first few days of exhibition games, and set up a likely two-inning matchup between two pitchers that would be a battle of behemoths in October. In March, though, it’s just a time for Phillies RHP Roy “Doc” Halladay and Yankees LHP C.C. Sabathia to work up a sweat and maybe work on another pitch.
That will happen Thursday afternoon in Clearwater, Fla. Though both pitchers are prohibitive favorites to start on the real Opening Day, neither is starting his team’s first exhibition.
Philadelphia’s initial rotation goes like this: LHP A.J. Happ Wednesday night against Florida State, Sabathia Thursday, LHP Cole Hamels Friday vs. the Blue Jays in Dunedin, RHP Joe Blanton Saturday against the Pirates in Bradenton and Happ again Sunday against the Rays. That’s just four starters, but you can expect RHP Kyle Kendrick to fit into one of those games in relief before getting some starts himself, and for LHP Jamie Moyer to pitch when he’s physically able.
For the Yankees, RHP Chad Gaudin will start Wednesday’s opener against the Pirates, which isn’t a lot different from pitching against Florida State. After Sabathia Thursday, RHPs Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain will pitch Friday in some order against the Rays. On Saturday, RHP A.J. Burnett will start vs. the Blue Jays. Sunday’s pitchers will be Gaudin and RHP Sergio Mitre in some combination.
Sabathia, whose current throwing day was pushed back to Sunday because of bad weather today, and Burnett are the only givens in the equation from among those pitchers. LHP Andy Pettitte also will be in the rotation, but his first start isn’t scheduled until Friday, March 12, against the Nationals at Space Ghost Stadium in Viera.
For now at least, Hughes and Chamberlain will be pitching on the same day. The better pitcher would go into the rotation, with the other taking a bullpen role. There’s a similar battle among Gaudin, Mitre and RHP Alfredo Aceves for the fifth starter’s job. All three are scheduled to pitch Wednesday.
The White Sox also have named the starter for their exhibition opener against the Angels in Tempe, Ariz.: LHP John Danks.
What they’re working on:
Hamels and the Phillies believe that National League batters caught up with him because he had just two effective pitches, a fastball and a changeup. For that reason, he’s working on a curve and a cut fastball, with whichever one works better likely to expand his arsenal.
Cubs RHP Jeff Samardzija spent much of the off-season rising early for 6 a.m. workouts with RHP Ryan Dempster and LHP Tom Gorzelanny. He also has worked on adding a curve. Because he doesn’t come over the top, he won’t be throwing a curve that breaks much vertically but more of a slurve.
Pitching futures:
Rookie RHP Stephen Strasburg, the closest thing the Nationals have ever had to a rock star, threw 35 pitches in 12 minutes during a batting-practice session when his teammates didn’t swing a bat but merely stood in and tracked the pitches.
Lining up:
New Indians manager Manny Acta is planning to move CF Grady Sizemore from leadoff to second in the batting order, with SS Asdrubal Cabrera moving up from ninth to first. Behind them would be LF Shin-soo Choo and DH Travis Hafner. There could be a huge positive domino effect if Hafner could return to his production of 3-4 years ago. If he’s a threat, pitchers would have to throw more fastballs to Choo, which would benefit him. In fact, mark him down as a breakout possibility. Choo’s presence and a base-stealing threat from Cabrera, the only Cleveland player likely to steal many bases, would give Sizemore many more fastballs and help him improve last year’s woeful average. Cabrera would steal more bases and score more runs than in 2009 for our 5X5 friends.
Speaking of speed:
The Athletics are planning to run more this year, using the speed of OFs Rajai Davis and Coco Crisp (if he isn’t hurt again). Rickey Henderson is helping as a special instructor in spring training. That approach could have Billy Beane, who dissed the effectiveness of base stealing as the “Moneyball” GM, turning over in his box seat.
Position battle:
For the Cardinals, David Freese or Joe Mather could be the starting third baseman. If neither impresses, newly signed 2B Felipe Lopez also could be a possibility at third.
For Mark Prior fans, an injury report:
The Mets’ bullpen will be slow in developing. They sent RHP Francisco Rodriguez, their closer, home from workouts because they didn’t want him spreading his pink eye through the clubhouse. RHP Kelvim Escobar, whom they’re hoping could be their setup man even though he has pitched only once during the last two major league seasons, is having more shoulder problems and isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day. That could leave RHPs Bobby Parnell, Sean Green, Fernando Nieve and 30-year-old rookie Ryota Igarashi battling for the setup job. The Mets also are negotiating with LHP Joe Beimel, who would seem to be a last resort.
Also, the New Yorkers were encouraged by LHP Oliver Perez in his first two throwing sessions. He’s back from surgery on his right knee. Best case, he could be the Mets’ number two starter. Worst case, he’d be the same inconsistent Oliver Perez who has frustrated his employers and fans.
Diamondbacks LF Conor Jackson missed most of last season because of a case of the Southwest’s own valley fever, seems on track to be productive after a successful winter season in the Dominican Republic.
Tigers 3B Brandon Inge had off-season surgery on both knees, which could slow him down in the field and curtail his style of diving after grounders.
C Rob Johnson has the Mariners’ starting job clearly in his sights. The question is whether he has healed from off-season operations on both hips and a broken right wrist to be able to withstand the demands of catching regularly. Behind him is only rookie prospect Adam Moore, who might not be ready for the majors this year.
All present and accounted for:
Infielders and outfielders for the Twins in Florida and the Brewers in Arizona had their first official workouts today, meaning that every player under contract to every team should be in camp.
Bring on the games!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)