Pitching problems persist
There was talk during the preseason, and even as late as two weeks into the regular season, that this was the best pitching staff the Wild Things have ever had. This came not from me, but from people close to the team and from coaches on other teams.
To them, I say only one word.
Bunk.
As of this writing, the Wild Things' pitching staff is anything but the best in team history or the best in the Frontier League this season. You could make a case that, if you take away the last two starts by Tom Cochran, this is the worst 10-day stretch for Washington starters in the team's six seasons. Including the start Saturday night in Evansville by Patrick Sadler, who failed to record an out in the second inning, here the ugly numbers over the last 10 games by Washington's starting pitchers (minus Cochran):
31 IP, 43 hits, 39 runs, 36 earned runs, 18 walks, 17 strikeouts, 7 hit batters, 3 wild pitches.
That works out to a 10.45 ERA and 2.19 baserunners per inning.
Four times in the last 10 games, the starting pitcher has failed to go more than 3 innings.
You can't even win in Pony League with those numbers.
Two of the starting pitchers, Patrick Stanley and Michael Hauff are injured, though manager John Massarelli told WJPA Radio Saturday that Hauff is out day-to-day with back spasms. Stanley is still on the IR.
The Wild Things' starting rotation has become Ledbetter, Cochran and hope for the best. What it really needs is a healthy Stanley throwing with the same confidence and effectiveness as last season. If that doesn't happen, then it could be a quiet September at the ballpark on the hill.
The good news for the Wild Things is they are still well above .500, thanks to a bunch of games to start the season against what appears to be a weak East Division. Last season, after 24 games, Washington was only 12-12.
To them, I say only one word.
Bunk.
As of this writing, the Wild Things' pitching staff is anything but the best in team history or the best in the Frontier League this season. You could make a case that, if you take away the last two starts by Tom Cochran, this is the worst 10-day stretch for Washington starters in the team's six seasons. Including the start Saturday night in Evansville by Patrick Sadler, who failed to record an out in the second inning, here the ugly numbers over the last 10 games by Washington's starting pitchers (minus Cochran):
31 IP, 43 hits, 39 runs, 36 earned runs, 18 walks, 17 strikeouts, 7 hit batters, 3 wild pitches.
That works out to a 10.45 ERA and 2.19 baserunners per inning.
Four times in the last 10 games, the starting pitcher has failed to go more than 3 innings.
You can't even win in Pony League with those numbers.
Two of the starting pitchers, Patrick Stanley and Michael Hauff are injured, though manager John Massarelli told WJPA Radio Saturday that Hauff is out day-to-day with back spasms. Stanley is still on the IR.
The Wild Things' starting rotation has become Ledbetter, Cochran and hope for the best. What it really needs is a healthy Stanley throwing with the same confidence and effectiveness as last season. If that doesn't happen, then it could be a quiet September at the ballpark on the hill.
The good news for the Wild Things is they are still well above .500, thanks to a bunch of games to start the season against what appears to be a weak East Division. Last season, after 24 games, Washington was only 12-12.
posted by Chris Dugan at
6:20 PM
2 Comments:
Remember last year when they went to a 4 man rotation early in the season when they could not find a fifth starter and by the playoffs, the starting staff was worn out.
Maybe with a two man rotation, they will be worn out by the middle of July.
I think the bull pen is already over used and it is just the middle of June.
Maybe they need to knucle down and use Kyle Werman more as a pitcher!
A 4-man rotation is a possibility. The problem is, this team doesn't have 4 healthy and reliable starting pitchers. You can't use a 4-man rotation if you don't have 4 good starting pitchers.
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