Credit Where Credit Is Due, Redux
The continuing saga of Ross Detwiler...
Since my last post, Ross has actually pitched even better than that night two-plus weeks ago, throwing 6 innings of shutout ball against Wilmington on the 9th with just a walk and 5 strikeouts. The next start was a little more prototypical, except that he faced 29 batters -- three more than his previous career high -- but did allow five runs on nine hits while walking four.
Last night, I girded myself for either outcome. Instead, I kind of got both. Ross struggled with his control, giving up four bases by walk or hit batsmen (two of each). Much like on the 3rd, Ross seemed to have difficulty locating anything except his curveball.
But twice last night, Ross bore down went it mattered most and minimized the damage, allowing single runs in the 2nd and 4th innings. A month ago, I think it would probably would have been 5-0, with Ross hitting the showers after no more than four innings. And that's progress.
Unfortunately for Mr. Detwiler, the opposing moundsman, Anthony Watson, was "on" last night. He no-hit the Nationals for all of seven innings of his work, walking two and striking out eight. In what would make most old-timers furious, he was presumably lifted due to the pitch count, though I was unable to find any mention of what it was in any writeup or boxscore.
I'm still not sold on Ross Detwiler, and continue to wince at the (numerous) apologists but on and offline, but I'm no longer dreading the nights he pitches. And maybe, just maybe, I'll get to see the kind of night that everybody claims he's capable of.
Since my last post, Ross has actually pitched even better than that night two-plus weeks ago, throwing 6 innings of shutout ball against Wilmington on the 9th with just a walk and 5 strikeouts. The next start was a little more prototypical, except that he faced 29 batters -- three more than his previous career high -- but did allow five runs on nine hits while walking four.
Last night, I girded myself for either outcome. Instead, I kind of got both. Ross struggled with his control, giving up four bases by walk or hit batsmen (two of each). Much like on the 3rd, Ross seemed to have difficulty locating anything except his curveball.
But twice last night, Ross bore down went it mattered most and minimized the damage, allowing single runs in the 2nd and 4th innings. A month ago, I think it would probably would have been 5-0, with Ross hitting the showers after no more than four innings. And that's progress.
Unfortunately for Mr. Detwiler, the opposing moundsman, Anthony Watson, was "on" last night. He no-hit the Nationals for all of seven innings of his work, walking two and striking out eight. In what would make most old-timers furious, he was presumably lifted due to the pitch count, though I was unable to find any mention of what it was in any writeup or boxscore.
I'm still not sold on Ross Detwiler, and continue to wince at the (numerous) apologists but on and offline, but I'm no longer dreading the nights he pitches. And maybe, just maybe, I'll get to see the kind of night that everybody claims he's capable of.
posted by Wooden U. Lykteneau at
7:49 AM
3 Comments:
What you did not happen to mention regarding Detwiler was that the 2 runs given up were due to terrible play by the third baseman Lawhorn and the catcher Nichols. It was painfully obvious that the coaching staff had Detwiler working on throwing inside considering the majority of his pitches were inside and he hit his second and third batters of the season.
By
Unknown, at 7/21/2008 11:16 AM
I think I did not "happen to mention" these things is probably because Lawhorn's error was in the first inning, and Lynchburg scored in the 2nd and fourth innings.
If you're implying that Lawhorn should have gotten to Sakamoto's grounder in the 2nd, I'll give you that, but Ross hitting Jared Keel is nobody's fault but his, and that's what made the sac fly possible.
As for the run in the fourth, if you think Nichols is to blame, you may not have noticed just how weak that throw was from Boomer Whiting.
But thanks for reading...
By
Wooden U. Lykteneau, at 7/21/2008 11:55 AM
It was just that with Watson.
The Lynchburg staff is now extremely gun shy with pitch counts after going 10 pitches over with Daniel Moskos in an attempt to get him a win earlier this year.
Both manager Jeff Branson and pitching coach Bob Milacki were suspended for three games without pay for the error and Milacki quit over it.
By
Shawn, at 7/21/2008 5:48 PM
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