Or in Maurer's case, of adjusting to the major-league:
1) Denial. "What I'm doing is fine, they just got lucky. I'll do the same thing again next time and it'll work." This was Maurer's second start, and Noesi's entire career so far. Noesi still says, "I just need to trust my stuff" like that's the reason he's been lit up like a Christmas tree with men on base. Luckily for Maurer this stage lasted exactly one game.
2) Anger. "How dare you hit me? I belong here, and I'm better than you." This was Felix when he would get hammered on the fastballs early in his career. Maurer seems to have skipped this step, or at least done it in his bullpen sessions instead of on the mound in games. Either he doesn't have the ego for it (might be bad) or he doesn't want to waste the effort (good).
3) Bargaining. "If I only throw THIS many changeups can you guys stop hitting them?" That's where Maurer is right now. He's testing his repertoire, slowly bargaining to add back 5 extra curveballs or a couple of changeups - and that's why he's not getting Ks yet. This has been Beavan's whole pro career. "I will throw a million weak fastballs, but how many other things am I allowed to throw? Whoops - not that many..." I don't expect Maurer to stay here for too long.
4) Depression. "Woe is me, nothing will go right, I might as well just close my eyes out there for all the good it's doing me." Welcome to Justin Smoak's last 2 days at the plate. -.- Once Maurer strikes the correct bargain I don't expect him to spend too much time here either. He isn't Jeff Weaver on his last legs - there's plently Brandon CAN do once he figures out what he can't.
5) Acceptance. "No breaking balls hung in the zone - bury them in the dirt instead. Got it. Fastballs up are okay as long as they aren't in the middle of the plate. Change eye level. Work the corners. Check, check, and check. It's showtime." This is where Maurer is going, and when the Ks will return. Brandon should be striking out 6-7 guys per nine, and he will - once he figures out how to properly deploy his arsenal. Once he's not nibbling or asking the batters' permission to throw certain pitchers, but instead is making them dance to his tune, he'll be in tip-top shape.
Give it a few more starts. :)
~G
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=== Brandon Maurer ===
Took a 1-0 game into the 7th inning, against a tough LH lineup, in Texas.
Even the two runs were excusable solo shots. If there are "No Doubters" and "Just Enoughs," what is it when a fan takes a ball out of Franklin Gutierrez' glove?
The other solo shot was to right center; CJ Wilson left Texas and moaned ruefully, "if it's in the air to right center, it's gone."
Except for those two swings, the Rangers didn't get much of the ball. They sat back on the ball, hit most fastballs to the opposite field ...
SSI's diagnosis held firm for the second game. Maurer needed to establish the fastball and get less of the plate with the slider. What happens when you do that, against a lineup that was looking for offspeed? You get a bunch of blonked, ugly balls in play, and a deserved .120 BABIP, three hits and two strikeouts.
Even Lance ".600 SLG vs RHP" Berkman got a 3-1 pitch and a 2-0 pitch, IIRC, and blonked both of them. Bunch of weirdly missed pitches. That's what happens when you're passive and the pitcher's aggressive.
if the M's had scored 5, you'd have said Maurer locked down the Rangers. In Arlington. In back-to-back looks.
..........
SSI recommended two pitches, in Ryan Dempster style. Suggestion in the comments: yeah, but maybe with some changeups to lefties.
He did in fact do that. And effectively. If he can do this COHERENTLY, I'm all for it.
Dr. D is interested in facts and reality, not opinions, baloney, and Blog Positions You're Married To. Fact is, Maurer did mix in his changeup and slow curve VERY effectively. After establishing the fastball-slider game.
...........
He definitely ain't a TOR yet, and didn't pitch like one Saturday. But he stepped another several yards back toward Freddy Garcia territory, swagger and all. Call it 60%, 70% of the way back.
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=== Brendan Ryan ===
Maurer gave up a squib to Elvis Andrus, which dobbed past him on the arm side. Maurer, during play, looked up, rolled his eyes, like "You piece of garbage. Don't TELL me you're going to take first base THAT way.
As Maurer got ready to pitch to the next batter, Ryan came screaming in, bare-handed the ball and Threw. Him. Out. One of the "corker" plays of the week -- there isn't anything anybody could even say after watching it.
Ryan's patented play is the one in the hole. But he does everything else too. Put the man into a side that can hit and he's a championship-level player.
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=== Endy Chavez ===
Has looked like a better defensive CF than Franklin Gutierrez.
His history is to create about 4.0, 4.5 runs per game, and he can steal a base. Whether that history is behind him at (?) 35 years old or whatever, I dunno. But at the moment he's givin' Mr. 7.0 WAR a run for his money.
Tough call here. We grok that the M's are worried that Raul might be past it.
.............
If the M's could ever get their bats going, they might go on a roll. That pitching staff is capable of stringing together a month's worth of lockdowns.
Rule (2) is, refer back to rule (1). The Bill James opener.
Be Afraid,
Dr D