State of the Rotation
Doug Fister FOREVER IN DEBT TO YOUR PRICELESS ADVICE Dept. - We didn't write a postgame after that one, but Doogie again fanned 5 guys in 6 innings, running his streak to 17 in his last 19 innings.
We'd mentioned after his previous start that his changeup had almost been lost in the wash ... against a LH Oakland lineup he busted it out for 17-of-22 strikes.
How was his sparkly new 12-6 curve under Olivo's supervision? Against Oakland, he cranked up the break on it until he could barely keep it in the zone. We are talking a true Aaron Sele yellow hammer at this point, gentlemen. At times, in key situations, he shook the catcher off so as to throw that crackling curve.
Need we remind you that last year, Fister did not have a curve at all. He threw it only 8% of the time, for a terrible run value.
Now he throws that curve, frightening the hitters, and when he comes back with the fastball It. Is. By. Them. Baby.
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Against Oakland, Fister's fastball clocked a legit 90 mph average, which from him is equal to 93+ from a shorter guy. Yet, he threw 58 offspeed pitches against 50 precision-guided fastballs. He just dominated.
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You could compare Doug Fister to a Greg Maddux Lite: very precise (minus velo) fastball, excellent movement, with located offspeed pitches.
But you know what, there was a Greg Maddux who was different in these wasy:
- He threw 3 instead of 4 pitches,
- He threw 89-90 mph rather than 87-88
- He relied more heavily on a 12-6 curveball
That variant on the Maddux template was named Orel Hershiser.
No, LrkrBoi29, we're not saying Fister is about to throw 50 consecutive scoreless innings up to the start of the offseason, but he is certainly throwing the ball great right now. Dr. Detecto is psyched to the max about Doogie "Yellow Hammer" Fister, b'lee dat.
I don't know what Fister will be, but what he has been, over the last three games, was one whale of a fine Orel Hershiser impersonation.
Seriously. You ever watch Orel pitch in the '80's? If you missed it, you coulda caught one of the last couple Doogie games. Looked the same.
Hey, what number is Fister again?
rst three games, he had excellent stuff, sloppy command, and (mostly) terrible luck.
Discussion over Bedard's April must start and end with his luck stats.
Nobody deserves a 29% HR/Fly rate, whatever their command. James Shields led the majors last year at 13.8%. Bedard simply gave up several unlucky HR's. His S% and BABIP has been off, too.
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That said, Bedard's fourth start was alarming. The first pitch of the game was 87 mph, jerked way off the strike zone ... I buried my face in my hands. OH NOOOooooooo.
He didn't walk off the mound like Norm-Norm in Texas, but his velocity remained way off, he couldn't hit the strike zone, much less the mitt, and he looked like --- > he was about to go onto the DL.
That's not a vague, hyperbolic statement. Starting in the first inning, he evidenced all the signs of a pitcher who'd already thrown 100 pitches that day.
It's interesting: my son John swore that on the TV, Dave Sims said that Bedard had thrown the night before, for a minor league team, or a simulated game, or something like that. Somebody help me out?
If that's what Bedard did, throw extra in-between starts, then that explains why he looked gassed on the 20th.
But if not -- if his arm is sore already in 2011, after all that rest -- then it's definitely time for Kerry Wood Kloser II.
Wednesday's start will answer my question there. For Bedard to need to build arm strength inside the shoulder?, that is not in itself a big concern. But if he's in pain already, he's done as a starter.
Presumption is towards the positive. He doesn't personally act like a guy who's done.
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=== #6 SP Dept. ===
If Bedard did move to the 'pen, there would be a lot of positives in that. He and League would be death on a stick, and the M's could go to a 2001 six-inning approach.
SSI is enthused about Tom Wilhelmsen's classic three-pitch repertoire, his 94 heater, his ability to reach back for 98, his starter's rhythm, and the mileage left on his arm. Make it so, Capt.
Wonder how much time he'd need in Cheney to stretch out to five innings. Wilhelmsen is a real throwback. I flat enjoy watching him pitch.
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BABVA,
Dr D