In Search of the Right Rotation--PART 2


Just when we thought they had the rotation set, it is going to change again. Ryan Franklin will switch positions with James Baldwin, and if Freddy doesn’t start pitching like an ace, who knows what other changes loom on the horizon?

A manager can let a hitter slump for a long time—but he can only let a pitcher bomb so many times. He has to give the offense a chance to win.

Baldwin Bombs

Giving up six runs in the first three innings makes it tough to win. That was Baldwin’s last outing (8/11). The one before that (8/6) he gave up six runs also and only lasted 3 2/3 innings.

It looked like Baldwin was okay after his 8 inning, two-run game on 7/31, but he is now 7-9 and will have to make way for the more reliable Franklin, who is anxious to start and proved he can earlier in the year.

Of course there is the little matter of how well Baldwin will do in the bullpen in Franklin’s place. We will have to wait and see.

Freddy’s Funk

Last month, I said there was no need to panic about Freddy. Now there is cause for concern. His ERA in July was 5.87 and he has only won one time since July 1.

Like Baldwin, he appeared to be on the way back. He was pitching better and even got a win on August 3. But in his latest game he surrendered six runs through five innings and didn’t look like the ace we once knew.

Brian Price thinks Freddy’s problem is correctable. When he gets into a little jam, he tries to throw harder and his pitches are staying up and over the plate. “We have to get him to stay consistently with his game plan,” Price said.*

As good as Moyer and Piniero are, the Mariners need their ace back. If the Mariner’s number one guy doesn’t get back on his game soon, getting to the playoffs will be very difficult and their hopes of going anywhere in the playoffs—almost nil.

More Changes?

What if Freddy gets straightened out but some other pitchers start to struggle? This year it seems the Mariners have trouble getting everyone playing well at the same time.

Maybe a prospect from the minors or someone on waivers will appear on the scene.

So many uncertainties in August. The rotation still is not set.

*See: “Garcia’s Struggles Worry M’s”: http://www.heraldnet.com/Stories/02/8/10...

The copyright of the article In Search of the Right Rotation--PART 2 in Seattle Mariners is owned by C. A. Wright. Permission to republish In Search of the Right Rotation--PART 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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