Smoltz update

[BoSox21]

He started 15 of his 18 games in minors with a 2.8 BB/9. Starting has never been a foreign concept to him.

[jacksonianmarch]

I know, but he continued his good location out of the pen. Once he went to the rotation, he had some issues with command.

[BoSox21]

My point is, for a guy who was used as a starter for the vast majority of his baseball career, his spike in walks in the bigs shouldn't be written off as something he's going through cause he's getting used to the concept of starting. He's figuring out how get big league hitters out, just like all young pitchers.

[jacksonianmarch]

thats what it looks like to me. He never had control issues until he needed to get more than 3 outs in the bigs. Regardless, it isnt like he is a control disaster every time he hits the rubber. He's inconsistent, something that comes from his lack of experience starting. Look at it. He started in Tampa and Trenton in 2007. Then he comes up to the pen. He starts 2008 in the pen, comes up to the rotation midseason, gets injured, goes back to the pen to close out the yr. Then, he starts back in the rotation. Tell me how this is supposed to get him comfortable with going deeper into games?

 

Regardless, I find he is more inconsistent than he is consistently wild. Look at his starts....

 

In April, 1 of 4 starts went 5+IP with 2 or less BBs.

In May, 3 of 5 starts went 5+IP with 2 or less BBs

In June, 3 of 5 starts went 5+IP with 2 or less BBs.

 

The command is coming back and the more he pitches, the better he will be.

[BoSox21]

Tell me how this is supposed to get him comfortable with going deeper into games?

 

It's not, and I think it should be held as a knock against the organization. Either way, right now he's developing into the pitcher he will be for the rest of his career and if the FO wants him to go through with the added adversity that comes with the constant changing of his role, well then it is what it is. His secondary pitches haven't developed the way they probably should have by now since he only needed to be a two-pitch pitcher as a reliever.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree with that last statement. He used to be a 4 pitch pitcher with a decent change. Now, he is mostly a 3 pitch pitcher with the FB-slider-curve combo. I would like to see a changeup mixed in there to get them off anything straight.

[Cocos Disciples]

^Feel free to make your other pick.

[BoSox21]

in the appropriate thread perhaps...

[TheKilo]

I think tonight might be the most excited I;ve ever been for a June game against a last place team.

[MANNYHOF24]

I agree, I can't wait for tonights game. I am so anxious to see if Smoltz will be a key contributor for us this season. If he pitches well for us, we are going to be a extremely hard team to take down this year.

[MANNYHOF24]

thats what it looks like to me. He never had control issues until he needed to get more than 3 outs in the bigs. Regardless, it isnt like he is a control disaster every time he hits the rubber. He's inconsistent, something that comes from his lack of experience starting. Look at it. He started in Tampa and Trenton in 2007. Then he comes up to the pen. He starts 2008 in the pen, comes up to the rotation midseason, gets injured, goes back to the pen to close out the yr. Then, he starts back in the rotation. Tell me how this is supposed to get him comfortable with going deeper into games?

 

Regardless, I find he is more inconsistent than he is consistently wild. Look at his starts....

 

In April, 1 of 4 starts went 5+IP with 2 or less BBs.

In May, 3 of 5 starts went 5+IP with 2 or less BBs

In June, 3 of 5 starts went 5+IP with 2 or less BBs.

 

The command is coming back and the more he pitches, the better he will be.

 

 

He'll be fine.

[pedroia_the_destroyah53]

im also super excited for the smoltz start tonight! there are alot of questions about whats gonna happen with our pitching staff and this is a start to some of those answers.

[Spudboy]

We're all excited to see how Smoltz does tonight. Has anyone considered what will happen if he does not prove to be effective over the next few weeks? I'm hoping for the best, but he's 42 and coming off major shoulder surgery. We'll see.

[inkman]

We're all excited to see how Smoltz does tonight. Has anyone considered what will happen if he does not prove to be effective over the next few weeks? I'm hoping for the best' date=' but he's 42 and coming off major shoulder surgery. We'll see.[/quote']

 

Clay Bucholtz comes to mind. :thumbsup:

[Dipre]

We're all excited to see how Smoltz does tonight. Has anyone considered what will happen if he does not prove to be effective over the next few weeks? I'm hoping for the best' date=' but he's 42 and coming off major shoulder surgery. We'll see.[/quote']

 

His velocity and command seem to be there, so i, for one think he might be more effective than Penny right off the bat.

 

Of course he could also get shelled by the Natinals and i could be accused of having "Foot-in-mouth" syndrome, but i'm keeping my hopes high.

[BoSox21]

I dont think any conclusions should be drawn one way or the other by tonight's performance, unless he leaves with a shoulder injury obviously *knocks on wood*