Pitching Perspectives (3/10-3/16)

The Royals finished their third week with a 5-2 record including going 1-1 in their split squad games on Friday.

Zack Greinke pitched Friday against the Brewers. In 3.0 innings of work he allowed 8 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk and 2 home runs while striking out 2. Two out of his last three starts have been clunkers, but as I said last week, I’m going to trust that Zack knows what he’s doing.

Gil Meche pitched Wednesday against the Mariners and Monday against the White Sox. In his two starts he pitched 5.2 innings allowing 9 hits, 6 runs and 4 walks while striking out 5. Neither start was very good, but like Greinke the main concern is that Meche stays healthy and is ready to start the season.

Kyle Davies pitched Thursday against the White Sox in relief of Ho-Ram. In 4.0 innings of work, he allowed 1 hit, no runs and 1 walk while striking out 2. There is absolutely no doubt he has been the Royals best starter in spring training. In 12.2 innings he has a 0.71 ERA, a WHIP of 0.87 and has recorded 8 strike outs. Combining his spring with his finish to the 2008 season, it appears this former top Braves prospect it putting it together. At only 25 years old, it looks like the Royals have found their Robin to Greinke’s Batman.

Luke Hochevar pitched Sunday against the Giants and had another good start. In 4.1 innings he gave up 6 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and struck out 2. He hasn’t been as impressive as Davies this spring but he has been excellent in his own right. In his 12.1 spring innings, he has 2.92 ERA, a WHIP of 1.14 and has struck out 7. I expected him to step forward in 2010, but if he does it this year the Royals will have their own “big three.” What makes all of this even more exciting is that all 3 of them are only 25 years old. Thrown in Gil Meche with these guys, and the sun is starting to shine a little brighter on the rotation.

Horacio Ramirez pitched on Thursday against the White Sox and had another Ho-Ram type spring start. He pitched 5.0 innings giving up 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk and struck out 2. Ho-Ram has moved back ahead of Bannister in my rotation. Before you get too excited, consider that he is the only starter to allow more hits than Bannister this spring (21 to 17) in about the same number of innings pitched.

Brian Bannister pitched on Saturday against the Diamondbacks. In 4.2 innings he allowed 9 hits, 6 runs, 1 walk and struck out 2. He has been passed by Ho-Ram in my rotation. His demotion is not on the merits of Ho-Ram’s performance, but on the merits of Bannister absolutely sucking. He is 28 years old and is quickly speeding off the cliff. He seems like a nice guy, has pitching bloodlines, and is smart. Problem is, none of those qualities make you a good pitcher.

Robinson Tejada is the newest entry into the rotation battle for the 5th spot. He started Friday against the Rangers. In 4.0 innings pitched he allowed 4 hits, 1 run, walked 3 and struck out 7. Tejada turns 27 a week from today and has real good stuff. The problem for him is getting it into the strike zone. The good news is that in 10.1 spring innings he has a 1.74 ERA and 14 strike outs. The bad news is that in those 10.1 innings he has walked 9 and has a WHIP of 1.65. He pitched well for the Royals last year in the bullpen and that is where he fits best. The fact that the Royals are giving him spring starts sums up what Bannister and Ho-Ram have done to this point.

Week 1 the 6 man rotation posted an ERA of 4.15 with a WHIP of 1.77 in 13 innings of work. In Week 2 the rotation posted an ERA of 4.50 with a WHIP of 1.23 in 26 innings. This week they became a 7 man rotation and did the following:

Kansas City

ERA

WHIP

3/10-3/16 Starters

29.2

6.67

1.85

Below is the performance of the rest of the pitchers in camp for the week:

Kansas City

ERA

WHIP

Roman Colon (R)

2.0

0.00

1.00

Juan Cruz (R)

2.0

0.00

1.00

Brandon Duckworth (R)

2.0

13.50

3.00

Kyle Farnsworth (R)

3.0

0.00

1.00

Jimmy Gobble (L)

2.0

0.00

1.50

Tim Hamulack (L)

2.0

0.00

1.50

Devon Lowery (R)

2.0

0.00

0.50

Victor Marte (R)

1.0

0.00

Franquelis Osoria (R)

0.2

0.00

Joel Peralta (R)

2.2

3.37

1.12

Heath Phillips (L)

5.0

3.60

1.20

Julio Pimentel (R)

1.2

0.00

0.60

Carlos Rosa (R)

1.0

0.00

Jamey Wright (R)

3.0

6.00

1.00

Yasuhiko Yabuta (R)

1.1

13.53

2.26

The Bad: Brandon Duckworth and Yasuhiko Yabuta (yet again)
The Good: Colon, Cruz, Farnsworth, Gobble, Hamulack, & Lowery

Julio Pimentel was looking good this spring, but on Friday he left the game against the Rangers after his elbow popped. An MRI revealed he has a bone spur fracture in his right elbow. Whether or not he has surgery he is out for at least 6 weeks.

The Royals need to quit wasting time on Yabuta and send him packing. It was a nice try signing him, but it isn’t working. He’s 35, he isn’t good, and he’s taking spring innings away from other guys.

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