Five pitchers in focus in NL West
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Let’s try this again…
For various reasons, a quintet of pitchers from the NL West caught my eye over the past couple of days. One in a highly anticipated spring debut. Another pitching for the first time in almost a year. A temporary setback for a highly touted prospect. An ace struggling in spring training. One attempting to reclaim the days of only a couple of years ago.
Arizona: Archie Bradley
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As Tyler Lockman of FOX Sports Arizona put it…
It was only three innings, it was only spring training, and it’s still early March. All that aside, Archie Bradley sure did make an impression Monday night.
To say Bradley’s spring training debut start was much-anticipated would be selling the whole thing short. He’s the D’backs top prospect for a reason. Bradley was facing MLB hitters that were not teammates. In those three innings, six strikeouts.
In his first seven pitches, six strikes, two whiffs. The victims: Drew Stubbs and Michael Cuddyer. Now Cincinnati Reds fans will tell you about Stubbs striking out on three pitches. In fact, catcher Henry Blanco said that despite going three innings, he and Bradley never had the opportunity to work on a third pitch. Bradley threw mostly fastballs and had a breaking ball or two.
With Arizona bringing in Bronson Arroyo on a two-yer deal, the prevailing thought (including my own) was that Bradley could take his time in making it to the show. If Bradley can build on this short outing throughout the entire spring, that time will certainly be sooner rather than later.
Colorado: Christian Friedrich
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He hasn’t pitched in 10 months. Hasn’t thrown a pitch in a big league game since mid-2012. The significance of Friedrich’s outing on Monday evening was striking. The Rockies righty suffered a stress fracture in his lower back. Thomas Harding who covers the Rockies for MLB.com has Friedrich’s reaction to his first work in almost a year.
“I took a look around to kind of get acclimated, and it was pretty neat,” Friedrich said. “It felt great. It’s the beginning of spring and you have ups and downs. But after a year and all the rehab, and I know it was just another game and an inning and two-third, but it felt like it was worth every bit of waiting…
Friedrich mentions the support he has received during his time away from the field.
And Friedrich has the opportunity, at least temporarily, to land a spot in the starting rotation. With the status of Jhoulys Chacin being a bit murky, Freidrich could be that guy while Chacin mends from a shoulder strain.
Sure, he walked a couple. Surrendered a few hits as well. And faced Archie Bradley.
Los Angeles: Clayton Kershaw
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Seems the reigning NL Cy Young winner has experienced a coupe of poor outings this spring. Well, it is spring training, so there’s no reason to be concerned.
Unless you’re Kershaw. You see, he is concerned, as was told to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. Kershaw stated he hasn’t felt right so far this spring.
“It’s what’s the off-season’s for,” he said. “I don’t believe you come in to get ready. You’re supposed to be ready to go every time you pitch. I don’t know. Hopefully, we’ll figure it out here pretty quick.” ………. “No, not really,” he said. “I haven’t felt great yet. The first two innings I thought I maybe figured some things out. Maybe I did, but it really doesn’t matter after the third inning.”
As was most likely noted been on Dodgers forums, discussion boards, blogs, and Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly, Kershaw didn’t exactly have a stellar spring last year (2-3, 4.18 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 8 BB, 30 SO). Trough his two starts (4+ IP) this spring: 0-2, 18.00 ERA, 2.75 WHIP, 4 BB, 4 SO.
But as they say, it’s only spring training. I don’t recommend saying that around Kershaw though.
San Diego: Max Fried
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Corey Brock of MLB.com has the bad news. Bad news for now and the Padres can’t catch a break in regards to injuries.
Minor League pitcher Max Fried, the Padres’ No. 1 prospect according to MLB.com, will start throwing in 10 to 14 days, after being slowed with a sore left forearm.
Granted, Fried isn’t going to be in a Padres uni anytime in the immediate future, but where ther’s forearm soreness, there can be other issues afoot. Let’s hope this isn’t the case. He’s expected to take about 10-14 days off before starting to throw.
Fried is expected to start this season with High-A Lake Elsinore, but Padres GM Randy Smith says Fried could miss some time at the beginning of the season. With the talent Fried possesses, I think it behooves the Friars to play it safe in this instance.
I know Padres fans have heard enough of injuries, especially with the recent news about Cameron Maybin.
San Francisco: Tim Lincecum
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There’s been debate on what Lincecum’s role should be for 2014. I have no doubt that he should start even though he was effective out of the bullpen when the Giants won the 2012 World Series. And last season didn’t curtail those thoughts either.
For four years, Lincecum was one of baseball’s best pitchers. From 2008-11, he produced a 62-36 record, 2.81 ERA, 1.173 WHIP, 143 ERA+, and an even 10 SO/9. He was voted the NL’s Cy Young winner in ’08 and ’09 while coming in the top 10 in the two seasons thereafter.
But the last two season have not produced those results. Sure, he had the no-no, but if you want to nitpick, he did throw 148 pitches. After that game: 5-5, 4.54 ERA, 1.291 WHIP. Those numbers look decent compared the games before the no-hitter.
So why the big deal about his spring debut? Again, it is spring training. From MLB.com’s Chris Haft:
Lincecum realized in the second inning that he was moving toward home plate with his back to the target instead of his front (left) side.
What’s the big deal in this? I’m speculating here, but what if the ability to not recognize this mechanical flaw (or any other) this quickly is what has led to a pair of less than mediocre seasons?