Call to the pen
Fansided

Joe Ross’ Power Sinker Finally Joins Him In Nationals Rotation

By TC Zencka

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 02: Joe Ross #41 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch in the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 02, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nationals won 3-0. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 02: Joe Ross #41 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch in the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 02, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nationals won 3-0. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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Nationals: Joe Ross Returns
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Nationals’ Joe Ross Returns

Earning the demotion

This season did not start out well for Ross. In his first real action since Tommy John surgery, Tyson Ross’ little bro sported a 9.85 ERA across a chunky 24 2/3 innings. Pitchers usually aim for less than one run per inning.

Here was a once-promising, hard-throwing, injury-recovered 26-year-old who more-or-less guaranteed the opponent a run every time out. Tough to find the right time to use that guy.

In his defense, it often takes pitchers until their second season back from Tommy John to truly look like themselves again. Ross was also pitching out of the bullpen for the first time in his career, and suffice to say, he didn’t seem comfortable.

Uneven usage and short bursts of high-leverage opportunities may have contributed to Ross’ many blowups, or maybe it was just too much to ask an unproven commodity like Ross to learn a new role while working his way back to full strength.

That’s a psychological handful for a kid already saddled with the collective struggles of the worst bullpen in the league. Every time Rosenthal or Barraclough or Suero blew a save, the leash for Ross got tighter and the spotlight brighter.

After the Nats (justifiably) exiled Ross to the minor leagues, he was activated on June 22nd.

He got one appearance. It came against the Braves in the biggest game of the season up to that point.

He didn’t seem comfortable.

Ross entered with a 9-8 lead just an inning after Trevor Rosenthal blew a four-run lead (he would be released the next day). It took all of 5 pitches (two singles and a double) for Ross to give it back and put the Nationals in a hole from which they would not recover.

The Nats optioned him back to Triple-A after the game. So long, Joe.

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