Over at Fangraphs, Jeff Sullivan takes a look at the cause of Stephen Strasburg’s uncharacteristically slow start for the Nationals. As he explains, batters have teed off on Strasburg when he is working out of the stretch. It is impossible to pin down the exact issues, of course, but Sullivan explains that — as pitching coach Steve McCatty believes — lingering side-effects of an offseason ankle injury may still be impacting Strasburg’s mechanics. Obviously, Strasburg is in no danger or need of being replaced in D.C., and he remains an over-scrutinized pitcher. But both player and club obviously have some work to do to get him back on track.
Here’s more from the NL East:
- The Marlins pulled out of their pursuit of free agent reliever Rafael Soriano because of their assessment of his likely impact more than the money involved, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports (Twitter link). Of course, it is nearly impossible to separate talent assessment and cost entirely. After all, Miami presumably wouldn’t hesitate to add Soriano on a league-minimum contract. But the Marlins could well have determined, whether based on scouting him last year or learning more about his current status, that Soriano did not warrant any kind of significant outlay.
- Phillies ace Cole Hamels has turned things around after a slow start, as MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki writes. The southpaw has allowed just 2.72 earned runs per nine over his last five starts, Zolecki notes, and turned in a nice, nine-strikeout outing last night. All said, Hamels’ trade value remains as robust as ever as the summer draws near.
- After failing to stick as a big league reliever, Phillies righty Phillippe Aumont is impressing as a starter at Triple-A, Zolecki reports. The only remaining piece of the Cliff Lee trade, the 26-year-old had seemed destined to be a disappointment but is showing some life in the upper minors with a 1.36 ERA over 33 innings (7.6 K/9 vs. 3.5 BB/9). “Phillippe told me he’s extremely happy to be back in the rotation,” Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan tells Zolecki. “He looks like it. There’s a tempo to what he’s doing. He used to take forever between pitches. He’s crisp. He has some big misses, but he gets right back in the zone. Seven strong innings today, really. He had an above-average, maybe well above-average fastball. Above-average breaking ball. Two Major League pitches.”
Good to see Aumont flourishing as a starter. I wonder if he was overthrowing as a reliever, hence him being so wild. Looks like he’s got a little more control as a starter.
He has calmed down in the mound and doesn’t try to throw it quite as hard. You are probably right.
I get the Phillies are trying to find good young players, but I’d rather see Nola, Biddle, Lively, Buchanan, Gonzalez or even MAG before Aumont
I don’t see the need to root for one player over another. If Aumont could get to the Majors as a starter by 2016 and deliver 200 IP, sub 4.3 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, I’d be thrilled to death.
You’d be thrilled to death by mediocrity?
I’d be thrilled to death that the Phillies get a solid ML contribution from a guy coming up from the minor leagues that everyone thought was washed up. I set the numbers to be marginally better than Kyle Kendrick.
But the bigger point is that I just want to see the Phillies get to the point where they have 25 young DECENT or better players working their butts off, and then we can talk about upgrading the team from there.
Buchanan has been dreadful, it can’t get much worse.
the phillies outed MAG off the roster and still nobody wants him. He will probably do good once his contract is done and finds a second chance somewhere else but for right now, he is a lost cause. He has good stuff, like Aumont, but can’t beat major league hitting. Every time Aumont is in the minors he does great but can’t make the jump and this time will probably be the same. Two pitches can work but he has never been accurate enough even with an above average fastball
Aumont’s stuff has always been electric; his control is just spotty. He has two plus pitches and a third very good pitch. Why you’d rather see Gonzalez, MAG, Lively, or Buchanan before him is perplexing.
Its kind of like the Dom Brown situation. 90% of Phillie fans don’t really care if he succeeds or not. They’re tired of watching him. I guess in a new role Aumont could be appealing, but I’d rather see something new.
How can you not care if he succeeds. If he (and Brown for that matter) succeed, it’s great for the organization. I’m not sure why any fan wouldn’t want that.
Because they aren’t going to succeed to the point where they are long term options. If you want to hold out false hope for damaged goods, go ahead, but neither of Brown or Aumont is going to be a significant piece to the Phillies.
I disagree with that. If Aumont did really get his pitches under control, he’s a 3/4 starter. That has value. Even if he’s a 4/5…
Brown may not have a place if Asche takes his spot. So I agree there, but I do think the outfield is wide open even for guys like Quinn and Altherr next year.
I like turtles.
Still has to get them walks down. Hell pay for them more at Major League Level.