Though manager Dave Martinez has maintained that he will regain his closer’s role when he returns from the injured list, Nationals reliever Sean Doolittle isn’t taking anything for granted, as shown in a profile from the Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty. “I mean that’s awesome to get that vote of confidence from your manager. But I have to pitch better if I want to stay in that role,” Doolittle told Dougherty on Monday. Of course, it’s probably the proper attitude for the veteran lefty to assume after a recent run of poor play–outlined by a 7.36 ERA in his last 15 appearances–culminated in his placement on the injured list on Sunday with right knee tendinitis. While watching video of his last outing, a three-homer drubbing at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers, Doolittle says he has identified several mechanical concerns that could be the cause of his struggles, including a low release point and shortened extension.
More hurler notes to keep handy this Tuesday…
- Jacob Nix of the Padres is grinding his way back from an elbow issue that has sidelined him for the entirety of the 2019 season, as noted in a column from Jeff Sanders of the Union-Tribune. After opting for rest and rehab in recovery from a UCL tear, Nix has climbed back up to Triple-A El Paso, where, on Monday, he struck out six hitters in five shutout innings. The 23-year-old Nix, a third-round draft pick of GM AJ Preller’s in 2015, debuted last year with 7.02 ERA, 4.46 K/9, and 2.76 BB/9 numbers across 42.1 innings. As you might expect regarding someone with such a shaky big league resumé, manager Andy Green indicates to Sanders that Nix’s return will be, in the writer’s words, “predicated on his results”.
- You would be forgiven for not recognizing the name of one Josh Lindblom, but that exact name is drawing a great deal of attention in Korea–and, increasingly, in MLB circles. As The Athletic’s Sung Min Kim points out (link), MLB scouts have been attending the KBO starts of Lindblom in droves as the former big league reliever makes a historic foreign run. A veteran of 114 MLB games, the 32-year-old Lindblom is trouncing KBO hitters in his quest for the all-time record for wins by a foreign pitcher (22) in one season. In 24 starts for the Doosan Bears, Lindblom is 19-1 with a 2.03 ERA–truly intriguing numbers for a pitcher operating in such a hitter-friendly environment. Lindblom hasn’t appeared stateside since pitching for a stint with the Pirates in 2017.
This has everything to do with giving Doo a rest and nothing to do with a sore knee. But I’m good with it.
Dunno about that. Keeps him from being able to be a FA at end of year now. Bad for Doolittle.
Nix is looking sharp in the minors . Will his major league numbers continue to nix his minor success
Badda Bing!
no love for Victor Alcantara? he also has an ERA under 4.00 for KT.
Raul Alcantara, not Victor Alcantara. mykbostats.com/players/1856-Raul-Alcantara-KT-Wiz
Leave it to the Pirates to seriously misjudge another starting pitcher that could have really helped them, and could have cost them relatively little money as well.
This is why they suck. Whichever scouts & advisors they are using to base their decisions on, they are not reliable in the least – or else the GM (Huntington) is just making bonehead decisions. Its one or the other, or more likely both.
They thought Chris Archer was an ace when even the most novice fantasy-league GM could have instructed them otherwise, and they judge the inexpensive Josh Lindblom to be a scrub.
Its really disheartening to be a Pirates fan. Thank God I at least had the regular first place teams of the 70’s and the two world series winners to witness good baseball in this town. I feel bad for the rest of yins in Pittsburgh who will never get that joy, as long as this ownership has the team.
In their defense 29 other teams didn’t want to sign Lindblom either. But I agree, Archer sucks, but it has been fun to watch Bell & Reynolds this year at least!
This is not really the hill to die on. Lindblom is a great guy, but quite honestly he was shell in 17 appearances. Just because he had success/has had success in the KBO doesn’t mean it translates to the same success. In the states. I’m glad Lindy is thriving in the KBO and maybe he can transition back to the pen in the states, but c’mon faulting the Pirates is being ridiculous.
Well said. Sadly, narratives develop their own momentum.
It is not that well said because the “maybe he can transition back to the pen in the states” suggests that that is his highest realistic ceiling when we have seen a guy like Mikolas transition back last year from Asia and become an instant Cy Youny candidate. Lindblom clearly has the potential to do more than “transition back to the pen in the states.”
I’ve seen Lindblom when he was with the Dodgers. He’s a 5th starter/Swingman at best.. Mikolas has came down to earth this year and he’s look like a backend starter. Eric Thames coming back from the KBO, started out looking like a revelation but has since ran out of helium. This is not a RIch HIll type transformation where he has re-invented himself. He’s the same guy. If you think traveling to a country with inferior competition is going to make you better all of a sudden you’re delusional.
Yeah not really the Pirates fault here… the guy was a journeyman at best prior to becoming so dominant in the KBO. Maybe he has figured something out and will return to the states and have a nice run like Mikolas did with STL a year ago. But you really can’t blame the Pirates – he’s clearly a different pitcher than he was when he was a borderline AAAA player when they had him.
statiz.co.kr/player.php?opt=10&name=린드블… this should help
This would not be the first pitcher that they misjudged.
If I recall correctly Limdblom’s wife had something seriously physically wrong with her and the Pirates gave him the opportunity to pitch and stay in the States for six months for her to be treated.
Perhaps this ordeal is over and he is clear minded.
Agreed that he was an AAAA pitcher,but this would have been preying on him for a couple of years.
You might want to stop with the narrative that KBO is a “such a hitter-friendly environment”. The offense in KBO is down noticeably across the board in 2019 from the ridiculous levels of 2014-2018, in large part due to switching to the NPB ball. At this time, there are 7 qualified starting pitchers in KBO with an ERA below 3.00, whereas no qualified starting pitchers had an ERA below 3.00 in 2014.
Not to take away from Lindblom’s dominant season, but as of 2019 KBO is no longer the hitter’s paradise that it once was.
Maybe they traded their baseballs with MLB in the offseason.
Nope, they are using baseballs that are to current NPB standards though.
Lindblom also has an excellent 152 to 24 K/BB ratio in 155 IP. He should be able to be as good as Merrill Kelly has been for Arizona. The same can be said for Henry Sosa as well.
Apparently, there have been MLB scouts at Kwang-Hyun Kim’s games (who actually got posted a while ago but elected to return to KBO). He might be the next pitcher to jump to MLB.
Perhaps, he’s got a 2.34 ERA and a 15-3 record with 145 K to 31 BB in 150 IP. The real question is if he’s available.
Looks like Pedro Avila needs Tommy John surgery tho.
Hype on Nix start last August was nauseating led by comedian Mark Grant