On the Beat: Reality C... (03/25)
Team Health Reports: B... (03/25)
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March 26, 2009 Team Health ReportsTampa Bay Rays
Head Trainer: Ron Porterfield Trend: Positive. One of the most remarkable things about the Rays turnaround last year was that they actually dealt with significantly more injuries than the year before. Several of their most important players hit the DL, some with significant injuries, yet almost all of them were back and contributing in the postseason. It really was an incredible test for Porterfield and his staff—and it was one that they passed with flying colors. They kept B.J. Upton on the field all year long, and he had a huge postseason; give some credit to Upton here for playing through the pain. Even though he hit the DL three times, Troy Percival still saved 28 games. Evan Longoria (arm fracture) and Carl Crawford (torn finger tendon) had significant August injuries, yet there they were, playing big roles for the Rays' pennant drive in October. Early-season injuries to Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza were handled effectively. Finally, don't forget the great story of Rocco Baldelli's return to the field. One of the best ways to evaluate a training staff is how players come back from in-season injuries. Using that as a baseline, the Rays' staff couldn't have done a better job in '08. Keeping an eye on Upton's surgically repaired shoulder will be a priority early in '09, but the most important thing for this medical team will be the successful development of a group of very young pitchers with remarkable talent who will require careful monitoring. The Shape of the Season:
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"Without his best strikeout pitch, his [Kazmir's] pitch counts became an issue" -- whoa. Doesn't the average at-bat that ends in a strikeout last MORE pitches than one where the out is recorded in the field? Shouldn't the concern be that he becomes more hittable, with all the negatives (including but not limited to pitch count) that that brings? Am I misunderstanding you here, Brad?
He was more pitch inefficient last year; in 2007, he had 3.9BB/9IP and 17.5 pitches/IP. In 2008, those numbers were 4.15 and 18.0. I'm too lazy to check Pitch f/x data and try to glean whether this was the result of more pitches fouled off or if he was nibbling and missing the plate with fastballs, but in either case I can buy the argument that more sliders = less pitches.
It was due to balls being fouled off. I don't have the exact information at my fingertips, but I'm pretty sure Kazmir led the league in either pitches fouled off, or pitchers fouled off per plate appearance.
I don't disagree with what you're saying, but I think the point is that the Kazmir's inability to throw his favorite out pitch led to a lot more nibbling. I watched him pitch several times last year and he just seemed to throw pitch after pitch after pitch to every single batter, never quite finishing guys off. Kazmir's k rate stayed pretty much the same as in previous years, so he was trying to be the same "style" of pitcher even without the pitch that made him so effective at that style. In my mind, that would lead to more pitch inefficiency. If you can k a guy on a 1-2 count instead of 3-2 and five foul balls, that's going to save you a lot of pitches.