Going into the season, Coach Heller said of starters Petricka and Rodriguez, "Our top two pitchers are #1 caliber guys...It gives us a nice combination of the hard-throwing right-hander and a mid-80's left-hander with one of the best change-ups in the conference." The third starting position would be a competition between Jason Van Skike and Blake Drake. Looking at the relievers, Heller said Brett Merkley would start the season as the closer...with Van Skike also seeing time at the end of games.
My take...after examining each game in real time...is that our starting pitching has overall been spotty...with bright spots now and then. A lack of consistency...too many walks, hit batters...wild pitches. Petricka will have a brilliant game followed by a melt-down. Rodriguez is having control issues with the change-up and breaking ball. BUT, this is what pre-conference play is all about, isn't it? Van Skike appears to be the shoe-in now for the third starting position as Blake Drake has consistently had control issues. Drake has seen just 6.1 innings of work giving up nine earned runs...four homers in that mix. I see him as a mid-week starter for the time being if he can begin hitting his spots better. He has a low-90's fastball that can work well if it's in the right spots and shows movement.
Out of the pen, the relievers as a whole are looking pretty good. Scott Harlan is tied with Tyler Browning with six appearances. Harlan exhibits excellent control with no ERA, no walks, no HBP, no WP and is being used as a specialist is tough situations, seeing just 4.2 innings. Browning has been a very pleasant surprise as a true freshman. Control issues at times...but starting to smooth out. Browning has given up just two runs in 10 innings. He has hit five batters and thrown four wild pitches. Brandon Dorsett has also been a solid reliever with good control giving up just one run in six innings...but has five walks. Brett Merkley has given up just one hit in 5.1 innings, but three runs. Kinda wierd. He hits his spots. Three walks and a couple of wild pitches have led to those runs. As Heller said before the season started, Merkley looks like he should be the closer as he has eight strike-outs and hits his spots. Kevin Mann has three wins as a reliever and is generally stable with a 4.91 ERA in 11 innings of work. JT Stentfenagel is also a reliever we hope comes along. He has given up 10 hits and five runs in six innings, but has good control. Most of his runs have been with the three homers he has allowed. Brandon Flora is throwing strikes for hits, giving up 10 hits and six runs in five innings of work.
O.K. Your turn...what do you see...now and in conference play which starts in 10 days!
My take...after examining each game in real time...is that our starting pitching has overall been spotty...with bright spots now and then. A lack of consistency...too many walks, hit batters...wild pitches. Petricka will have a brilliant game followed by a melt-down. Rodriguez is having control issues with the change-up and breaking ball. BUT, this is what pre-conference play is all about, isn't it? Van Skike appears to be the shoe-in now for the third starting position as Blake Drake has consistently had control issues. Drake has seen just 6.1 innings of work giving up nine earned runs...four homers in that mix. I see him as a mid-week starter for the time being if he can begin hitting his spots better. He has a low-90's fastball that can work well if it's in the right spots and shows movement.
Out of the pen, the relievers as a whole are looking pretty good. Scott Harlan is tied with Tyler Browning with six appearances. Harlan exhibits excellent control with no ERA, no walks, no HBP, no WP and is being used as a specialist is tough situations, seeing just 4.2 innings. Browning has been a very pleasant surprise as a true freshman. Control issues at times...but starting to smooth out. Browning has given up just two runs in 10 innings. He has hit five batters and thrown four wild pitches. Brandon Dorsett has also been a solid reliever with good control giving up just one run in six innings...but has five walks. Brett Merkley has given up just one hit in 5.1 innings, but three runs. Kinda wierd. He hits his spots. Three walks and a couple of wild pitches have led to those runs. As Heller said before the season started, Merkley looks like he should be the closer as he has eight strike-outs and hits his spots. Kevin Mann has three wins as a reliever and is generally stable with a 4.91 ERA in 11 innings of work. JT Stentfenagel is also a reliever we hope comes along. He has given up 10 hits and five runs in six innings, but has good control. Most of his runs have been with the three homers he has allowed. Brandon Flora is throwing strikes for hits, giving up 10 hits and six runs in five innings of work.
O.K. Your turn...what do you see...now and in conference play which starts in 10 days!