pmeares17
06-29-2002, 06:12 PM
So how is it that Tanyon Sturtze just cannot seem to win?
The team MVP just nine short months ago, Sturtze, 31, was winless in his first 15 starts. That, of course, leads the majors. As you might guess, part of it's the goblins of fate; part of it's bad pitching.
Sturtze pitched well recently against the Padres and Marlins. In fact, the team performed well overall in interleague play, proving that focus and motivation are part of its problem, for good teams don't need fresh circumstances to play their best.
For Surtze, high pitch counts have been his undoing. He averages 108.67 pitches per start, sixth most in the majors.
And while he has given the bullpen a rest by going nine innings twice in his last three outings, that may have worn his arm out.
His next outing, against the Giants last week, he gave up 13 hits and his pitches were consistently high. The rest of the team committed errors of every variety. Yes, you can find snowballs, even in San Francisco in June. . . .
Though Barry Bonds angrily (and illogically) approached the mound after Travis Harper threw behind him last week, no one said a word when Ryan Rupe hit Reggie Sanders and Jeff Kent a day later.
He was obviously struggling, giving up seven earned runs in four innings.
Rupe though has a perfectly reasonable five wild pitches in 87 2/3 innings, not to mention more than three strikeouts for every walk he's allowed.
SCOUTING REPORT
When Jason Tyner was sent down in late May and Greg Vaughn sent out to left, Aubrey Huff came up from Class AAA Durham, where he was hitting .325.
He was expected to become the primary DH in place of Vaughn, but he not only got five starts at third recently, but also began asserting himself at the plate.
Manager Hal McRae cautioned that Jared Sandberg (.222) would regain his starting job at the corner, but skeptics abound.
Huff, 25, a lefthanded batter, hit.302 in his first 86 at-bats, with five home runs and a .500 slugging
The team MVP just nine short months ago, Sturtze, 31, was winless in his first 15 starts. That, of course, leads the majors. As you might guess, part of it's the goblins of fate; part of it's bad pitching.
Sturtze pitched well recently against the Padres and Marlins. In fact, the team performed well overall in interleague play, proving that focus and motivation are part of its problem, for good teams don't need fresh circumstances to play their best.
For Surtze, high pitch counts have been his undoing. He averages 108.67 pitches per start, sixth most in the majors.
And while he has given the bullpen a rest by going nine innings twice in his last three outings, that may have worn his arm out.
His next outing, against the Giants last week, he gave up 13 hits and his pitches were consistently high. The rest of the team committed errors of every variety. Yes, you can find snowballs, even in San Francisco in June. . . .
Though Barry Bonds angrily (and illogically) approached the mound after Travis Harper threw behind him last week, no one said a word when Ryan Rupe hit Reggie Sanders and Jeff Kent a day later.
He was obviously struggling, giving up seven earned runs in four innings.
Rupe though has a perfectly reasonable five wild pitches in 87 2/3 innings, not to mention more than three strikeouts for every walk he's allowed.
SCOUTING REPORT
When Jason Tyner was sent down in late May and Greg Vaughn sent out to left, Aubrey Huff came up from Class AAA Durham, where he was hitting .325.
He was expected to become the primary DH in place of Vaughn, but he not only got five starts at third recently, but also began asserting himself at the plate.
Manager Hal McRae cautioned that Jared Sandberg (.222) would regain his starting job at the corner, but skeptics abound.
Huff, 25, a lefthanded batter, hit.302 in his first 86 at-bats, with five home runs and a .500 slugging