MLB- The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Here are three pitchers who are in the news. They are the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Good
For the Boston Red Sox, rookie Kason Gabbard (29.1 IP, 14 BB, 25 K, 3 W, 0 L, .200 BAA, 3.38 ERA) has been a huge boost with starting vet Curt Shilling out. In five starts, he’s 3- 0 and tonight he beat the Kansas City Royals, a team that the Sox have had trouble with this season.
Gabbard got four runs with which to work off homers by Dustin Pedroia, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. He pitched a nine-inning shutout, He’s the first rookie this season to toss a shutout. He gave up only three hits, struck out eight and walked one.
In the two games this season where he got no decision, the Beantown team lost each by one run. In 11 total starts in two years, he’s 3 -3 with an ERA of 4.11.
His recent performance means that Schilling does not need to push his rehab efforts. The Sox need this effort tonight as they have been playing inconsistent ball.
The Bad:
The Milwaukee Brewers have put ace right-hander Ben Sheets on the 15-day DL with a distal sprain to the right middle finger. In 19 games, he has 10 wins, 4 loses and a 3.39 ERA. He has walked only 25 and struck out 90.
An MRI on Sheets Monday proved to be negative in terms of detecting any additional damage. The good news is that he does not have a fracture. It is felt that he will be out about two weeks. The six-year vet has started 185 games and holds a 71- 73 record with a 3.79 ERA and 1,032 K and 254 BB.
At this point, when the righty holds a baseball, he is not able to put any pressure on his finger. The pitcher was injured Saturday in the fourth inning when throwing a pitch to Colorado first baseman Todd Helton. Right after throwing the ball, Sheets indicated he was in pain.
Sheets has had a few injuries this season. On April 25, he suffered a minor groin strain when throwing at Wrigley Field and left the contest after three innings. He exited a game in the seventh inning against Los Angeles after developing a blister on his middle finger. He did not miss any starts due to these injuries.
Rookie pitcher Yovani Gallardo (1- 1) will start for Sheets on Thursday in Milwaukee when the Brewers take on the Diamondbacks. Gallardo replaced Sheets in the game versus Colorado.
The Ugly:
The Florida Marlins have suspended starting lefty Scott Olsen for insubordination and detrimental conduct related to the team. Olsen, who is in his third year in the majors– all with the Marlins– has been put on leave for two days. In 20 games, Olsen is 7- 7 with a 5.15 ERA, 55 BB and 84 K.
The action is based on the pitcher’s behavior after being taken out of Sunday’s game against the Washington Nationals. In five innings, the starter had relinquished two runs on five hits. He started serving his time on Monday and will not miss his start on Friday in Florida versus the Cincinnati Reds.
Olsen will lose $4,153.01 over the course of the two days.
Olsen, who last year had a 4.04 ERA and went 12- 10, has had trouble in the past, including being fined for making an obscene gesture at Milwaukee fans in June after being removed from a game and heading towards the dugout. Last season, he got into a scuffle with reliever and pal Randy Messenger (2007- 44.0 IP, 13 BB, 24 SO, 1 W, 2 L, 1 SV, 2.05 ERA) for which he got a black eye.
Olsen can be a positive force on this team if he makes the effort.
The Red Sox have had good news, the Brewers bad and the Marlins have decided that tough love is the way to go.
Technorati Tags: Boston Red Sox, Kason Gabbard, Milwaukee Brewers, Ben Sheets, Yovani Gallardo, Florida Marline, Scott Olsen
