There were 10 pitchers who caught my eye this weekend who looked very good on the mound. As we reach the midway point through June, pitchers are finding themselves and coming into their own. The following 10 pitchers seem to be trending upward or have already been pitching extremely well and are setting themselves up for great second halves.
In no particular order:
1. Ricky Nolasco- I must admit, I loved this guy preseason. After a great second half in 2008 and a stellar spring training, Nolasco looked ready to become a legitimate ace in the National League. Everything came apart in the first two months, so badly that Nolasco was shipped down to figure things out. Friday was maybe Nolasco's best start of the year going 6 innings giving up 2 runs and 5 hits. Most importantly was his 1 BB and 9ks. Sign of good things to come from this guy.
Note the control in this highlight http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906135025969&c_id=fla
2. Zach Duke- What to say about Zach Duke. Interesting career so far for this 26 year old lefty. Duke burst on the scene in 2005 going 8-2 with a sub 2 ERA in 84 innings. The following three years have been forgetful but it seems like Duke is back in 2009. After his 8 inning 3 run start on Saturday, the lefty is 7-4 for the Pirates with an ERA of 3.10. I expect Duke to win 14 games this year with a sub 3.5 ERA. A true feat for a pitcher on the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Note: No matter how bad the pirates are, 2009 has been a magical year for Pittsburgh. A Superbowl and a Stanley Cup! Enjoy these teams. Maybe the Pirates will finish above .500 this year.
3. Cliff Lee- AL Cy Young award winner from last year had no chance to repeat the year he had last. Some saw 2008 as a huge fluke but he is proving that he is one of the best pitchers in the game right now. Sunday he took a no hitter into the 8th inning. Lee went the distance and allowed 3 hits while walking 2 and striking out 6. After a rocky start, Lee has a 2.88 ERA and 69/20 strikeout to walks. He seems to be getting stronger as the season progresses. I like this guy. http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906145060695&c_id=cle
4. Rick Porcello- Jersey kid and favorite for AL rookie of the year in 2009. Was possibly the top pitcher in the 2008 draft but sign-ability issues dropped him to the bottom of the first round. The Tigers scooped him up and their decision has payed off, big time. Porcello is only 20 years old but is pitching like he has been up for 5 years. After another stellar performance this weekend, throwing 7 innings of 1 run ball, his numbers on the year are very solid. 7-4 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. I'll say it again, the kid is 20 years old.
5. Jered Weaver- Definitely better than his brother. Weaver got his 4th consecutive win in 4 starts, the one on Sunday had Weaver throwing a complete game shutout. Weaver is now 7-2 with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. This makes him the third best pitcher in the AL right now. http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906145059375&c_id=ana Notice Cliff Banger getting K'd up 3 times, ouch!
6. Josh Johnson- Peter Gammons' pick to win the Cy Young. He has not disappointed with a 6-1 record, a 2.76 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. 83 strikeouts to 23 walks. Went the distance on Sunday. Has yet to give up more than 3 earned runs in a start this year and has failed to reach 6 innings in only 1 of his starts. His location is dirty. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906145054443&c_id=fla
7. Matt Cain- Finally getting the run support he deserves and is turning that into wins. Cain went the distance this weekend improving to 9-1 with a 2.39 ERA. His start on Sunday was his best of the year going 9 innings, giving up 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 9 and walking none. Keep up the good work. Younger and overshadowed by Lincecum on the Giants staff. Cain is 25 and is looking at a breakout year. Fastball was unhittable http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906145059373&c_id=sf
8. Tim Lincecum- The other guy on the Giants staff. The one that won the cy young award last year. Looking better than ever after a complete game shutout with 8 k's over the weekend. Brings his strikeout total over 100 and is now 6-1 with a 2.66 ERA. I love watching this guy pitch. http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906135025681&c_id=sf
9. Jon Lester- Had a rough start to the season but has given up only 1 run in 4 of his past 5 starts. Numbers are a little high but expect those to come down as the season progresses. In Philly this weekend, Lester struck out 11 in 7 innings of work giving up only 1 run on 2 hits. The slider he gets Howard on in the 6th inning is straight filth. Also Feliz in the 7th gets embarrassed http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906135025817&c_id=bos
10. Dan Haren- Your NL Cy Young as of June 15th 2009. Wait, his record is only 5-4? Well yea but that is only because the D'Backs are horrible. Haren threw a complete game 2 hitter giving up a run while striking out 7. His ERA is now sitting at 2.2 and he has a ridiculous strikeout to walk ratio. His WHIP is at an unreal 0.81 with 90 ks and 13 walks. Unreal
http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200906135025761&c_id=ari
3 years ago
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