tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610014.post7012713560161817219..comments2024-01-31T17:51:12.213-05:00Comments on Swing and a Miss: Still Mediocre At The Quarter PoleTom Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00816668232837298444noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610014.post-66123603614477394392007-05-23T17:12:00.000-04:002007-05-23T17:12:00.000-04:00Jason: I am surprised to learn he threw that many...Jason: I am surprised to learn he threw that many. It didn't appear he threw many last night and indeed the announcers even mentioned one batter late in Hamel's stint where a curve would be in order. If I recall correctly, there were games he started where he avoided the curve almost entirely.Tom Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00816668232837298444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610014.post-32787512810586958882007-05-23T17:05:00.000-04:002007-05-23T17:05:00.000-04:00They said Hamels threw 17 curveballs in the game a...They said Hamels threw 17 curveballs in the game against Milwaukee. That's pretty many. He'll get it established eventually. In the meantime, his changeup has to be one of the best pitches in baseball right now. Hitters are missing it 37 percent of the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610014.post-91781567645503878542007-05-23T13:47:00.000-04:002007-05-23T13:47:00.000-04:00I absolutely agree with you, David, regarding both...I absolutely agree with you, David, regarding both points. I've had it with Rowand's poor positioning, which has cost more than a few games. <BR/><BR/>As for Hamels, he seems to have abandoned the curve, though he threw it once for a strikeout. I don't know whether he mistrusts it of feels it isn't of sufficient quality but it's hard to judge when he throws it so seldom. He does need that third pitch, as you point out, and since he has a curve reputed to be a good one I cannot figure out why he doesn't throw it more.Tom Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00816668232837298444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7610014.post-43721928209753751262007-05-23T13:39:00.000-04:002007-05-23T13:39:00.000-04:00Aaron Rowand is a good outfielder, but not half as...Aaron Rowand is a good outfielder, but not half as good as he thinks he is. He doesn't misjudge fly balls so much as he appears to misjudge his own ability to track them down. Perhaps in his Chicago days, he was fleet enough to catch anything hit within a wider radius, but this is not the case now and one wonders when he is going to realize that his hot-dogging bravado is costing his team regularly. It's not about diving around like a kid on a slip-and-slide and getting on Plays of the Week; it's about *getting to the damn ball*, and putting yourself in the best position to do so. Rowand has average speed at best, so why would he imagine that he can get away with playing a few steps in back of second base?<BR/><BR/>Hamels needs another pitch, period. He seemed stunned that the Marlins got to him but what's more surprising is that more teams don't get to him in the middle innings after a couple go-rounds. He can get away with it sometimes because one of those pitches is great, but hitters pick out patterns and adjust. Even an alteration like a cut fastball would help Hamels immensely; imagine if he could run that on hitters' fists like Al Leiter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com