Pitching Problems Continue

Our pitching staff has given up 51 runs in 7 games for a nice 7.28 runs per game average. Even if we were playing slow pitch softball (and it sort of looks like we are), we wouldn't be able to score than many runs on a nightly basis. We've scored 32 runs in those same 7 games for an average of 4.57 runs per game.

After Affeldt was hammered for 6 earned runs (one of which was a joke—Costa simply dropped a ball that was ruled a hit) in 3.1 innings, his ERA climbed to 14.73. We have another starting pitcher, Joe Mays, with two outings who has a 12.86 ERA. And over the past two days in New York, our staff has walked 17 batters—9 of which have scored.

What is it about our staff that makes them afraid to throw strikes? Yes, they are playing the $200 million evil Yankees. Yes, the evil Yankees have a lot of power. So what? Even the best of them (Rodriguez) only hit 48 home runs last year. Yeah, 48 home runs is a lot, but it's not like he hits one every game. I don't know what the answer is, but we need to figure out a way to get our guys to stop being so afraid of giving up the long ball.

Affeldt had two strikes on 8 hitters in his brief 3.1 IP, but he only got two of them out. The home run that Sheffield hit in the first inning was on a 1-2 pitch. After he got two strikes on guys, he started to nibble. And I didn't see a pitching chart, but Affeldt didn't change speeds nearly enough either. Thankfully, he's abandoned the fork ball from a year ago that Hanson had him throwing, but now he doesn't seem to be willing to throw his change up. And I have no idea why he isn't throwing his curve ball more often.

Mark Redman can't get back quickly enough. Who would have thought we'd be saying that? Maybe with Redman, Elarton, and Bautista, we'll have some semblance of a chance at keeping teams in the single digits in runs.

Tomorrow afternoon, we get to do it all again. Denny Bautista (0-0, 1.50 ERA) goes against The Unit (1-1, 2.40 ERA). Hopefully the 10-run rule won't be in affect. And hopefully, we can finally break this ridiculous 13-game losing streak in evil Yankee Stadium.