This article is part of our Mound Musings series.
Hopefully, you made it a point to watch Tuesday's matchup in Los Angeles between two of the game's top young pitchers, Tim Lincecum v. Clayton Kershaw. We expected a pitcher's duel (I had the under on total runs – 6.5), but what we received was a whole lot more. That's one of the many things that's great about the game – we can see a mediocre pitcher like Armando Galarraga or Dallas Braden befuddle hitters one night and then see a two-time Cy Young winner get hit hard the next. (As a Dodgers fan, I have my own opinions on how Giants manager Bruce Bochy managed the game Tuesday. With the Don Mattingly play and purposely throwing at Matt Kemp, Bochy won dirty, and I suppose if you're a fan of the Giants, you're happy today. But I digress ...)
I will say that it's just one start, but Lincecum looked awful Tuesday night: 88-91 with the fastball early, and more 87-88 in the fifth inning before he was dispatched after throwing at Kemp and allowing a single to Blake DeWitt. Hopefully for Lincecum owners, it was just "one of those nights." Madison Bumgarner found some of his velocity in the last couple months, so barring a hidden injury, I'd expect the same from Lincecum.
On a non-pitching related note, contusions are bad no matter where they occur on your body, but in the testicles? Hopefully there's plenty of ice wherever Carl Crawford stayed last night.
Note:
Hopefully, you made it a point to watch Tuesday's matchup in Los Angeles between two of the game's top young pitchers, Tim Lincecum v. Clayton Kershaw. We expected a pitcher's duel (I had the under on total runs – 6.5), but what we received was a whole lot more. That's one of the many things that's great about the game – we can see a mediocre pitcher like Armando Galarraga or Dallas Braden befuddle hitters one night and then see a two-time Cy Young winner get hit hard the next. (As a Dodgers fan, I have my own opinions on how Giants manager Bruce Bochy managed the game Tuesday. With the Don Mattingly play and purposely throwing at Matt Kemp, Bochy won dirty, and I suppose if you're a fan of the Giants, you're happy today. But I digress ...)
I will say that it's just one start, but Lincecum looked awful Tuesday night: 88-91 with the fastball early, and more 87-88 in the fifth inning before he was dispatched after throwing at Kemp and allowing a single to Blake DeWitt. Hopefully for Lincecum owners, it was just "one of those nights." Madison Bumgarner found some of his velocity in the last couple months, so barring a hidden injury, I'd expect the same from Lincecum.
On a non-pitching related note, contusions are bad no matter where they occur on your body, but in the testicles? Hopefully there's plenty of ice wherever Carl Crawford stayed last night.
Note: stats are for the period 7/1 – 7/20
Can they Keep It Up?
Vicente Padilla, LAD (0.87 ERA, 16:6 K:BB in 20.2 IP) – Padilla's 1:5 K:BB last time out wasn't so special, but he's come up huge for the Dodgers after a two-month DL stint. You see what he's done in July, but in his last five outings, Padilla has a 1.30 ERA and 28:5 K:BB in 34.2 innings. He's missing bats (8.0 K/9), minimizing free passes (2.2 BB/9) and throwing harder this year than any point in the last five seasons. As long as he stays healthy and controls his emotions, Padilla's talent is that of a top-30 NL starter, perhaps more.
Randy Wells, CHC (1.66 ERA, 17:4 K:BB in 21.2 IP) – Back when the Cubs had six starter candidates, Wells' job was thought to be in jeopardy. He was 3-6 with a 5.21 ERA, but suddenly the light went on. Wells has been solid in his last four starts. Overall, he's actually been a better pitcher this year than last:
