September 22, 2004
Can They Call Up Doggett?
What's wrong with Mark Mulder? The Athletics are worried.
"I just look at the velocity only, and it's a concern,'' Chavez said. "It would be one thing if Mark was making good pitches, but right now he's not getting away with it -- look at the outs he's getting (hard-hit balls). I'd just like to see that velocity go up.''
Chavez doesn't believe Mulder has any health issues, he simply thinks the pitcher is tired. After all, Mulder (17-6) missed the final six weeks of the 2003 season with a stress fracture at the top of his right femur, then spent the winter vigorously working out. Now, he has pitched 220 innings, second-most in the league and third-most in baseball. His five complete games are tied for the most in the AL.
You can see the difference pre and post all-star break. His K per 9 is down, his BB per 9 is way up, and his HR per 9 is way up. I don't see any evidence of overuse by the Athletics, either by making him pitch on short rest or by having him accumulate high pitch counts in consecutive games. Mulder did have back problems in spring training. Might those have come back, and Mulder is trying to pitch through it?
The truth is out there.
Posted by David Pinto at
09:34 AM
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Pitchers
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No one else has commented. But, Dave, I enjoyed the X-Files reference.
How 'bout that AL West? I want to believe they can contend in the playoffs, but the A's and Angels both seem to be sputtering, at least a little.
