Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Score Impressions: PIT @ MIL

  • Paul Maholm had some issues with his control. He was also left in the game too long in my opinion, but he continues to show solid average stuff. His fastball sat in the high 80's, but he showed a quality changeup, quality slider and quality curveball. Can he maintain his current level of performance with low K numbers (12 in 32 IP)? I think it may be a stretch, but he is a solid middle of the rotation starter (and Pitt is chock full of them).
  • Dave Bush pitched the same game in my opinion as his last start. He still showed solid command of his stuff, he just didn't elicit many swings and misses. He also showed some of his Jekyll and Hyde stuff, as he struck out the first 2 batters, hit the next 2, allowed a 2-run double, then struck out the last hitter. He worked a good curveball in this outing, but seemed to struggle with his cutter.
  • Prince Fielder's downward trend against lefties continues. He really struggled last night against Maholm and Sean Burnett. These lefties fed him sliders on the outside part all night and he couldn't make an adjustment to drive them the other way yet at this stage of the season. Given the struggles he had last season against left handers, this has to be a little concerning to Brewers fans.
  • Jesse Chavez is still a solid middle reliever in my mind (believed this when I saw him in Indianopolis). Mixes a low to mid 90's fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. Is greater then the sum of his parts.
  • Rickie Weeks has turned a corner. The guy hit every ball hard last night and may be slowly converting myself into a believer. Do I believe 2B is his best position? No. I think once Mike Cameron's contract expires, they may move Weeks to CF and put Alcides Escobar (after getting a year apprenticeship in AAA) at 2B (especially with the news that Lorenzo Cain, their CF of the future, may be done for the year).
  • Pittsburgh didn't do anything too impressive offensively. Was shocked they called off a sac bunt attempt in the top of the ninth. They may have been playing a bit over their head, but if they continue playing great defense, their pitchers are ones to allow hits in play and be beneficiaries of it.

Got 2 live scoring assignments tonight (Bedard and Floyd, Paulino and Volquez) and will relay what I see here later tonight.

Want me to talk about something else? Get an opinion on a player you are curious about? Let me know and I will find tape and look at him.

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