FanPost

Pitchers Who Are Left

The word left in English comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lyft, which means weak or broken. The Royals pitching staff is weak and broken, and let me start with two left-handed pitchers, Diekman and Hill. These two pitchers actually have some things in common (in addition to being left handed): They both have a sidearm delivery, and they lead the Royals relievers with the lowest batting average against them, just .203 and .207, respectively. That is excellent, and is probably due, at least partially, to their unusual deliveries. However, perhaps it is the sidearm delivery that also makes it more difficult for them to throw strikes consistently. Not surprisingly, those two relievers have the highest walks per nine innings of any pitcher currently on the Royals roster (5.63 BB/9 for Hill, and 5.30 for Diekman). The only other pitcher allowing more than 5 walks per nine innings is Brian Flynn - ironically, another left hander. Walks are not good for any pitcher, but especially for a relief pitcher. Unfortunately, it’s not just the left-handed relievers who are allowing too many walks.

The Royals pitching staff as a whole has given up the third most free passes in the major leagues (even after not issuing a single walk in last night’s game). They also lead the major leagues in hitting batters, another indicator of a lack of control. The Royals pitching staff is one of five teams with an ERA over 5.00. What should be done to rectify the situation? Some have suggested that the pitching coach, Cal Eldred, needs to go. Or perhaps the Royals need to jettison some current relief pitchers for pitchers who issue fewer walks. Trade Diekman and bring up Lovelady (in limited big league action he has a low 2.84 BB/9). Swap McCarthy and his high 4.56 BB/9 for a reliever from Omaha like Jake Kalish who has an extremely low 1.79 BB/9.

If the Royals can’t find any trade partners for Diekman and choose to go with the current crop of relievers, then perhaps this strategy would help: Only use Diekman and Hill when there are no baserunners (or a man on first base, at most). If it is a sticky situation, bring in Newberry with his low 3.05 BB/9. Jorge Lopez may be another suitable option for high leverage situations with runners on base since he has the next lowest walk rate among relievers, at 3.18 BB/9.

Of course, Kennedy has been the Royals’ best relief pitcher with a 2.06 BB/9, but he’s the closer. Moore needs to supply Yost with better bullpen options and Yost needs to utilize guys who don’t tend to give out free passes as often in tight games.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Royals Review community. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors and writers of this site.