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Archive for May 7th, 2008

The Reverse Ankiel

Add comment May 7th, 2008

soriano-pitching3.jpg

With Jon Lieber’s heinous rotation performance today (5 earned runs off 4 home runs in 2 innings), Rich Hill learning some lessons in Iowa and Jason Marquis pitching like, well, Jason Marquis, what’s Lou “I’m not stupid” Piniella to do?

Well, mix in the problems Sweet Lou is having with Alfonso Soriano (lead-off hitting and fielding) and trying to get Ronny Cedeno in the starting lineup, and there might be a solution. Albeit (jokingly) far fetched.

It’s something called the Reverse Ankiel: convert Soriano into a starting pitcher. In the same fashion that Tony La Russa changed struggling pitcher Rick Ankiel into a productive hitter.

 Talk about extreme changes.

96 miles an hour!

1 comment May 7th, 2008

Lots to like about last night’s Cubs win, but what I found most encouraging was the velocity on Kerry Wood’s fastball. If he can throw his fastball in the mid-90s consistently, something I worried about considering his injuries, that will make him more effective as he learns how to be a closer.

That fastball will make his new pitch, a “backup slider” devastating.

Carlos Zambrano continues to look like a Cy Young candidate. Last night’s eight shutout innings was just what the team needed given the struggles of the other starters. Big Z has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his eight starts.

Today it’s Jon Lieber’s turn. He’s looked good in long relief. Let’s hope he looks good in the rotation.