Regarding Scott Dohmann

by R.J. Anderson on Apr 27, 2008 9:16 PM EDT

The spotlight has been turned onto Dohmann recently with his two victories this past weekend, but they weren't of the typical kind. Friday night he induced a double play in the top of the 11th and Saturday night Dohmann struck out Manny Ramirez on a high fastball to keep the deficit at 1-0 Red Sox. The Rays would of course go on to win both games, but the questions are; how good has Dohmann been and can he sustain it?

In 11.1 innings Dohmann has allowed 12 hits, 2 walks, 3 runs, and struck out 8. His BABIP is .334, but with a line drive percentage of 16.7 Dohmann is seemingly had some tough luck with the hits given up, approximately 2 added hits per 50 line drives. The key to Dohmann's success can be tied directly to his groundball percentage of 61.1, quite a jump over his 38% career norm to go with a sense of increased control.

As that goes Dohmann's season will go, nothing sticks out suspiciously fluky about it. Pitching coach Jim Hickey has seemingly preached pitching down in the strike zone to his staff, seeing substantially increased groundball rates for Dohmann, Andrew Sonnanstine, Jason Hammel, J.P. Howell, Gary Glover, and Dan Wheeler. With an improved infield defense the results have been nothing short of sparkling.

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Dohmann

I was totally unimpressed when the Rays signed Dohmann. It seemed to me like a rerun of Harville, a pitcher with great stuff but no idea what to do with it, no record of success and little promise. Prior to this year, his career BB/9 rate was over 5, and although he had good control in Durham last year, once in TB it remained very near 5 still, while his K rate remained good but slightly lower than before.

It is very early, but if the Rays fixed him, wow! I think he struck out Manny looking on a slider. Whatever it was, it was a beauty. Even this year I was rooting for Balfour to beat him out. I will be thrilled to be totally wrong as it appears to be the case so far. And we still have Balfour in Durham.

by bobr on Apr 27, 2008 9:39 PM EDT reply actions

Good Peripherals

The numbers support his hot start. Actually they support him with an even lower ERA. Of course peripherals over 12 innings should be looked at cautiously.

by RayFanNY on Apr 27, 2008 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly

Too small of a sample size from which to prognosticate, but his course is entirely sound if he continues to pitch like he has.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Apr 28, 2008 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Soooo

How will the pitching staff change when Kaz comes back this weekend? Who is out of the rotation? Do they move to the bullpen? and if they do, who is knocked out of the best bullpen in baseball??

What an amazing problem to have…It’s great to be a Tampa Bay Ray!!

by usfraysfan on Apr 28, 2008 1:34 AM EDT reply actions