Speaking of Kazmir, he will not start Saturday as originally planned. The Rays already had decided...

Speaking of Kazmir, he will not start Saturday as originally planned. The Rays already had decided to bump him back a day or two if he was needed in the All-Star Game, so it sounds like the plan is to see how he feels tomorrow before deciding whether to start him Sunday or Monday. Matt Garza will move up and pitch Saturday night against the Blue Jays.

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over 3 years ago P Brady 11 comments 0 recs |

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For the best

He probably needs some extra rest. At worst, it won’t hurt him.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jul 17, 2008 8:02 PM EDT reply actions

not that big of a deal at least he doesnt have to be DL'd

kaz has been really stuggling lately and i hope this extra rest will be the cure.

by RaysOfHope on Jul 18, 2008 2:12 AM EDT reply actions

Kaz is struggling because his slider has turned into trash

We may not see the the amazing Kaz we saw in the first month of the season again until next year when he can regain the feel for that pitch without consequence. :(

by kericr on Jul 18, 2008 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

It makes me wonder if they are trying to ease the strain on his elbow

It is a completely different pitch than the one that falls off the table. I have seen flashes of the good slider this year, but he hasn’t put anything consistent together, and without it guys can foul off the FB all day.

Fingers Crossed, Fingers Crossed

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 18, 2008 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

With four days off, they can pretty much set the rotation as they want to right now

Shields, Garza, Sonnanstine, Jackson, then Kazmir gets his first start and the rotation is where it needs to be.

Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible; but if a thing is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.

by Orlando Rays on Jul 18, 2008 6:02 AM EDT reply actions

another plus

Both Halladay and Kaz are on my fantasy team…now they don’t matchup ;-)

by TallMatt on Jul 18, 2008 8:40 AM EDT reply actions

I will be attending Sunday's game so I hope

he pitches then.

by Gator80 on Jul 18, 2008 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

I'm going to propose something unpopular...

I’m a Scott Kazmir fan. I wish he were on the Sox, but I digress.

Scott, unfortunately, seems to be a bit fragile. He can’t pitch on short rest and seems to have trouble pitching past the 6th inning in most starts. He’s great when he’s on his game, but it seems he struggles the further the game goes.

My proposal: Kazmir for closer.

Yeah, yeah…I know. Crazy.

Maybe not.

I went through Kazmir’s games pitched (so far) in 2008. This following is his stat line for the 1st inning of each game.
IP: 14
H: 5
R: 2
ER: 2
BB: 3
K: 17
ERA: 1.29
WHIP: 0.57

That’s a closer! Especially when you consider those AB’s were taken by the 1-2-3 hitters, presumably among the best hitters on the team. A closer may just as likely face the 7-8-9 hitters.

Of course, it hasn’t been proven that Kazmir could pitch an inning on consectutive days.

Comments?

The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.

by pocket8pin on Jul 18, 2008 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

Kazmir has tremendous value as a starter.

Even if he continues to “struggle” (emphasis on those quotation marks), he’ll have more value as a 5-6 inning starter than as a closer.

And we are talking about a guy who pitched 206 innings over 34 starts just last year…

by Peter Bendix on Jul 18, 2008 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

...and started the season on the DL

...and hasn’t been particularly effective his last few starts. He looks fatigued.

I’d bet he has at least one more DL trip this season.

The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.

by pocket8pin on Jul 18, 2008 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

That may be true.

But I don’t think putting him in the bullpen will solve the problem. Kazmir is very fragile, I agree, but he has topped 180 innings in two of his first three big league seasons. That’s impressive.

I should also note that he has faced both Boston and the Yankees in two of his last three starts. That’s not easy for any pitcher.

by Peter Bendix on Jul 18, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions