Jeff Niemann...Jeff Niemann

by R.J. Anderson on May 7, 2009 8:59 PM EDT

78 pitches.

56 fastballs (72%)

7 sliders

14 curves

1 change

Yeah, he got squeezed a bit but that's a product of being extremely wild half the time. Also, Niemann never misses down. I found that interesting, if not particularly useful.

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Shouldn't have came out

Game isn’t over, win or lose, I don’t think he should have came out. He could have worked through that and at least gotten into the 5th. They really don’t trust him to get to 90 pitches do they?

Put Tampa Bay back on our road uniforms!!

by joedobr on May 7, 2009 9:43 PM EDT reply actions

As a fan rooting for the team, I agree with what you're saying.

As a fan who was trying to enjoy watching it however, they couldn’t have yanked him fast enough. He was boring the shit out of me and I was seriously considering flipping to something else.

"Where we all wait in earnest with pudding in hand for the Upton comet to sail through the roofed skies, so that we may meet Him."

by kericr on May 7, 2009 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

i was suprised he came out so soon but

he had a lot of walks and little control

by Underdogs on May 7, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

i like to also say

i am happy he did ok and Rays won the game

by Underdogs on May 7, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions

that strikezone plot is wrong. there should be a green dot where jeter's head was.

by walkoffwalk on May 7, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

almost every time niemann threw in the lower half of the box, it was called a ball.

by walkoffwalk on May 7, 2009 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

That boredom was a litmus test for a starter to be removed? Yes, he did ok, but I swear he is under a tighter leash than any other starter. It was a 4-0 game at that point, and if the game becomes 4-4, let it be on him. Cormier came in and it went 4-3, so I don’t have a problem with hindsight here. Let him have some wiggle room to work himself out.

Put Tampa Bay back on our road uniforms!!

by joedobr on May 8, 2009 7:40 AM EDT reply actions

I was for the removal

He had no control. With a 4 run lead, the one thing you don’t need to be doing is handing out free passes. He was getting in jams every inning. Pitches weren’t anywhere near the plate. Given his track record of wearing down, it was the appropriate call.

by FreeZorilla on May 8, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Notice the downward trend?

That looks like a tired pitcher to me. Niemann is destine for the bullpen at this point. Quick hook or not his velocity takes a drop after 70 pitches and he almost hits a wall at 90 pitches.

www.draysbay.com

by Tommy Rancel on May 8, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

You have no problem with hindsight

But apparently you do have one with foresight.

Niemann was going to give up some runs last night, and seeing as how he’s walk and flyball prone, it’s probably best that Maddon pulled him when he did.

by R.J. Anderson on May 8, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions