Scott Kazmir's Durham Start Goes Well

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 22, 2009 10:25 PM EDT

6 innings, struck out five, walked nobody, allowed no homers. Per the Durham telecast, Kazmir's fastball sit in the 92-93 range and he did throw both his off-speed and breaking pitches. The velocity note is encouraging, but there's a chance the gun was/is juiced. The most impressive thing from this start is Kazmir's efficiency and control.

Don't get too excited just yet, but this is a lot better Kazmir than we saw a few weeks ago.

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Very encouraging if he was sitting 91-92

by td32 on Jun 22, 2009 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

Good start Kaz

Now do it again

by Longorious on Jun 22, 2009 11:02 PM EDT reply actions

IIRC Kaz sat 92-94 most of the time in 2007.

Velocity/Control are both encouraging.

by twenty5psi on Jun 22, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions

If 2007 Kaz reappears, this team will be in great shape...

by td32 on Jun 22, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions

im dreaming of a post all star rotation of Shields,Garza,Kaz,Price and Davis

by RaysOfHope on Jun 22, 2009 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

I think it's unlikely that Davis arrives that quickly.

Maybe I’m just an old fashioned BJ suck-off-er. (Good call Sandy)

by Lurch's Lobbyists on Jun 22, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

ya im just not that much into Niemann and Sonny

by RaysOfHope on Jun 22, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

If Niemann is dealt, it'll be between Sonny and Davis probably

by td32 on Jun 22, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

ill go with Davis

Sonny is pitching like he did in 2007 before he won those last 4 or 5 starts

by RaysOfHope on Jun 22, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Sonny had a 4.26 FIP in 2007.

If he were pitching like that right now, nobody would have an issue with him.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 23, 2009 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions

but he isn't and i'm sure the concern is

he doesn’t have the tools to get back there

by Raymondo on Jun 23, 2009 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Thats exactly right

We just have to throw the guys that give us the best chance of winning. I’m just hoping Friedman and Maddon pick the 5 that will have the best rest of the year.

Personally I think Kazmir has a better shot of turning it around than Andy. It just seems that his problems were a bit more fixable and that they have fixed them. But thats why we have pitching coaches and managers.

Either way I don’t care if you name is Hitler as long as you post around a 4 FIP the rest of the year.

by matthan on Jun 23, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Hickey thinks otherwise.

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 23, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

This is in-line with what was reported by the Times in his A rehab start.

So while it’s still possible, it’s more likely that his velo is a true 92-93MPH.

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Jun 22, 2009 11:49 PM EDT reply actions

Juiced?

What is the purpose of “juicing” the gun in Durham (up or down — and is that possible)? Scouting? I do not understand…or maybe you are implying that the gun is simply malfunctioning?

by BamaRama on Jun 23, 2009 12:26 AM EDT reply actions

I think some guns just give different readings

And the suggestion was that the gun in durham reads faster.

I could be wrong though

by staplemaniac on Jun 23, 2009 2:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Some guns have faster readings then others...

by td32 on Jun 23, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

thee are two types, a jugs and a radar, one

clocks velocity as the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand, which is faster than the other which is it’s speed as the ball crosses the plate

by Raymondo on Jun 23, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

That's not right, or if it is they're certainly not using any 'across the plate' readings.

Your typical Fastball will lose 7MPH from the time it leaves the pitchers hand to the time it crosses the plate. Garza would be throwing 87MPH and we’d all cry.

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Jun 23, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

but i believe this is why there is a vast difference in readings

they were talking about it on YES the other day

by Raymondo on Jun 23, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

OIC

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Jun 23, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

This is partially correct....

There is a 3-5mph difference usually between Jugs and radar. But different Jugs guns get different readings. There are some that will show a guy throwing 1-3mph harder then they really are.

by td32 on Jun 23, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Why does everyone keep talking about Davis?

I think that after how carefully Price was handled, we should expect nothing differently in regard to Davis. I dont see him coming up before September and I think that is probably the right move. If we have old Kaz back, or anything close to old Kaz, are rotation is going to be very nasty. Shields, Garza, old Kaz, improving Price, and Neimann. Yummy.

by BJ the Bossman on Jun 23, 2009 1:17 AM EDT reply actions

*different

by BJ the Bossman on Jun 23, 2009 1:17 AM EDT up reply actions

just my 2 cents but

I would imagine if the situation presented itself that a pitcher was needed to be called up from AAA to start (not counting if sonny goes down) that Carlos Hernandez would get the nod before Davis. I would be suprised to see Davis at all until September, although I could see them trying something like with what they did with Price last year (September call-up, yet still able to get on the Post-season roster). I’m not exactly sure how that works and we have to get to the playoffs first, but if we are going to eat Percival’s salary and keep him on the DL could moving him to the 60 day at some point make that happen?

by Dbullsfan on Jun 23, 2009 2:50 AM EDT up reply actions

What's the next move?

What are the Rays planning to do next with Kaz? How many more rehab starts are they thinking about?

by ReyL on Jun 23, 2009 8:09 AM EDT reply actions

pesonally, if everything in the above scouting report is correct

I would say bring him back now. He had a good start for port charlotte, and a great start for durham. I think it’s time to bring him back. But that opinion is solely based on the numbers, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to give him another start in durham if it will help him stay fixed for the rest of the season.

by behn on Jun 23, 2009 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Talk me off the ledge...

So they bring Kaz back now or after one more start in Durham…who do they pull? I keep getting this feeling that they are going to take Price out of the rotation because Sonny “give us innings” every time out. They were so concerned with Kaz and Price being in the rotation and wearing out the bullpen earlier, Kaz is still going to be a 6 inning pitcher most nights…am I worrying for nothing?

by spidurfan on Jun 23, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd say yes.

What they should do if they’re worried about their innings is move Sonny to the BP. Have him caddy for Kaz. Then have one of the other guys lined up to caddy for Price. Done and done.

by rglass44 on Jun 23, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

How many pitches did he throw?

by rays1234 on Jun 23, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

Lining up starts:

OK, so Kaz started last night. Sonny starts Thursday. Sonny lines up to pitch again against the Jays the following Tuesday. We don’t have an off-day between his starts, so it’d be hard to skip him going forward. I guess they could have Kaz throw a simulated game on a lower pitch count or something.

by rglass44 on Jun 23, 2009 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

Hickster

This seemingly rapid transformation in Kaz since working with Rick Peterson does have me a little concerned about Hickey. If Kaz is able to make the leap back into effectiveness, which judging solely on Strike throwing and MPH he is on the way, this will be the second post-Hickey reclamation project that took a minimal amount of time and work (not mentioning the other). I never would have guessed Kaz could regain some of the lost velocity that easily.

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Jun 23, 2009 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

Unless it was the rest.

by rglass44 on Jun 23, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

He had all offseason to rest

He started the year like crap so I doubt it was the rest. It was either the injury healing, which if that is what you mean by rest then I apologize, or it was his mechanics. Typically when people say rest I take it in the Joe Maddon sense.

by matthan on Jun 23, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions

That is what I meant.

by rglass44 on Jun 23, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

To be fair it could just be the "injury"....

Although I’m doubtful. My opinion is that Hickey isn’t a great pitching coach in terms of teaching and mechanics. I think he is more of the “shrink” type pitching coach that is concerned more about the state of minds of our arms.

by matthan on Jun 23, 2009 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't see any rapid transformation

I see a former AL All-Star pitching good against minor leaguers.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jun 23, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm referring to the difference in velocity which is not impacted by the opposing hitter

and the strike % which to a a small degree is.

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Jun 23, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I get your point

But there were times this year where he’d run it up there and get hit or throw it for a ball. Then he’d cool the velocity off to get strikes. I’m encouraged by these minor league starts, but I’m not doing backflips yet.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jun 23, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions