Am I the only one who thinks that by mid-season Adam Loewen will be one of our better pitchers? I am not worried about this guy. Once he starts keeping the ball down in the zone consistently, he will be great.
I've been on the Loewen bandwagon since his performance in the World Baseball Classic a couple years ago. He's taking some time to get back to where he was before the injury, but he exhibited control over his curve ball, change-up and cutter. He seems to come out of his delivery a little when he throws his fastball and in turn, the ball is up and he loses velocity as well. This last start shows he is starting to come back around and I think with a guy like Loewen, the walks will be the last thing to improve. It's just too bad we don't have him going for us against the Yankees because Loewen dominates them. I remember the first time he faced them, he allowed only one hit through five or six innings and that hit was a single in the second inning I think.
Loewen's career numbers against the Yankees are his best vs. any team. He is 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA with 25K in 29 innings and a measly .219 BAA. The Yankees are the only team that Loewen has pitched at least 20 innings against as well. This is going to come in handy when we are competing, we have our very own Yankee killer.
Yeah, I think he'll be just fine. One of the things that I like about him is that he is very focused when he is on the mound. That is something that cant be taught. Nothing seems to rattle him. And we all have to remember, he is pitching 10 months after major surgery. I dont know much about the surgery, but I'm sure not too many pitchers come back this quick.
I first liked him in the WBC. When he shut down America 8-0, I though he was going to be a very good pitcher. I think he will be our ace by mid-season.
I hear ya, but I'm thinking it may be better served to get him ironed out at Norfolk. I say that while not knowing who is ready to come up, Liz?? I was at the game last night and he was all over the map, and at times looked clueless. Credit to him for poise, and getting through 6 (i think), but he was on the ropes early and often. Hopefully, he's able to build some consistency within the strikezone because if he can't, the pen will be gassed by June and that's when things will turn ugly...
BTW- heck of comeback tonight, yanking a W from hometown boy Gavin Floydd.
It's just too bad we don't have him going for us against the Yankees
My take on it sess is that one of loewens best intangibles is that better competition brings the best out of him not always but it's shown when he plays against the yankees and that is something i love about him and that's something that will make him a very good starter in this league for years to come.
kings, I think you're right, but...I haven't seen him pitch very well even once since the injury. That worries me. His last start was OK, after the first. He's closer than he was a month ago.
As for AA, maybe not a horrible idea except that whoever we bring up would probably go even fewer innings on a shorter leash and our bullpen can't afford that. I also think Olson is the guy closest to ready in the minors, because Liz and Penn have looked ugly so far this year. The numbers are't always the best indicator of who's ready, though.
I think he will be better mid-season. I dont think he will be the pitcher we drafted him to be until next season though. But I guess that could be said about most of the young guys on the team especially the pitchers
