It makes you sick knowing the only answer to him pitching well has got to be the Cardinals pitching doesn't it? If only the Reds could find a pitching coach (Mario Soto) that can see flaws and straighten a pitcher out. Well, at least the Twins are shrugging their shoulders too.
Actually, Lohse didn't pitch all that badly last year with the Phils, who puzzled me at the time they took him off our hands. I kept thinking the guy was a putz.
I had always wondered what Lohse could do with some defense behind him. I have the same question with some of the pitchers on the staff today. You know, a third baseman who could throw the ball to first, a left and right fielder that could actually get to balls, a catcher, and of couse the usual mental mistakes that go on most games......sigh.
I picked him up on my fantasy team at the beginning of the season. I thought he may have a chance to be pretty good this year. I was banking on several different things working in his favor. I had heard he was really working out hard this off-season to get in shape and be ready when he got a offer from a MLB team. I do think Duncan has been a help to him. Duncan helps a lot of pitches (remember Weaver in the WS, I don't think he has won a game since then). A better pitchers park and better defense in St. Louis. I think the combination of things has made the difference in Loshe.
I thought he looked good with the Reds a few years ago and i hated to see him go. Now he is 10-2 with the Cardinals. We could use a pitcher with that record beside Volquez right now.