A tragic number

For those of you who felt that our pitchers haven't seemed to shut down the opposition by getting their first batter out, you were right. As a team, our pitchers have allowed the first hitter they faced to get on base over 40% of the time. And the worst part is that the number for relievers is even worse. The worst offender is Patton who has 15 appearance and has allowed his first batter to reach base 60% of the time. However some of our key relief staff have also had terrible performances. Cotts, our one time only loogy 53%, Heilman 53%, Guzman 39%, Marshall 40%, Marmol 43% and Ascanio 39%. Among our starters the worst are Zambrano 41% and Lilly 36%. That number ranks worst in the league where the average is 32%.

But here is the real problem. As a team our pitchers have allowed the opposition a .324 OBP. So over a game's performance we're average. But we're constantly in a hole by allowing that first batter to reach base and often score. The fact that Lou loves to bring in numerous relievers rather than keeping them on the mound after they've settled in means he's working against the averages. The question is why do our pitchers have such a big problem taking the mound. Aren't they warmed up sufficiently? Is the bullpen coach doing his job? Is it just a lazy mental approach to entering the game? I don't have the answer but it is a problem that haunts this bullpen and must be addressed.