Throwing Riggins a bone

Mark Riggins has gotten a lot of criticism around here this season, including some from yours truly. But Buster Olney says Riggins has helped Marmol improve this season, and I'd guess Riggins has something to do with Shark's improvement.

about 1 year ago elgato 22 comments 0 recs |

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Hurray positives.

I don’t know much about Riggins, but it’s good to see he might be having a tangible effect on some of the pitchers.

I think he’s also working on Garza’s style, as we’re seeing more breaking balls from him this year. Younger, AL Garza was more of a fastball pitcher, and I think they’re trying to make him a more complete pitcher who can mix all his stuff in for strikes. Maybe…that’s just a guess.

by SenorGato on May 27, 2011 10:46 AM CDT reply actions

Good to hear.

I’m glad he’s useful.

"I'm not a broadcaster! I'm me!"--Ron Santo

by chilango2 on May 27, 2011 12:01 PM CDT reply actions

Good point, el...

Maybe that explains why Shark has all of a sudden become a fairly decent/useful pitcher.

I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen. ~Bob Lemon, 1981

by Easy Ed on May 27, 2011 12:38 PM CDT reply actions

I'm not sold on Shark yet

He’s been getting good results so far this year, but it’ll be difficult to keep that up if he continues walking nearly a batter per inning (24 BB in 26 1/3 IP).

The Frustrated Fan

by Jody Jody Davis on May 27, 2011 12:44 PM CDT reply actions

yes

flippity floppity floop

by jesus christos on May 27, 2011 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions

To bad for Riggins the team is dead last in ERA so far this year...

…he makes me miss Rothschild.

by troutfishin on May 27, 2011 2:56 PM CDT reply actions

Yes well,

one would expect the numbers to improve as the talent improves.

by SenorGato on May 27, 2011 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions

we do have

3 guys who are tanking those numbers – pretty bad – Garza Z and Demp are doing too bad

by hansman1982 on May 28, 2011 6:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Me, too.

But Dempster had a terrible April, Z’s been erratic and Coleman/Russell/Davis have inflated the ERA, as well. I doubt our ERA would be so bad if Wells or Cashner had stayed healthy.

Interestingly, with Wells starting today, we’ll start to see if my theory is right.

Where have you gone, Kiko Calero. A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

by elgato on May 28, 2011 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions

since the towel drill went to the Yankees

does Riggins have a washcloth drill by chance?

Seriously, of course I hope he does well and helps the team improve, and the bad pitching numbers we are seeing are more a result of injuries and forcing pitchers into a role they should not be in

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by Cubbie-Tim on May 27, 2011 3:24 PM CDT reply actions

I know the towel drill is a running joke around here

…and I get it and appreciate it.

BUT it is a very nice drill for rehab, warming up, and getting your arm ready for the season with proper mechanics. Just food for thought.

In other news, I just imagined Mark Prior getting angry at his towel and yelling at it: “YOU’RE A TOWEL!!!”

"We're young and dumb and ready to go throw strikes." James Russell

by PacificCub on May 27, 2011 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions

To which the towel replies:

“No, YOU’RE a towel!”

by SenorGato on May 28, 2011 2:01 AM CDT up reply actions

They're all gonna laugh at you

by hansman1982 on May 28, 2011 6:42 AM CDT up reply actions

BTW, it was the Tom House towel drill...

…not the Larry Rothschild towel drill. Prior used the towel drill as he was taught by Tom House, FWIW. I still miss Larry :(

by troutfishin on May 28, 2011 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Its just pretty impossible to say what effect he's actually had on the team

for the numerous reasons already stated.

I’m not sure Marmol’s all that much better than in the past, and Shark could just be finally being used in the right spots and the right way. He’s still far from dominant.

Maybe he is helping, but I’d say its pretty hard to say definitely one way or the other

I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers

by Nunyabidness on May 28, 2011 8:56 AM CDT reply actions