Maybe it's time for Alexei Ramirez to get Gavin Floyd fitted for a jacket, because it looks like he's earned a membership into the Slow Starters Club.
Floyd took a beating at the hands of the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night, and there wasn't anything fluky about it. When he's missing with both his above-average pitches and needs his fastball to carry the day, it probably isn't going to end well.
The good news is that he's been down this road before.In fact, it's the only road he's ever known.Since he became a full-time starter, Floyd's stuff has been lacking early in the season.
Here's how Floyd has fared through his first six starts over the last three years:
The only difference is the varying degrees of fortune.Virtually no hits fell for Floyd during the entire first half of that charmed 2008 season.Over the last two years, opponents haven't let him off the hook as much (although the Royals certainly tried on Tuesday).
In his sixth start last season (364 days ago), Floyd faced the Royals and gave up six runs on six hits and two walks over five innings.He pitched like garbage for two more starts, with his ERA inflating all the way to 7.71 before he went on his tear that lasted until mid-September.
Floyd's velocity is fine, his movement is fine, and he kept the Rangers in check his last time out.He's just not putting his breaking pitches in the right spot, and he's paying the price more so than in previous seasons.
Of course, it's also the second straight start that Mark Teahen has committed an error behind Floyd.Lord, he looks uncomfortable out there.
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Christian Marrero Reading Room:
*The Cheat deduces the restrictions placed upon Sergio Santos.
*J.J.'s informal poll says Ozzie Guillen shouldn't go anywhere.
*Matt Thornton had to answer questions about his post-2011 career, for some reason.
*If you thought Jake Peavy would be content with his seven shutout innings, then Jake Peavy is probably pretty unhappy with you.
*Ernie Harwell, the legendary Tigers broadcaster, succumbed to cancer at the age of 92. If there's one thing everybody involved in baseball can agree on, it's that he was the perfect gentleman. Here's the video tribute the Tigers made for Harwell on the night he bid farewell to fans on Sept. 17, 2009.
*Ed Farmer shared some thoughts on Harwell's passing.
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Minor league roundup:
- Toledo 8, Charlotte 3
- Dayan Viciedo went 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Jordan Danks and Tyler Flowers each struck out three times over four at-bats; Flowers singled.
- Carlos Torres threw five shutout innings in the continuation of a suspended game, but ran into trouble in the sixth. 5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K.
- Lucas Harrell allowed a two-run homer over two innings. He walked two and struck out one.
- Toledo 3, Charlotte 1 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Jordan Danks went 1-for-3, with no K's.
- Donny Lucy went 2-for-3 in his return to Triple-A.
- C.J. Retherford and Viciedo each went 0-for-3.
- Frederick 7, Winston-Salem 6
- Back to struggling for Stephen Sauer: 3 2/3 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 K.
- Santos Rodriguez threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two.
- Brandon Short doubled and homered; Eduardo Escobar had three hits.
- Jon Gilmore went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
- Kannapolis 8, Lexington 1
- Kyle Colligan went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, striking out once.
- Nick Ciolli and Miguel Gonzalez each went 1-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Trayce Thompson was hitless in five at-bats, striking out twice. He did drive in a run.
- Matthew Hopps survived three walks and two hits over 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He struck out three and the other four outs were on the ground.
- Birmingham OFF
News: Clevelan Santeliz went on the 7-day DL, and the White Sox acquired outfielder Buck Coats for cash considerations.
