Dabblin' With the Cockspur: A Baseball Junkie Goes High 'N Tight

posted by Roger Olivieri, 2/22/2010 11:20:00 PM

What a wacky start to the season…

It was only seven or eight months ago that all Gamecock fans were a nervous wreck that Sam Dyson would sign with the Oakland A’s. A draft eligible Junior, Blake Cooper, wasn’t even mentioned in the same “what-if” category. The 2010 season arrives and guess who is the frontline Friday night starter. You guessed it, Cooper.

The fact is, on a body of evidence, Cooper deserved it. Agree or disagree here is the fabulous truth: When Sam Dyson is your Saturday starter, things are looking really really good.

A program seemingly two rock solid starters away from championship caliber, the Gamecocks have about four this year – hence the top 10 ranking by Baseball America. Let’s examine some statistics from opening weekend, shall we?

The Starters

Blake Cooper – Yes, Cooper gave up two runs over five innings (3.60 ERA), but he also allowed only one base runner per inning and struck out seven. True, the control freak walked two (bad for him), but he also racked up some impressive averages.

At Cooper’s rate during his first start he would post 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings, allow only 5.4 hits per nine and strike out 3.5 batters for every one base on ball. Opponents hit a miserable .188 against him and he threw only 15.6 pitches per inning.

Fact of the matter, Cooper is still getting better with age.

GRADE: A

Sam Dyson – Topping out at 97+ mph (depending on who you listen to, but 97 is conservative), Dyson looked like his old self. Here’s my problem, which old self did he look like? I completely understand taking it easy on a guy in his first start of the season. I also understand taking it especially easy on a guy who has had some monster arm troubles in the past. Here is what I don’t understand though…

After the game, Dyson was asked about pitching pain free. His answer sparks a little something in me. “Pain free? I don’t know of a pitcher who does throw pain-free, but um, for the most part, yeah. I mean, it’s tolerable, whatever pain I am in, but I think every pitcher has to tolerate some little smidgen of pain.”

I have news for you. There are plenty of pitchers who throw pain free. The next day there may be a little pain, but not on the mound and especially not within only 48 pitches.

Did Dyson dominate? Yes he did, but that comment has been bothering me for days. Regardless, in those 48 pitches, Dyson threw 3.2 innings, gave up no hits or runs, walked one and struck out six. He averaged 14.6 K’s per nine innings and averaged less than 14 pitches an inning. If he’s healthy, he’s flat out nasty.

GRADE: B (but only because of that “pain” answer)

Tyler Webb- Welcome to the SEC Mr. Webb! How’s this for a collegiate introduction – a three pitch backwards K. Webb looked awesome in his debut. Sure there was an obvious rattling that caught up to Webb in certain instances, but the imposing figure is a true freshman. His 6:1 K:BB ratio was nasty, the gun hit low nineties on occasion and the young man was simply overpowering at times.

Webb is going to be a good one very soon. We’ll take a few points away for killer instinct, but fully expect it to change with maturity.

GRADE: B+

The Bullpen

I hate to start at the end, but boy oh boy, I need to. The 2010 closer role is all but locked up. If John Taylor can’t shut down the Duquesne Dukes, there’s a problem. Here’s the good news: one of the deepest South Carolina bullpens in years, I promise there is a dominating closer in there somewhere. My opinion, it’s Nolan Belcher, but there is a reason Ray Tanner gets paid to coach and I don’t.

John Taylor – When he entered the ninth inning of a 5-0 game, his job seemed a formality. After all, the opponent had only scored six runs in the previous 26 innings, hold them to less than 70% of that weekend total and the sweep is final.

Hardly.

With the tying run breaking into a home run trot and Jackie Bradley sprinting towards the fence, Carolina Stadium sunk into their seats simultaneously. Bradley eventually caught up to it, but it was enough to make Tanner, Calvi and everyone else in the building wonder if Taylor was their man.

His totals were ugly. One inning pitched, three hits, three earned runs, one hit batsman, one long ball and a .500 opponents batting average.

It’s way too early to predict a season after one inning, but also very hard to feel good at this point.

GRADE: F

Jay Brown – An opponent’s batting average of .429 is never good. Combine this with the fact he threw 1.2 innings, allowed three hits, one run and a walk and the grade should be easy to figure upon.

GRADE: D+

Nolan Belcher – Belch threw two innings, struck out four, walked none and allowed no one to cross the plate. His opponent’s batting average was a measly .143.

I’m telling ya’, the kid has "closer" written all over him (in my humble yet egotistical opinion).

GRADE: A

Steven Neff – Flashy? Nope. Highlight reel stuff? Nope. Middle relief machine? Abso-freaking-lutely. The young man is the poster child for undervalued middle reliever.

He threw 1.2 innings of perfect baseball. He let them put the ball in play, allowed no free passes and allowed no base runners.

GRADE: A

As for the rest of the staff (Mata, Roth, Carter, Revan), there wasn’t enough information to give a complete grade, but none of them disappointed.

I take that back.

Jimmy Revan was hit pretty good in his 1.1 innings pitched, but he also found the time to strike out three of the nine batters he faced.

Collectively, the pitching staff was deep, efficient, and more than just effective. Their progress, youth and depth provoke nothing but future excellence.

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