Morning links: About Morgan in the gap

Glad to see Rene Gayo is chatting with the Sano kid. Rene seems to carry a lot of weight in the DR. For those that missed this on the last thread, here are my thoughts on Snell:

Unfortunately, Ian Snell seems to be the most inconsistant pitcher on the starting staff. As noted in today's game story, Ian seems to bear down when facing a tough hitter, then relax and let a Mario Mendoza type rack him. Once again, I believe that it is not his stuff that is lacking, it's his concentration. He seems to drift off when facing a middle of the road player. Snell just needs to focus more and treat each batter like he's facing an elite hitter. Maybe a skip in the rotation and putting him in the #4 or #5 spot would force him to get his head together.....

Two topics of discussion in my view.

First is the main theme of the entry...positioning of Nyjer Morgan. Sounds like JR is throwing his pitchers under the bus a little...and pretty much blaming the pitchers for anything hit down the left field line that falls in...because the pitchers didn't pitch the way they were supposed to. Could someone please remind our manager that this is the same pitching staff that dealt out the 2nd most walks in the majors last year...and is in the middle of the pack this year. Accuracy and control ARE NOT this staff's strong points.

I also would buy his reasoning a little more if Monday night was the only time it was happening...but it is occurring several times a week.

Second point is "Sybil" Snell. There's always an excuse from Ian. Tonight...it was "bad pitches, walks and pitch selection". And...of course...the home plate umpire. Someone needs to remind Ian that HE is the one throwing the pitches...therefore pitch selection is HIS problem, not the catcher's. If he doesn't like the pitch his catcher calls, he shakes off the sign until he gets one he wants. On the other hand, Diaz gave no comment...when he could have thrown Ian under the bus. I believe that the no comment from Diaz means Ian didn't follow the plan that Kerrigan laid out. Ian doesn't get to pick his catcher every game...he hasn't earned that right with his performance.

Maybe Ian needs a trip to the bullpen...where he only has to concentrate for 3 or 4 batters a night...and doesn't have to think too much??

I think Snell lacks the pitching sense to match his physical talent.  He's got tantalizing stuff but he needs to learn how to pitch.  I think the coaching staff ought to quit handling him with kid gloves and start calling his games from the bench.

Diaz had nothing to say in the game story.  I think it was Diaz catching Snell a week or so ago when Snell would not throw what Diaz was calling for and it looked to me like the pitcher was being petulant or stubborn and it had the effect of showing up the young catcher.

I say stick Ian in the bullpen next round and stick Gorzo in the rotation.  The staff was tough on Gorzo and Gorzo seems to have gotten the message.  I think its time the coaches sent the same message to Ian.

...must take 2 out of 3 from Cubs...

Dr. Wabbit.

@Thunder & Wabbit: I think we are all in agreement that Snell needs to get his head together and JUST pitch. Like the little girl with the curl, when Ian is good, he's very very good, but when he's bad, he's awful. He has been awful much more than he's been good lately. I agree - back of the rotation, or to the pen (where we may need a guy soon anyway).....

Out for the afternoon (er night)! Getting ready to really come down here...Rainy Season has arrived!

The last two players I figured were no long for this team, were Moss, who was doing diddly, culminating in his disasterous Mets series; and Karsty, who had been pitching his way into the minor leagues. Well, no sooner did I start showing my doubts up here on this forum -POW! They turned it around. So it is with this recent history of mine in mind, that I hereby declare that IAN SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE ROTATION. (There. That oughta do it. He'll pitch a complete game shut out in under 100 pitches, next time. Just watch.)

And Thunder, before you start saying "I told you so", let me just say that I'm noticing Nyjmo had an O-fer again tonight. Let's just watch, though. No panicking allowed.

And to conclude my trilogy of splash posts, a big thank you to DK for addressing in detail the "no left fielder" strategy. I'm still not too impressed by it, and it's immediate track record would seem to back up this layman's opinion. But as I AM just a layman, and JR is the one who gets paid to concoct these schemes, I'll just sit back and watch the boys play.

I didn't read the game thread tonight so just in case it hasn't been posted yet....... guess who Baltimore is calling up to the bigs on Friday..... just take one guess mlb.mlb.com/.../article.jsp

Ian needs removed from the rotation, plain and simple. Gotta wonder if the team will do it though because of the money he's making but it's the right thing to do. Yes, he's had some bad luck with no run support in some of his games this season but his tendency to be a head case is manifesting on an increasing basis. Time to nip it in the bud and give someone else a chance until Ian can get his head cleared and be more consistent. The team certainly had no problem doing it with Gorzo.

For what it's worth, I'm satisfied with JR's Nyjmo explaination. I defended the outfield alignment last night and still think in the long run it will pay more dividends that be costly.

Duke against The Big Z this afternoon. Sure would be nice to take this series and have a winning road trip.

JL...wasn't going to beat on Nyjer tonight...I do that enough as it is.;)  I guess it is somewhat good to hear that the positioning issue is out of Nyjer's control. I do think that the thought behind the positioning may have SOME validity at PNC Park...but it has NO validity at Wrigley. One size does NOT fit all.

What's going to happen when they get to Coors Field?? Someone's gonna need a motorcycle.

Can someone please tell me why the reluctance to pitch inside?

Is it fear of retaliation? Fear of being beaten up? What?

I remember my little league coach, Mr Bosco, visiting the mound and telling me to throw inside at - yes, at - Lumpy Podszinski, who had hit a homer off me in the 1st, and was now crowding the plate.

"Don't worry", he said, "if he rushes the mound I'll protect you."

I was 10 years old and knew to pitch inside.

When Ian pitches, put the biggest, meanest, African-American player (no bigotry implied) on the team on the Pirates dugout side of the infield. If anybody charges the mound, Ian runs to our man, who then beats up the batter.

Problem solved.

Now start pitching inside, will ya'?

Fellow bloggers -

Nothing derogatory intended in my African- American mention above.

The tough-guy player mentioned above need not be African-American.

it's just that, growing up, they held all the boxing titles.

Sincere apologies in advance to anyone offended.

Good morning inmates near and far.  Well I guess the game ended shortly after I went to bed.  DK, thanks for asking JR about Morgan.  Thunder is right, last night wasn't the first game where this problem was evident.  And I agree with everyone about Snell.  This goes back to my point about how many pitchers who played in the WBC are struggling. Snell is, so is Roy O on the Astros, and I'm sure there are others.  Let's get a win today and end the road trip with a winning record. Go Bucs.

Though they say "it's better to say nothing and have people *think* you are stupid, then to open your mouth and remove all doubt", I'm going to hazard a guess anyhow, as to why Ian can't bring himself to pitch inside. I'm guessing that he's afraid that major league hitters are going to turn on his inside stuff. Thus he attempts to nibble at the outside corners, and instead dies a death of a thousand cuts. Falls behind in the counts, gives up walks, and eventually the big hits with runners on base.

                           HEAR YE HEAR YE

        PIRATA 13 Engagement celebration gathering

                                    May 31

                               BELLA NOTTE

                               1914 Penn Ave.

                               412-281-4488

this is a pirate gathering at which time we will celelbrate 13's engagement, open invittation to all if some thought this was an invitation only party.

                             HEAR YE HEAR YE

       PIRATA 13 Engagement celebration gathering

                                   May 31

                              BELLA NOTTE

                              1914 Penn Ave.

                              412-281-4488

                       RSVP  tjfran@comcast.net

                         DUKE HAS HIS JUKE

www.youtube.com/watch

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<  PROSPECT WATCH  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Today’s Topic:  MIDDLE INFIELDERs (stats thru 5/26/09)

[it’s Wednesday….the MIDDLE of the week]

Brian Bixler – SS – Indy (2nd Round, 2004 Draft)

.232, 0 HR, 11RBIs  **  28 Games, 99 AB’s,  24R, 23H,  34K, 16BB, 4 SB  ** 3 Errors

Luis Cruz – Inf. – Indy (minor league free agent)

.239, 2 HR, 11RBIs  **  30 Games, 109 AB’s, 16R, 26H,  15K, 3 BB, 3 SB  **  4 Errors

Shelby Ford – 2B – Indy (3rd Round, 2006 Draft)

.186, 1 HR, 14RBIs  **  32 Games, 118 AB’s, 10R  22H, 26K,  2 BB, 3 SB  **  5 Errors

Brian Friday – SS – Altoona (3rd Round, 2007 Draft)

.342, 3HR,  8RBIs ** 22 Games, 79 AB’s, 16R, 27H, 14K, 10BB, 3BB, ** 6 Errors

Jim Negrych – 2B – Altoona (6th Round, 2006 Draft)

.302, 0HR, 10 RBIs ** 38 Games, 116 AB’s, 16R, 35H, 9K, 20BB, 1 SB  **  8 Errors

Jordy Mercer – SS – Lynchburg (3rd Round, 2008 Draft)

.251, 3 HR, 26 RBIs  ** 42  Games, 167 AB’s, 25R, 42H,  26K, 14BB, 5 SB  **  9 Errors

Jose de Los Santos – 2B – Lynchburg (signed as a non drafted free agent in 2004)

.259, 0 HR, 10 RBIs  ** 27 Games,  112AB’s, 30R, 29H, 23K, 11BB, 19 SB ** 3 Errors

Chase D’Arnaud – SS – West Virginia (4th Round, 2008 Draft)

.309, 2 HR, 23 RBIs  **  40 Games, 136 AB’s, 18R, 42H,  20K, 16BB, 6 SB  **  4 Errors

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Somebody needs to get Snell a pair of gnarly frames and cut some zig-zags in the back of his mohawk, Rick Vaughn style.  Maybe if he gets his marbles back, he can start winning some games like he did two years ago.  I liked that he picked up his pace tonight, but until he gets his fastball in on hitters to set up his sinker and slider as strikeout pitches, he'll keep getting raked.  Hopefully, he'll get it together before the Pirates do something dumb like bring up Vasquez.

Mad Capps Man that boy has some big time head problems.

I think it was G-Man who first feared that Monday's offensive outburst might be followed by another power outage. And sure enough...

As they always say about Zambrano, we need to knock him out and do it early. Bring the lumber today, gentleman. Show Duke some support. No two-hit performances, PLEASE!

I'm out.

Daryle wrote:  I wouldnt mind seeing SNELL pitch somewhere else, Enough is Enough and he doesnt seem to be a KERRIGAN guy, meaning he doesnt get it and he never will in a Pirate uniform..I remember the times when he would YELL AND SCREAM AND COLBURN when he would visit the mound...Real tuff guy huh???Pitchers get hits off of him at a alarming rate..Lack of concentration and I frankly have seen enough

me too.

Morning Links Part 2

Clubs deliver star power for Draft reps

mlb.mlb.com/.../article.jsp

Russell: Nothing wrong with starter Maholm

www.pittsburghlive.com/.../s_626892.html

Bat situation is dangerously broken, but can baseball fix it?

www.star-telegram.com/.../1396903.html

Here is what Snell is quoted as saying after the game:

"I am trying, I think, too hard to win games instead of just letting myself just go out there and pitch," Snell said. "I think I'm thinking a little bit too much in every at-bat with every hitter to try and trick them with this instead of throwing what I believe in. I think I mess up when I do that."

Don't we hear this same thing after just about every one of his starts?

He won't throw inside, he doesn't seem to trust his fastball, and he gets easily distracted / rattled.  Bob Walk & Greg Brown seemed to really get on him last night. And all of their observations were correct and justified.

I believe DK used the correct term to describe this outing: DUD.

And we were wondering if Gorzo should take Karsten's spot in the rotation.

THE OFFICIALLY UNOFFICIAL PBC BLOGS AND MLB LINKS

Bucs Dugout-Cubs 6 Pirates 1

www.bucsdugout.com/.../cubs-6-pirates-1-cubs-snap-losing

Sandlot Swashbucklers--Braves Walk-off Against Indians; Still No .500

mvn.com/sandlotswashbucklers

Hyzdu Headquarters-Consistency

hyzduhq.blogspot.com/.../consistency.html

The Green Weenie--A Short Night in Chicago

oldbucs.blogspot.com/.../buc-bits.html

Moskie Madness--Rainy Pennsylvania

piratesprospect.mlblogs.com/.../rainy_pennsylvania.html

PBC Home Page--Snell's struggles continue in rainy loss

pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/.../article.jsp

PBC Home Page--Russell faces uncertain closer situation

pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/.../article.jsp

PBC Home Page--Pair of champs to represent Pirates

pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/.../article.jsp

Is This Thing On--Speed Kills

indyindians.mlblogs.com/.../speed_kills.html

Rumbunter--Blame It on the Rain

rumbunter.com/.../blame-it-on-the-rain

MLB Transactions

www.cbssports.com/.../transactions

Bucco Fans--Lynchburg Hillcats Recap

www.buccofans.com/.../lynchburg-hillcats-recap-hillcats-win-3.html

The Play by Play From Last night--at least the pen got to rest

scores.espn.go.com/.../playbyplay

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I surely left something out but hopefully covered the basics

Thanks, JAL glad to see the play by play back

Let me add my agreement to the Thunder posters about Snell and Nyjer's positioning.  I have no problem with the positioning at PNC,but it made no sense in Chicago.  Sounds like a little bit of the coaching staff overthinking.  And speaking of coaching staff, JR lately has sounded like he has a bit of JimTracy itis.  What I mean by that is that when things are going good, it is due to coaching staff and when they go bad it is the players' fault for not following the coaching staff's direction, e.g. pitchers throwing wrong pitches so Theriot hits to left field corner??????.  That dog don't hunt.  And yeah, Ian needs some tough love; let Gorzo pitch for him next start.

Well Well Well, Arriba,  Very sound observations.

I did say back when we were talking about the positioning of Mr. Morgan that maybe he is playing there because that is where he is being pitched to, some said no, I am not agreeing with the plan as it has been done.  

I do think that positioning asks for abuse.  I doubt that every player can be pitched to hit the ball in the same general area that is outside of their normal hitting patterns, every time up.

Maybe to batters who have a liking to go to right field from the right handed batters box may be swayed to pull it down the line to suprise and humlliate his opposition.  He then is left with onle being able to pull it into Mr. Morgans range.

I think JR has been equal in his praise for the coaches and players.  I don't think he got a case of Tracy-itis.  Plus I think it is kinda refreshing when a manager gives an honest answer about strategy and players.  If the player can't take it, tough.

Plus, if he gives a different answer then there would be people yelling about how the coaches or the advance scouting.

With that said, I think the shift stinks.  Get back closer to the line.

Good Morning, JJ, JAL, Thundercrack, Buccoage, our resident early risers JoeyBats & Curious George (loved your Little League story about Lumpy Podszinski!) and ...

JL! "I think it was G-Man who first feared that Monday's offensive outburst might be followed by another power outage. And sure enough..."

I had this thought myself last night ... Why not after a particularly big outburst, like the one Monday night, work Delwyn Young in for a start the next night ... I know he hasn't really had a breakout game yet, BUT I'm really impressed with his very even-keep approach to hitting, very level-headed and methodical ... and a great eye. Honestly, he reminds me of an ASSASSIN! Just cold-blooded ... But, to me, it would be great to follow up an emotional, high-hit night like Monday with a great contact hitter like Young.

Also, I enjoyed Dejan's link to the story the Beaver County Times did about Freddy's Flailings ... great little story about Yogi and Casey Stengel. Casey's "think more when your up there." Yogi comes back after taking a strike three, looks at Case: "I can't hit and think at the same time!" Classic Yogi-ism.

JR's explanation is pretty  much what we all were predicting here at the asylum.  My problem is that even though something is supposed to work (pitchers hitting their spots) if it is NOT working... and consistently not working... you rethink your plan and adjust accordingly.  Anything to the contrary is the old definition of insanity... doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

In other words, once it became obvious that the pitching wasn't matching the plan, JR should have moved Morgan over.

But what do I know?

Morning all mates

Just to jump on the Snell talk, IMO, put him in the bullpen for a while or send him to the minors till he gets his act together, he is 1 and 6 and isn't keeping us in games.  We can't afford that type of performance.  IMO as per usual

Good morning Bay... Yes!  Delwyn Young!  I love your description... ASSASSIN.  From what I see Young is a keeper, a deadly weapon that we just haven't figure out how to quite use yet.

Interesting reading about Diaz and Snell when the stats I posted in yesterday's morning links shows that Snell has a 4.24 ERA in the 17 innings Doumit caught him, a 7.00 ERA in the 18 innings Jaramillo has caught him, and , before last night, a 2.77 ERA in the 13 innings Diaz has caught him

This is the link from yesterday that has all the catchers with each pitcher stats

www.buccofans.com/.../pirates-notebook-pirates-win-pitchers.html

I'm not happy with the way Snell's been pitching, but I don't know what you guys have seen to suggest that Gorzelanny is ready for a spot in the rotation, or that Snell is more of a candidate than Karstens to be dropped.  These are the best 5 we have at the moment, unfortunately.

This thought just came to me ... Maybe I should focus, positively, on the great, bulldogged, positive MENTAL approach that Maholm, Duke, Ohly and Karstens have, instead of, negatively, on Snell's mental problems ... there's a WHOLE LOT to be thankful for with the other four, AND there's hope for Snell, too ... it just seems to me the sand is just about out of the hour glass for him, though.

I see the Nationals released Cabrera yesterday, and his $2.6 million contract ... how much does Snell make, $4 million? At least Snell can still hit the broad side of a barn.

Arriba - from your earlier post: I loved your usage of "that dog don't hunt!" Great!

I would have to agree with some of the earlier posts that I think it's time to put Snell in the bullpen.  He still has great stuff, but can't seem to sustain that for an entire outing on a consistant basis.  I think he could be a real asset to the bullpen as I see him having the ability to be very good for an inning at a time - maybe it will force him to stay focused.  He constantly has that one inning that just gets out of hand and maybe he needs to go one inning at a time.  He's definitely a player that can help this team, just think now is the time for the bullpen.  I know that there was talk about it in the past when he first came up, but his most recent results over the past year and half really seem to dictate that he may be better for shorter outings out of the pen.

I also agree it is time for Snell to go to bullpen.

He reminds me of Jason Schmidt, a pitcher who has the stuff to be good but may not get it together until after he leaves the Pirates.

After last year his leash should be short this season, especially with Duke and Ohlendorf coming thru.  Try someone else for awhile. that is what depth is for.

Regard Snell's concentration: I was listening to Sean Casey last night on MLB Network (btw, Billy Ripken is a 'scream'). After a cutaway to the Bucco/Cub game, Casey riffed on Ian. To summarize: Ace stuff, but takes starts off. In other words, the focus isn't there.

Btw, can ANYONE remember the last game where Ian shut down the opponent? I can't.

Unfortunately, we have nobody to replace him. Gorzo is still walking too many batters. Maybe someone who is desperate for pitching will trade us a prospect for him....?

Nah.......no soup for me.

Good morning, all.  However, I am annoyed this morning and I have to vent.  I went out to get my PG this morning and did not find anything I liked - this on the day after the Pens win the right to go to the Stanley Cup.

As DK linked above, there is an article on the FRONT PAGE of the PG Sports Section today on Matt Wieters.  It starts off by saying that everyone who has ever heard of the city of Baltimore has been "gushing" about Matt Wieters since the day he was born.  (OK, some exaggeration.)  FRONT PAGE!  (No exaggeration!)

Then, inside, on the page opposite to the Pens main article is another feature on Hossa.  This article is from Detroit and starts by praising Hossa on his excellent decision to sign w/ the Wings.  (No exaggeration!)  And it is not written nearly as well as DK's feature on Hossa from the other day.  (No exaggeration here, either, but probable bias!)

In my opinion, the featuring of these articles does not merely inform about other players or teams who are worthy of discussion.  It goes beyond that.  It's as if today's section was designed to annoy the Pittsburgh sports fan.  

No Pirates article either, by the way.  Only the Pirates Notebook.  Pens coverage was adequate, but not exceptional.

I would think the PG would not want to send readers straight to the internet for their news.  But the thought has entered my head because today's sports section was very poorly done.  IMO

Gray morning doesn't mean gray men--come on gray men--please get an avatar to make the posts easier to follow.  Click on my name for instructions and remember that the picture has to be on your computer and the avatar will not appear immediately.

As stated yesterday Snell needs to go to the bullpen.

Gorzo or anyone can take his spot.  It can't be much worse can it?

Morgan playing LC insted of left field.  I agree with those that Wigley is not the place for it.

JR learning from it =0  

Take Theriot three times in one game.  what is the saying?  Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me well we are at three and he was still playing LC.  

I feel so much better now.  Very interesting info above on Nyjer's positioning in left field.  Clears up some questions.

"Unfortunately, we have nobody to replace him. "

LeeFoo,

Virgil Vazquez is 4-2 with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP in Indy.  He also has 6 walks in 55 innings.

Watching the game last night, and seeing Snell in DC last week, he truly is nibbling at the outside of the plate.  

BUT...  a lot of pitches last night were called inconsistently.  If he is able to establish the control of the outside and the press inside, it is a whole different game.  Everyone wants him to pitch inside first and then go outside.  I have no problem with turning that plan around.  If the hitters are looking outside and a fastball comes in under their hands, they cannot touch it.  If they are looking inside and the ball is on the far side of the plate, they cannot touch it.  Same result, just need to establish one or the other.  If he had been able to establish outside and then come in who knows, but since the umps were not consistent, it was impossible to establish the outside strike.  I do think that had something to do with the overall performance.

The umpires the last two nights have been pitiful.  Pitches that were thrown to identical locations (big screen hi-def - no beer - observations) were not called both the same way.  There was a check swing strike on Moss where the bat never even reached the plate, but then there was a Cubbie who nearly had a full swing, that was told he did not go around.  Freddie was clearly out at 3rd, but the ump called him safe.  The umps have been awful.  I am not happy with prefernce for either team, and there has been no preference shown, but there has been a need for a stronger contact prescription shown.

Also, in defense of Morgan going 0-fer....  Marshall has been lights out against lefties.  NONE of our left handed hitters touched the ball last night (including McLouth and LaRoche).  Thus the blame must be laid on Marshall rather than a single left handed hitter.

I get the feeling the asylum doesn't think much of vazquez as a pitcher.  There was a reason why hte pirates signed him.  I think one reason could be he has good control.  If you look he has been pitching pretty good lately.  I want to say he has like 6 walks in over 60 innings.  Everyone else has given an opinion about snell ect ect ect ect.  Well if capps goes on IR then you move snell to bullpen send gorzy back down I'm still not sure hes ready yet and he needs to be starting in the minors.  You bring up boots or jackson both been pitching good lately  You also bring up vazquez and give him a start in place of snell.  Who knows maybe some of his control will rub off on some other pitchers.  I believe maholm and snells control in their last starts were pretty bad.  Wasn't malholm over 90 pitches after 5 innings the other night.  Maybe vazquez just might be that diamond in the rough the team could use right now.  

I don't post as much as I'd like.  I usually only post when I have an opinion thats worth mentioning.

One thing I will say snell isn't getting the job done.  What happened last year when Gorzy wasn't getting the job done they sent him down.  Granted snell makes more money thus a move to the pen might be best now.

By the way, Gorzo was lights out the first inning for each of his return appearances, but struggles after that.  In DC we lost the game because, in his second inning, he forgot how to throw a strike.  He is not ready to start a game.

As for who to replace Snell with....  I think McCutchen may be worth a look.  If for no other reason than to get Snell angry again.  Let someone challenge his manhood or ability to be here and let him get angry like he was a couple of years ago.  Since he got the contract he has been worthless.

Good morning everyone!

Ian's being Ian, it seems.  And based on Diaz's comments, or lack thereof, I still wonder if part of Ian's comfort and confidence issues are catcher-related?  He looked a lot better the games Doumit caught.  His best outing was the shutout on Apr 18...2nd best being the 1-0 game in Milwaukee and I think Jaramillo caught that game.  I know he's a ML catcher and it shouldn't matter, but that doesn't mean it doesn't factor in.  

@ Lee Foo...there's your answer to Snell shutting someone down too...April 18.

I guess JR makes the big bucks and has access to all the scouting reports, etc.  But I think that defense doesn't work.

Re: Snell

Was anyone else disturbed by the quote from Snell in the article today?  

"Bad pitches, walks and bad pitch selection.  It's going to happen.  It won't be the last time.  But I'll bounce back, I'm not too worried about it."

His personality is starting to grow old.  While you like a pitcher to say the right things about bouncing back, I don't want to hear him say "I'm not too worried about it" after a moment ago he stated 'Bad pitches, walks and bad pitch selection."  I try not to put too much into interviews as the performance on the field is what matters, but he needs to start stepping up.  I don't want to hear that the ump was inconsistant, or that the catcher was calling the wrong pitches.  I just want to see him pitch better, period!

@damikmikjeal

"You also bring up vazquez and give him a start in place of snell.  Who knows maybe some of his control will rub off on some other pitchers."

While i like most of your post, I don't think control works like the common cold and will 'rub' off on other pitchers.  

ants marching=========================================

Q,  I couldn't agree with you more.

Snell's act is very old!  I am tired hearing his comments and about all the potential & stuff he has.

If we had more pitching depth he would be out or sent down.

damik...

virgil vasquez is not my idea of pitching depth...he is a josh fogg clone.

and that 4.04 era ain't enlightening either.

nope...looks like we're stuck with ian....sigh