MVN - a New York Yankees blog
The Bronx Block
What Rasner Can Teach Kennedy
On May 26th Darrell Rasner pitched very well in a loss against the Orioles, and it looked as if the Yankees had found a viable starter for the back of their rotation. Rasner had pitched well in all four of his starts, going at least 6 innings and allowing no more than 2 runs or 6 baserunners per outing. A little more than two months later, Rasner is out of the rotation, and one can wonder as to what exactly happened to the “good Darrell Rasner.” More importantly, what exactly does any of this have to do with Ian Kennedy?
Looking at Rasner’s stat line, the answer seems obvious- he started allowing more baserunners, showing an increase of both walks and hits. The key to this equation is realizing that those two items are entirely connected when dealing with a pitcher who has mediocre stuff. Rasner got cuffed around once or twice and suddenly lost the confidence to throw his decent stuff in the zone. His advantage had been the fact that he was mixing his pitches beautifully, throwing any pitch in any count, and always in the strike zone. The second he started to fear the plate, it fell apart in a hurry. He started trying to get people out by throwing his breaking ball out of the zone, but it’s mediocre quality made that ineffective, as batters recognized the pitch and let it go for a ball. Once behind in the count, Rasner was forced to come to the hitter, which is not recommended when you do not have a great fastball or power breaking ball. He also began walking more batters, something that is the biggest no-no of them all when you do not have superlative stuff. Look at Rasner’s last start against the Angels, and you will see all of these factors. He was throwing fewer strikes than he had in the past, and even those that he did throw often came in situations where a strike was begging to get hit to the moon.
A perceptive Yankees fan will see where I am going with this. Ian Kennedy’s struggles this season had plenty to do with the same issues that plagued Rasner. Kennedy got hit hard in his first few starts and became terrified of throwing strikes. When you are always working from behind in the count, you are going to get hit. Kennedy has better stuff than Rasner, that much is plain. He also was touted as having exceptional command and control, something that he needs to utilize if he wants to succeed on this level. I have recently heard comparisons to the 2008 incarnation of Mike Mussina, something that may have been intended as a disparagement but is in fact a compliment. If Kennedy can put up yearly numbers similar to Mussina’s 2008, he will be a 2 or 3 starter and make a few All Star teams. I think he definitely has the stuff to do it, as I was very high on Ian in the offseason and did not have my mind changed by two poor months. He needs to recapture his confidence, throw all his pitches for strikes as he does in the minors, and help the Yankees make a run at the playoffs.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, August 7th, 2008 at 11:56 am and is filed under Off the Facade.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
THE AUTHOR
RECENT ARTICLES BY DIVISION RIVALS
ARCHIVE
SPONSORS
Online Seats
New York Yankees schedule New York Mets Tickets
Ticket Specialists
Yankees Tickets New York Baseball Tickets
Coast to Coast Tickets
New York Yankees Baseball Tickets MLB Baseball Game Tickets New York Event Tickets New York Jets Football Tickets New York Giants Football Tickets
Ticket Specialists
Tickets4U
New York Yankees Tickets World Series Tickets Red Sox Tickets
Great Seats
New York Yankees Tickets Tickets to the Mets New York Giants Tickets MLB Baseball Events Tickets - New York Jets
9 Responses to “What Rasner Can Teach Kennedy”
August 7th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
You nailed it, Mo. Also, if people would like to stop comparing Kennedy to guys at the end of their careers, they need look no further than Chris Young, the Padres pitcher. Now, Chris is a huge guy and can throw from a downward angle that many can not, he pitches in the NL, and plays in the most favorable pitcher’s park in baseball. All that being said, the guy has still put up back to back excellent seasons. I don’t know if you guys have ever watched him pitch, but I’ve seen games where he doesn’t hit 90 once. Some times I’ve seen him get it up to 93, but not often. He commands his fastball(s) excellently, and can cut it and fade it ala Greg Maddux. I compare Kennedy favorably to both Young and Kevin Slowey, the young pitcher on the Twins.
****Actually, Slowey has nearly identical numbers to IPK in the minors, Kennedy just walked and k’d about 1 more man per 9. Pretty interesting
August 7th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
it’s too bad we didn’t have someone named Karstens on our team - he is doing great, but than again could he have done that for the Yanks?!
oh well, still a great trade for Nady and I hope he has a great career with the Pirates
August 7th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Great article, Moshe. I can’t wait to see IPK pitch. Not sure about the Moose’08 comparison as Moose had to change his whole approach to pitching in the offseason. He pitches completely backwards now, as he came to realize that he just can’t beat guys with his 87mph fastball unless he’s keeping them completely off-balance.
I think the Yank brass feels that IPK’s 90-91 mph heater has enough juice as long as he’s spotting it well, which he wasn’t earlier this year. I don’t think the Yanks want IPK to completely change his approach. From what I’ve read, they’re more disappointed in his toughness or lack thereof than his stuff.
I think a Moose ‘06 analogy is probably closer to the mark, though Moose’s best off-speed pitch has always been the curve and IPK’s is the change. I really love the Slowey comp. I think it’s spot on, with both guys relying on low-90s heaters w/ great command and excellent changeups.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I´m an IPK biliever, and a Hughes believer too. I´m looking forward to their next starts.
Your comp Moshe is a good one. When Rassner was having succes with a 88 MPH fastball I was wondering why IPK couldn´t. His numbers last year in all levels including ML were great and constant. They are the same in AAA right now. I believe he´ll help a lot in the sttrech.
Funny how the team needs to rely in Hughes and IPK again! Next year looks as a problem as this young starter haven´t build up innings this year
August 7th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I think these minor league starts have given him confidence going forward, so hopefully Ian can be the man and step up his game for his teammates..
August 7th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I think Rasners downfall has been his inability to snap off that slow curve of his. In his earlier starts it had a nice downward arc. Now it just hangs and barely changes planes. If he can regain his touch on that pitch i truely believe everything else falls into place.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
If ian can pitch well tomorrow against what seems to be the best team in the league right now, then It will prove a lot.
I hope he pitches a great game. I wish him the best of luck, I’m really looking forward to his start. Maybe the fact that all his friends and family will be there, may help IPK and kick some of that adrenaline in him.
GO IAN KENNEDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 8:45 am
I agree with everything you said in the article Moshe. And you know in the past I am high on IPK’s potential. The only problem I have with him now is the perception he left when he was sent down; he definately gave the immpression to me at least that he didn’t do anything wrong in the way he pitched. As a manager for over 20 years nothing pisses a foreman off more than a guy who does something brain dead and acts like you’re the one with the problem. In his case chalk it up to immaturety and an overblown sense of talent, for now, if it stays that way over the rest of the season and the next maybe we overestimate his ability.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Moshe your comparison of IPK’s stuff with Slowey’s is spot on. I still believe in him. He’s definitely got to come back to the show with confidence & grit. Plenty of mlb pitchers throw 91 mph or slower & have success. IPK’s problem is he has to have the toughness to go with the slower speed. NO GUTS, NO GLORY!
Leave a comment