tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23735245.post2887050507022318580..comments2024-02-23T20:49:09.057-08:00Comments on obsessivegiantscompulsive: Giants Ain't Misching Mischobsessivegiantscompulsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11362706004246875823noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23735245.post-7335273324052285622008-06-17T11:54:00.000-07:002008-06-17T11:54:00.000-07:00I wrote this a little too early, here's a link to ...I wrote this a little too early, here's a link to MLB story on Sanchez: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080616&content_id=2942880&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf&partnerId=rss_sf<BR/><BR/>It mentions something similar to what I wrote: <BR/><BR/>When he made his Major League debut in 2006, Jonathan Sanchez's abundance of talent was more a curse than a gift. <BR/><BR/>The Giants didn't want to leave him in the Minors. His stuff was too good, and he was too talented to languish in Triple-A. But he wasn't ready to be a full-time starter, so San Francisco made him a long reliever. He struggled in that role for two years, unable to develop a consistent pitching rhythm...<BR/><BR/>Against the Rockies in his last start, Sanchez had his worst outing -- statistically speaking -- in a month. He got the win despite allowing seven runs in five frames. But the fact that he stuck around for five innings without his best stuff had Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti excited. <BR/><BR/>"That was the kind of game that last year, maybe even at the beginning of this season, he might have been out of there a lot quicker," Righetti said. "His maturity as a pitcher means a lot to his performance." <BR/><BR/>Inexperienced pitchers are often unsure of their ability to throw different pitches for strikes, Righetti said, so they panic at the first sign of trouble. But with time and a steady routine, "you learn what you need to do." <BR/><BR/>Sanchez didn't have the luxury of a steady routine when he first came to San Francisco. As a reliever, he might have been called upon to pitch on three consecutive days, or he might not get the call for a whole series. <BR/><BR/>That hurt Sanchez more than other hurlers because he throws his changeup and breaking ball better when he's got time to settle in, Righetti said. In short appearances, Sanchez would throw all hard stuff and run strictly on adrenaline. <BR/><BR/>With longer outings with which to work, Sanchez said his "pitches are sharper," and he's "feeling better, more comfortable." <BR/><BR/>The numbers bear that out. With Sanchez on the mound, the Giants are 11-3, so Sanchez has contributed to more than a third of their victories. Sanchez has allowed two or fewer runs in nine of his 14 starts. He's starting to live up to the promise that comes attached to any left-hander with four Major League-caliber pitches. <BR/><BR/>"He got pushed into that reliever role and was moved a little quicker than we would've liked," Righetti said. "But I always knew I wanted him as a starter. He's beginning to earn that."obsessivegiantscompulsivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11362706004246875823noreply@blogger.com