Pitching struggles early for Washington
April 10, 1997
BALTIMORE — The Washington Bobwhites pitching staff has had trouble early on, something pitching coach Dock Ellis believes will change sooner than later.
After nine games, including tonight's 10-1 drubbing at the hands of the Baltimore Monarchs, the Bobwhites easily have the highest staff ERA at 6.69. Only three other teams in the Johnson and Frick leagues have a staff ERA over 5.00, and Washington is the only one over 6.00.
"It's awful early to worry about it," said Bobwhites manager Rip Torn. "We're in early April with a long way to go. There will be stretches, I'm sure, that we'll look like one of the best staffs going and there will be times, liks this, where we don't look so swell."
In terms of the starting pitchers, staff ace Shane Christen is the lone exception to the early pitching woes. Christen picked up a win on Opening Day with an eight-inning effort in which he held Baltimore to four runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out seven. He was hit for three home runs in the game, making few other mistakes. He followed that up with a solid start on April 6 against the Louisville Sluggers, giving up five runs, three earned, while striking out 11 in eight innings. The Bobwhites won that game, though Christen did not factor in the decision.
Christen hopes to continue to pitch well tomorrow night at the Bobwhites continue their road trip, taking on the 4-6 Greenville Moonshiners.
Where the trouble has come for Washington is the starting rotation after Christen. Veteran hurler Ken Howell, an 18 game winner last season, is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 9 1/3 innings over two starts so far this year. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings against Baltimore in his season debut, following that up with a six inning performance. John Flaskamper has been, to this point, the best of the rest for Washington with an 0-2 record and 5.84 ERA in 12 1/3 innings over two starts.
The bullpen has also struggled for Washington, that is except for closer Brendan Meyer. The left-hander has tossed six innings over four appearances, recording a save while posting a 1.50 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, striking out seven.