This one was more or less over five batters in. It’s not so much that the Angels couldn’t have come back from a 3-0 deficit, but that there was no way Matt Shoemaker was done giving up runs. In the end he surrendered six runs on seven hits in just three-plus innings, seemingly completing his transition back into the organizational depth-type pitcher he was before his rookie season. But hey, at least he allowed only one dinger this time.
My pet theory for a while now has been that Shoemaker spent so much time pitching at elevation in 2012 and 2013 that suddenly moving to sea level in 2014 made his stuff play up considerably. Having to work extra hard at making his splitter split in the thin air temporarily made the pitch extra effective in normal conditions. But after a while this advantage disappeared, leaving the Shoemaker we see today. Like the Coors Effect, but in reverse. I have no evidence whatsoever to back this up, but it’s tidy and makes about as much sense as him suddenly becoming Joe Blanton 2.0 by random chance. Anyway, the ultimate point is:
Get well soon, Tyler Skaggs.
Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1oFsv0Je-wKCli4Dzqh8msYdRVv6DnpIOi0PARbAow3I/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /]The Angels offense had no problem getting on base Friday, but they couldn’t do anything once guys got into scoring position. Kole Calhoun, Mike Trout, Andrelton Simmons, and Cliff Pennington all reached base twice on the night, but of the group only Calhoun came around to score. Calhoun also had the team’s only hit with RISP—the rest of the offense going 0-for-8. Simmons and Pennington added some unlikely pop, notching a double and a triple, respectively, but the team couldn’t take advantage. A night after playing the hero role, Albert Pujols and Yunel Escobar went a combined 0-for-8, leaving five runners on base.
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1oFsv0Je-wKCli4Dzqh8msYdRVv6DnpIOi0PARbAow3I/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /]Every Rangers player reached base at least once Friday, all but Elvis Andrus doing so by the third inning. Delino DeShields got Texas going early, singling and stealing second in the first, then ultimately knocked Shoemaker out of the game with another single to lead off the fourth. Rougned Odor blasted his first home run of the year, while Mitch Moreland and Robinson Chirinos both doubled. Again, all this happened with Shoemaker on the mound.
Starting Pitcher Scores
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1oFsv0Je-wKCli4Dzqh8msYdRVv6DnpIOi0PARbAow3I/pubchart” query=”oid=161400381&format=interactive” width=”584″ height=”293″ /]Shoemaker’s start has already been covered in detail. He was bad, and there’s a good chance he’ll be out of the rotation by the end of the month. On the other side, A.J. Griffin’s first start in two years wasn’t great but wasn’t terrible either. He didn’t miss any bats, really, but he got a bunch of pop ups and easy ground balls when he needed them.
Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1oFsv0Je-wKCli4Dzqh8msYdRVv6DnpIOi0PARbAow3I/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /]The Angels bullpen actually pitched pretty well given the situation. Cam Bedrosian was wild in his one inning of work, but beyond him things were promising. Cory Rasmus tossed 2⅔ innings, shutting down the Rangers completely until tiring out at ~50 pitches. Mike Morin let in the Rangers’ seventh run, but settled in during his second inning of work. Fernando Salas worked a scoreless ninth. None of them allowed an extra-base hit.
The Rangers bullpen surrendered just one hit in three frames. Tom Wilhelmsen walked three Halos in his 1⅔ innings, but managed to unscathed.
Game Flow
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1oFsv0Je-wKCli4Dzqh8msYdRVv6DnpIOi0PARbAow3I/pubchart” query=”oid=41272350&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”315″ /]This one flatlined early.
Angel Antagonist
Shoemaker just can’t seem to cobble together an effective start anymore.
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