The heat is on
If we are talking about players who are trending in the right direction, perhaps no one has been doing that longer than Arquimedes Caminero.
On May 1st, many were wondering if Caminero would be designated for assignment. Since then, he has lowered his ERA to 3.34 from 5.68. It has been a tightwire act at times. Teams are slashing .304/.379/.435 against him in that span. He has allowed 28 hits and nine walks during that time. Despite this, he has not allowed more than one run in any of those 20 appearances.
Though that last stat might seem like something you would naturally expect from a quality major league reliever,it gains importance when held up against the unreliability seen in Caminero’s early going.
If we narrow our focus down to the month of July to date, Caminero has been even better. In seven innings, Caminero has allowed a solitary run on two hits – a solo home run at that – with eight strikeouts and zero walks. Pitching coach Ray Searage has simplified things for Caminero. Over the last two months, his four seam fastball usage has jumped to 75.32 percent. At aroudn this time last year, Caminero started to work in a sinking fastball more while bringing the heat less.
With that now reversed, the result is a more focused flamethrower who can pound the zone. and let the chips fall where they may. With his four seamer averaging 99.11 mph in July, the Pittsburgh Pirates will take their chances.
Key performances in key roles
With these three Pittsburgh Pirates stalwarts trending in the right direction, the team can make some serious hay. With a favorable schedule coming into focus, the team would love to count on the return of their ace, a solid hitter in the middle of the lineup and a steady middle reliever with serious heat.
Who do YOU think will surge in the second half? Let us know in the comments, on Twitter or on Facebook.
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