I only need to say this once this year: Turnbow is only as good as a well located slider. If he does not have it, you might as well pull him right out of the game. He cannot be successful with just a straight 4-seam fastball (which he is not that great at locating). When his slider is working and located well, it is very difficult for hitters to get on his fastball.
The past two nights, he hasn't been able to rely on his slider. Guess what happened? On Monday, he stopped throwing it after walking the first batter, giving him nothing to retire two batters he had on 0-2 pitches. Last night, he failed to do anything with the slider save spike it in the dirt (which can be effective, but not against a well disciplined hitter who is making you prove you can put the ball over the plate). So, of course, Ruiz waits for the fastball right in his wheelhouse and sends a no-doubter over left-center. Game over.
1 comment:
Not sure we were watching the same game. . .
Turnbow throw a good pitch that was low and away. It was not in the batter's wheelhouse, he went down after it and got it.
-David
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