After two games against Sioux City that lasted a combined seven hours, 51 minutes, I think I’m due a 2-hour game. Don’t you think? But let’s be realistic. That’s probably not going to happen. I’m expecting another marathon because the Wingnuts, somehow, have forgotten how to pitch effectively.
Of the four remaining pitchers who were in the opening day starting rotation, only Leonard Landeros has a winning record, at 5-3. Justin Young was moved to the bullpen and owns a 3-6 record with a 5.51 ERA and Brad Davis and Gustavo Mata are a combined 9-13. Davis’ 4.18 ERA is the lowest among those four pitchers.
The saving grace has been Richard Salazar, the only true bulldog in the rotation. I’m not saying the others are weak mentally, but when Salazar runs into trouble he doesn’t let things snowball. He battles. Since joining the rotation, he’s 5-1 with a ERA in the low-2.00 range. He throws strikes, too — which, as we saw last night has been a major problem for Wichita.
The Wingnuts issued an American Association-record 15 free passes last night, raising their league-leading total to 303 in 72 games. That’s more than four walks per game. The Wingnuts’ pitching staff also has the fewest strikeouts in the league and has allowed the fourth-most home runs.
Tonight, Mata gets the call. But maybe we won’t be playing because the rain is coming down pretty hard as I write this and it has obviously rained earlier in the day, too. A rainout would be the best possible thing that could happen to the Wingnuts today. They have virtually no available relief pitchers, as the bullpen has combined to work 25 innings during the last six game and a scheduled doubleheader with St. Paul tomorrow. A day of rest would be extremely welcome.