Lucas Harrell had a rough night last night, and has a suspicion that the September move to the six-man rotation is partially to blame:
"It's a little too much time. I'm a touch and feel guy. I need to be out there a lot more."
When pitching every fifth day, Harrell has made 15 starts, throwing 95.1IP and allowing 85H/38ER, 71K:36BB, for a 3.59 ERA / 1.27 WHIP.
In 13 starts when pitching every sixth day, he has thrown 75.1IP, 82H/36ER, 51K:34BB, for a 4.30 ERA / 1.54 WHIP.
Of course, this is but a cursory look. However, Harrell has walked 4+ batters in three of his four starts since the transition to the extra starter. He could just be getting tired. In 2011, between the minors and majors, Harrell threw 144IP - he's now thrown 44.1IP more than he did in 2012.
Problem for me is that if it's in Harrell's mind that there's a problem, it's going to manifest itself in some form on the mound.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
