Rasner Gets it Done
May 11th 2008 18:49
There was one consistent quality in many of the Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes starts this season. For the most part, they were painful to watch. It is difficult to witness a pitcher who can’t throw strikes, are afraid to throw strikes and ultimately wind up walking the opposition. Or worse yet, laying cookies in the middle of the plate because they constantly pitch themselves into hitter’s counts.
Enter Darrell Rasner. An under the radar right-hander who failed to make the team out of spring training when The Yankees opted not to carry a traditional long-man. Down to the minors goes Kennedy and onto what will probably be a home away from home for Hughes, the DL. The Yanks called for Rasner who went 4-0 with 0.87 in five minor league starts this season.
The secret to Rasner’s success is simple. He doesn’t have the stuff of Phil Hughes. Nor, is he going to overpower hitters with a 95 MPH fastball. In Rasner’s two starts, he has faced 45 hitters, walked only one, and had only 6 three-ball counts. The result has been 12 innings, two quality starts and 4 earned runs.
More importantly, Rasner keeps the defense on its toes. He works quickly and goes after hitters. He’s not afraid of contact and attacks the strikezone. He features a cutter, curveball, changeup and fastball, which he moves around the zone. Basically he is using the same tools that have reinvented Mike Mussina; locate and change speeds. Nothing fancy, nothing that is going to win him a Cy Young. It’s not sexy but it’s effective.
Other Notes: The rubber match of Sunday’s game against Detroit was postponed due to rain. No makeup date has been set.
Also, Derek Jeter ended the worst homerun drought of his career on Saturday afternoon (128 at-bats).
Enter Darrell Rasner. An under the radar right-hander who failed to make the team out of spring training when The Yankees opted not to carry a traditional long-man. Down to the minors goes Kennedy and onto what will probably be a home away from home for Hughes, the DL. The Yanks called for Rasner who went 4-0 with 0.87 in five minor league starts this season.
The secret to Rasner’s success is simple. He doesn’t have the stuff of Phil Hughes. Nor, is he going to overpower hitters with a 95 MPH fastball. In Rasner’s two starts, he has faced 45 hitters, walked only one, and had only 6 three-ball counts. The result has been 12 innings, two quality starts and 4 earned runs.
More importantly, Rasner keeps the defense on its toes. He works quickly and goes after hitters. He’s not afraid of contact and attacks the strikezone. He features a cutter, curveball, changeup and fastball, which he moves around the zone. Basically he is using the same tools that have reinvented Mike Mussina; locate and change speeds. Nothing fancy, nothing that is going to win him a Cy Young. It’s not sexy but it’s effective.
Other Notes: The rubber match of Sunday’s game against Detroit was postponed due to rain. No makeup date has been set.
Also, Derek Jeter ended the worst homerun drought of his career on Saturday afternoon (128 at-bats).
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