As season winds down, Rays want to protect young guns
Starters James Shields and Scott Kazmir could have their action limited.
By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published August 17, 2007
[Photo]
[Kazmir has thrown 351 more pitches than last season, when he spent most of
the second half sidelined with shoulder soreness.]
[Photo]
[Shields might be pulled early because the organization wants to make sure
they don't exceed organizational season pitch limits.]
Twenty-somethings James Shields and Scott Kazmir have the talent the Devil
Rays hope will give them a potent 1-2 punch in their starting rotation for
years to come.
But as the season winds down, the organization is keeping a watchful eye on
its two young arms.
The team will pay special attention to their pitch counts during the final 41
games and won't hesitate to pull them earlier than expected.
With 1702/3 innings pitched this season, Shields, 25, is just 162/3 shy of
his total last season between the Rays and Triple-A Durham. The right-hander
is scheduled to make eight more starts, and given his inning average, he is
on pace to log 225. He has thrown 2,786 pitches (he threw 1,995 in 21 starts
with the Rays in 2006; his Durham pitch totals weren't available).
Kazmir, 23, has thrown 351 more pitches than last season, when he spent most
of the second half sidelined with shoulder soreness. The left-hander could
make eight more starts, pushing his pitch total, based on his season average,
to 3,643. He threw 2,435 last season.
"The reason you've seen Kaz and Shields maybe us be a little bit more
conservative with them is because of the increased workload from 2006,"
pitching coach Jim Hickey said. "You just try to keep an eye on that. If you
want to use the word conservative, I guess you can. If we were in a pennant
race, it would probably be a different story, but we're looking out for the
good of the individual, the good of the team and the good of the
organization."
Manager Joe Maddon said they're watching Kazmir because of his second-half
arm problems. He has left four of his past six starts, having thrown fewer
than 98 pitches, including his most recent start Tuesday, when he was removed
after 95. He has averaged just 100.5 pitches in those six starts, compared
with a 107.2 season average.
"I understand it, but it's a little frustrating right now. There have been
quite a few starts where I felt I could go at least one more inning, and
(Tuesday) was definitely one of them," Kazmir said. "It's just something I
have to deal with, but hopefully after this year, I'll be past the 200-inning
mark and we won't have to worry about this. I understand everything that's
going on. I just can't wait to get past this year and hopefully after that,
pitch count won't be an issue ever again."
Kazmir and Shields might be pulled early because the organization wants to
make sure they don't exceed organizational season pitch limits, which Maddon
said might lead to skipping starts as the season winds down.
Generally speaking, Maddon said, the Rays wouldn't want someone to exceed
more than 20 percent of the pitches he threw the season before.
"It's really a natural concern," Maddon said. "Right now, I can understand
why people would be concerned or upset, but two or three years from now when
he's well and he's pitching in October and he's fresh, they'll understand.
Some people might think that because they're young they should throw more,
but it's just the opposite. When they're younger, we want to watch them a
little bit closer.
"For me, it's real simple. It's not complicated, and I know we're doing it
right."
--
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