Atlanta Braves Morning Chop & Box; A Big Win… Bigger Loss
Jun 6, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran (49) walks off the mound between innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Teheran’s struggles point to a greater Braves issue
Another splendid young Atlanta Braves pitcher is looking rather less splendid. Julio Teheran’s ERA has surged to 5.07. Over his first two full big-league seasons, his ERA was 3.03. In 63 starts in 2013 and 2014, he had two games in which he yielded six or more earned runs; in his past eight starts, he has yielded six-plus earned runs three times.
Fredi Gonzalez told reporters after Tuesday’s loss in Boston that Teheran isn’t injured, that his velocity is fine. (It’s actually down from 2013, but it has ticked up in recent games.) That can only mean the issue is mechanics, and that falls to Roger McDowell to correct.
Here’s the thing, though: For as much credit as this pitching coach has received for building consistently excellent staffs — this year being an exception — McDowell isn’t known as a mechanical engineer, if you will. He’s the best in the business at identifying hitters’ weaknesses; he’s seen as less skilled with delivery issues.
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[ Ed. note: exceprted text; more at the link above. The upshot is that Roger McDowell’s ability to correct pitching mechanics is seriously being called into question… raising the spectre of history involving Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens as prior examples of failure. ]