Absolutely! But… WHY should the Braves believe Teheran can turn around his performance?
Julio Teheran has been a life-long pitcher for the Atlanta Braves — and he’s only 26-years-old!
Even though Teheran has been pitching for Atlanta since 2011, he is still a youngster in some perspectives: mostly because of his young age. Teheran found his groove pitching for a combined 46-39 with a 3.34 ERA in the past 4 years (2013-2016), but seems to have lost that groove this year.
Teheran is currently 7-10 with a 5.25 ERA through 23 games started in 2017.
One interesting thing that has been mentioned before is how Teheran struggles at SunTrust Park. At home in 2017, Teheran is 1-8 with a 7.07 ERA through 12 games.
Away from SunTrust Park in 2017, Teheran is 6-2 with a 3.57 ERA through 11 games.
Other than the beginning of his career in the big leagues, Teheran really hasn’t struggled in succeeding at home. One very noticeable difference in previous years is actually the opposite of what Teheran’s current issue is! In 2014 and 2015, Teheran was better at home than he was away, and by a noticeable margin.
What’s up with that SunTrust mound? That’s the real question
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Away ERA’s
2011 – 3.86 (2 games)
2012 – 0.00 (1 game)
2013 – 3.38 (14 games)
2014 – 3.68 (17 games)
2015 – 5.40 (16 games)
2016 – 2.69 (12 games)
Home ERA’s
2011 – 7.94 (2 games)
2012 – 8.31 (1 game)
2013 – 3.04 (16 games)
2014 – 2.11 (16 games)
2015 – 2.89 (17 games)
2016 – 3.59 (18 games)
Is there anything good about Teheran’s recent lack of success?
Time is on Teheran’s side…
It took Teheran a while to get adjusted to Turner Field when he was a rookie, but he ultimately adjusted and developed into Atlanta’s top rotational pitcher. This first year in SunTrust Park seems like he is back where he began: struggling at a new home.
Just like Atlanta was patient with Mike Foltynewicz who has developed into a top-of-the-rotation pitcher throughout the past three year’s, its time for Atlanta to be patient with Teheran and accept that he is back at square one.
I believe that whatever problems Teheran has are simply in his head. He has physically proven that he is a strong and dominant pitcher, but what he needs to prove right now is his combination of mental and physical strength.
One big problem for Teheran:
Being the top guy in a rotation, and moving to a new park can place a lot of expectations and stress on a person; especially a 26-year-old. Teheran hasn’t lived up to the expectations others have of him this year, but I expect Teheran to prove all of his critics wrong for the rest of August, September, and in the 2018 season.
But how exactly can he do that?
Next: What if Satchel Paige was an Atlanta Braves pitcher in his prime?
Teheran has to put his head on straight. I think how Teheran performs on the mound in September is going to be very telling of how he will pitch in the 2018 season.