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Atlanta Braves newest starter Kevin Gausman: What to expect

By Fred Owens

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 6: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium on April 6, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 6: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium on April 6, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 02: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the second inning during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 2, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 02: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the second inning during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 2, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Coaches again

In my post about what to expect from Brad Brach, I pointed out that the better coaches turn out better players. I also noted that Brach’s best season came in 2016… but then a new pitching coach arrived.

"After [Roger McDowell became] Baltimore’s pitching coach. . .Brach’s numbers sank like a rock as did the numbers of the entire Oriole staff.. . Maybe it’s related and maybe it’s a coincidence, but I never believed McDowell did well by the Braves staff."

Care to guess which season was Gausman’s best?  If you said 2016, give yourself a prize.

Expectations

So, what can fans expect?  Gausman will take the ball every fifth (or sixth) day and give the team innings to help protect our young arms. Moving to the National League should give him a boost in terms of ERA and a lack of familiarity should give him an advantage this season.

He’s young, healthy and can throw hard when he sets his mind to it. Hopefully, he’ll use his breaking and off-speed pitches more.  I’m certain whoever catches him will guide him well.

More from Tomahawk Take

That’s a wrap

I wasn’t happy with the acquisition when I heard about it. I was stuck in traffic at the time and unhappy anyway but more to the point, I had looked at his numbers earlier and said, no thanks. Typically, I’d provide those numbers here for you to chew on. In Gausman’s case, they only confuse things.

He’s consistently given up 1.4 HR/9 and until 2017 walked just over 2.3/9 but had high ERAs (except for 2016) and looked like a guy who could be but wasn’t one of the best. Research clears up misconceptions and at the time I failed to consider he could be another pitcher badly groomed by Baltimore.

Then there’s the price we didn’t pay:  Alex Anthopoulos managed to add good players for nothing. No offense to any player traded away but the Braves system simply won’t miss them.

Kolby's wet and wild debut. dark. Next

Gausman isn’t an ace. He has the stuff to be better than he is and will give us innings as we head into the dog days of our schedule.

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