Future is all about arms, not bats
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published August 14, 2005
CLEVELAND - We had a good reminder the past month of what is really important when building a team.
It's the pitching, stupid.
Talk all you want about how the Devil Rays last offseason needed to get another bat, preferably lefty, preferably with some power, for the middle of the lineup. What they really needed was a veteran starter.
Not a guy with a million innings, waiting for his arm to fall off so he can retire, but a real, savvy hurler who can stop losing streaks and, now and then, offer advice to a talented group of youngsters.
Just look at the difference Joe Borowski made in the bullpen.
Want proof? Here are the numbers:
During Tampa Bay's recent cold streak in which, entering Saturday, it had lost six of eight, Rays pitchers allowed a combined 52 earned runs in 66 innings for a 7.09 ERA.
In the heady days of their 14-5 streak out of the All-Star break, pitchers allowed 78 earned runs in 170 innings for a 4.13 ERA.
Borowski? Since the Cubs castoff was signed June 11, he has pitched 131/3 scoreless innings and Tampa Bay is 10-3 in games in which he has appeared.
"Listen," manager Lou Piniella said, "no team is going to win if they don't get pitching for any period of time. You might win for a short period of time but over a sustained period, you can't win."
The numbers bear that out as well.
The Rays entered Saturday tied for third in the American League with a .275 batting average. Their 541 runs were only nine fewer than the White Sox, baseball's best team.
But Tampa Bay was last with a 5.66 team ERA and 455 walks, and second to last with a .284 opponents' batting average. Chicago was first at 3.61 and second best at .249. The Rays also were last in fielding efficiency and the White Sox tied for first, but that is another column.
Want another example? Texas.
The Rangers entered Saturday with a league-high 193 home runs, 31 more than any other team, and were second in RBIs.
But Texas was 12th in the 14-team league with a 5.11 ERA and a .283 opponents' batting average, had lost five straight and was three games under .500.
Interesting about Tampa Bay is how much better it pitches at home.
The Rays have a 4.83 ERA with a .267 opponents' batting average at Tropicana Field, where they are 28-28. They have a 6.51 ERA with a .298 opponents' batting average on the road where, entering Saturday, they were 16-44.
"I think that's because of the youth of our pitching staff, and because of the controlled environment at home," Piniella said. "Temperature-wise we play in no humidity so they stay stronger longer.
"I think those are reasons but probably the biggest reason is the inexperience. It's a new stadium, a new mound. It's a new environment. It's a learning experience is probably what it is. It's youth."
It doesn't appear to be a lack of ability. Piniella said pitching coach Chuck Hernandez told him the pitchers hit their targets when doing their sideline work.
The means are there. Learning to deal with pressure and situations is a different story, and that is where a veteran presence would be so valuable.
Hideo Nomo's work ethic set a terrific example for the starters, but with limited English skills he was not going to get involved in deep conversations about pitching. And his arm was shot.
So you have this: with an average age of 25, Rays starters are trying to help each other figure things out while still trying to do so for themselves.
"You're expecting these kids to stop losing streaks and that's not the easiest thing in the world," Piniella said. "I recognize that. The problem is we're all young.
"You talk about winning up here. You can win with a relatively young club on the field, but you need experienced pitching."
We've seen the alternative.