when Lange is currently our worst starting in pitcher? What gives? Dudes mechanics look different. Really struggling his last two games.
I didn't see the game last night but Doug Thompson said that his curve was working great but the Fordham hitters were laying off off it and waiting for the fastball. Also I don't think he was getting as many strikes as usual with the curve that the catcher has to block when it hits the dirt
I just finally watched the replay. Sophomore blues seems to be the case. He seems to have lost command on his fastball, but good lord, when he cant battle his way back from down in the count, his command gets worse. His curve and breaking ball is still killing it, but his fastball is almost like panic mode. He seems afraid to throw the fastball over the heart of the plate. he has little command on the corners of the plate and when he misses, his head starts swimming. But that's baseball. He has some mechanic issues and he is a sophomore coming off a 1st team all american season. He was 25-0 coming into this season, so he has little experience at having a bad day. Usually, after an inning on the mound he runs back and always jumps over the base line chalk. After shitting the bed in the 3rd, he walked back and drug both feet through the chalk line. This shit is in his head and I blame Dunn for not pulling him when he recognized it. 4 runs later and he finally sends in the Bugg. Lange had no business pitching the 6th. All night, Lange struggled with 2 outs. Just can't put it away. He needs a shrink and Dunn needs to start using a shorter leash. How we just love to let a struggling pitcher continue to struggle... Then there is Valek, who is killing it. Might wanna consider Lange for Friday night duty and have Newman ready to back him up. Bugg is not his normal self either. Use Bugg to back Poche maybe?
A lot of pressure on Lange. Not having 8 of his position players back hurts, especially having a new catcher, losing Scivique could have a major effect on him. The pitcher/catcher relationship is highly underrated.
I agree and disagree. Lange threw to other catchers in high school where he went 15-0. Scivique was not the only catcher he threw to last season. I mean, same can be said for half the pitching staff we have now. Valek came from another school entirely and he only seems to be getting better. So though that may apply to some pitchers, I do believe this is not the case. Lange was looking for ways to improve on an already perfect season. He wants to walk 10 less batters this season. That ain't happening. He changed something in his mechanics to compensate and now he is a mess. Last season, he had the ability to get out of his own way. This season, he is getting in his own way. It's mental. He looks way less poised this year than last. Something a box of Girl Scout cookies won't fix. Powdered doughnuts...maybe
