Lannan, pre-nose shattering liner. Photo Luis Alvarez/AP
The 19th cycle was shortened by one start (Gorzelanny misses a turn in the rotation) as the league hits the all-star break. We’ll pick up with the 20th cycle on Friday July 15th at the Braves, and will shuffle the order of the starters slightly.
Good
- Jordan Zimmermann took the team into the All Star break with a dominant 7 inning, 4hit, 6k outing against the Rockies on 7/10 (box/gamer). It was a slightly questionable hook by Davey Johnson; Zimmermann was only on 88 pitches, but perhaps they’re thinking about squeezing innings out of him after we reach September.
Bad
- Livan Hernandez couldn’t protect the EIGHT run lead his offense gave him in the Cubs finale on 7/7 (box/gamer), but it was the bullpen that eventually took the ugly 10-9 loss.
Mediocre/Inconclusive
- John Lannan took a liner off the nose, breaking it, in his 7/8 start (box/gamer). Unfortunately despite 5ks in 3 innings he also took the loss.
- Jason Marquis was a bit wild in his 7/9 start (box/gamer) against the Rockies, taking the loss despite a 6inning, 2run outing. Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez was too good, taking a no-hitter into the 5th.
Starter Trends: More up-and-down performances out of Livan make you wonder if his rotation spot is really that secure. Marquis has tailed off at just the wrong time, while Lannan may visit the DL.
MLB Trends (through Zimmermann 7/10)
Lhernandez bad,great,bad,good,bad
Marquis good,bad,great,bad,soso
Lannan good,good,good,bad,incomplete
Zimmermann great,good,great,good,good
Gorzelanny soso,bad->dl,bad,good,good
Relievers of Note and other News
- Further notes about the Yankees interest in Sean Burnett, as reported by Bill Ladson. Problem is, the Nats would be selling at an absolute low point on Burnett, with little in the way of left-handed relief coming up.
- The news, as suspected, is not good on Cole Kimball. Torn rotator cuff, surgery required. Lets hope that he recovers well.