The starting pitching so far -- not awful, but uninspiring

[Frobby]

August starter game log

8/01: 6.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Norris W, 1-0)

8/02: 5.1 IP, 6 R, 6 ER (Tillman W, 14-4)

8/03: 4.2 IP, 5 R, 5 ER (Feldman L, 2-3)

8/04: 7.0 IP, 3 R, 3 ER (Chen L, 6-4)

8/06: 6.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Norris W, 2-0)

8/07: 6.0 IP, 3 R, 3 ER (Gonzalez ND, W)

8/09: 8.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Tillman ND, W)

8/10: 6.0 IP, 3 R, 3 ER (Chen L, 6-5)

8/11: 5.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Norris ND, W)

8/12: 5.1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER (Feldman ND, L)

8/13: 7.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Gonzalez ND, L)

8/14: 6.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Tillman ND, L)

8/16: 6.1 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (Chen L, 6-6)

8/17: 5.2 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (Norris W, 2-2)

8/18: 6.2 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Feldman W, 3-3)

8/19: 6.0 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (Tillman L, 14-4)

8/20: 5.2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER (Gonzalez L, 8-6)

8/21: 7.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Chen W, 7-6)

So far, that's a 4.18 ERA, 6.07 IP/start in August. It's especially nice to see the IP/start that high for the second month in a row. O's starters have failed to go five innings only once so far in August, and that was 4.2 innings back on August 3.

[Frobby]

No to re open an old wound, but what you dont see is the multiple losses for the games these pitchers pitched by the bullpen, specifically the

closer.The bullpen is the MUCH bigger let down than the SP.

Well, you do spot them if you are paying attention. Just look for the games that are an ND for the starting pitcher that we lost. There were three of them (two by JJ), all in the Arizona series, of course. JJ also had a blown save on August 9, but the O's won that game in extra innings. The bullpen actually has a decent 3.28 ERA in August, but those losses in Arizona really stung, no doubt.

[calmunderfire]

No to re open an old wound, but what you dont see is the multiple losses for the games these pitchers pitched by the bullpen, specifically the

closer.The bullpen is the MUCH bigger let down than the SP.

Recently yes. In totality the SP has been a bigger letdown. We have to remember Hammel, Britton, Gausman, Garcia and just the overall meh performances of most of the starters.

I was watching MLB Network yesterday and the analysts attributed much of the bullpen ineffectiveness on the starters not being effective and not going deep into games.

[Redskins Rick]

I think the starting five today, is much better after the ASG, with the additions of Norris and Feldman, then the pre-ASG version.

Of course, the on-fire offensive covered up for the guys.

[Frobby]

Recently yes. In totality the SP has been a bigger letdown. We have to remember Hammel, Britton, Gausman, Garcia and just the overall meh performances of most of the starters.

I was watching MLB Network yesterday and the analysts attributed much of the bullpen ineffectiveness on the starters not being effective and not going deep into games.

What is the bigger letdown depends on your expectations going into the season. Our bullpen was 32-11 with a 3.00 ERA and a 75% save rate last year. The starters were 61-58 with a 4.42 ERA and averaged 5.79 innings per game. This year, the bullpen is 20-17 with a 3.67 ERA and a 68% save rate. The starters are 48-41 with a 4.57 ERA and have averaged 5.83 IP/start. Overall, I'm disappointed by both groups, but I'd say that the bullpen has been the bigger disappointment of the two and that going forward the rest of this season, I'm more concerned about the bullpen than the starters, who have been doing much better in July and August with the return of Chen and the additions of Feldman and Norris.

By the way, since the bullpen thrived last year while the starters were throwing 5.79 IP/start, which was lower than this year's 5.83, it's hard to blame the bullpen's recent woes on the starters' inability to get deep in games. The starters have thrown over 6 IP/game in July and August, and there have been a ton of days off recently.

[calmunderfire]

What is the bigger letdown depends on your expectations going into the season. Our bullpen was 32-11 with a 3.00 ERA and a 75% save rate last year. The starters were 61-58 with a 4.42 ERA and averaged 5.79 innings per game. This year, the bullpen is 20-17 with a 3.67 ERA and a 68% save rate. The starters are 48-41 with a 4.57 ERA and have averaged 5.83 IP/start. Overall, I'm disappointed by both groups, but I'd say that the bullpen has been the bigger disappointment of the two and that going forward the rest of this season, I'm more concerned about the bullpen than the starters, who have been doing much better in July and August with the return of Chen and the additions of Feldman and Norris.

By the way, since the bullpen thrived last year while the starters were throwing 5.79 IP/start, which was lower than this year's 5.83, it's hard to blame the bullpen's recent woes on the starters' inability to get deep in games. The starters have thrown over 6 IP/game in July and August, and there have been a ton of days off recently.

Going forward I agree the bullpen is cause for more concern. We have about 4 mid rotation starters right now. I'd say we could be doing worse.

[Frobby]

August starter game log

8/01: 6.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Norris W, 1-0)

8/02: 5.1 IP, 6 R, 6 ER (Tillman W, 14-4)

8/03: 4.2 IP, 5 R, 5 ER (Feldman L, 2-3)

8/04: 7.0 IP, 3 R, 3 ER (Chen L, 6-4)

8/06: 6.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Norris W, 2-0)

8/07: 6.0 IP, 3 R, 3 ER (Gonzalez ND, W)

8/09: 8.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Tillman ND, W)

8/10: 6.0 IP, 3 R, 3 ER (Chen L, 6-5)

8/11: 5.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Norris ND, W)

8/12: 5.1 IP, 2 R, 1 ER (Feldman ND, L)

8/13: 7.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Gonzalez ND, L)

8/14: 6.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Tillman ND, L)

8/16: 6.1 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (Chen L, 6-6)

8/17: 5.2 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (Norris W, 2-2)

8/18: 6.2 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Feldman W, 3-3)

8/19: 6.0 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (Tillman L, 14-4)

8/20: 5.2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER (Gonzalez L, 8-6)

8/21: 7.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Chen W, 7-6)

8/23: 4.2 IP, 7 R, 7 ER (Norris ND, W)

8/24: 8.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Tillman ND, L)

8/25: 5.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Feldman W, 4-3)

8/27: 3.2 IP, 8 R, 8 ER (Chen L, 7-7)

8/28: 5.1 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Norris ND, L)

8/29: 7.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (Tillman W, 15-4)

8/30: 4.0 IP, 7 R, 7 ER (Gonzalez L, 8-7)

8/31: 7.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Feldman L, 4-4)

That's a 4.49 ERA, 5.94 IP/start in August. Norris, Chen and Gonzalez each threw a stinker near the end of the month after 3 weeks of pretty decent pitching.

[Frobby]

September starter game log

9/01: 4.0 IP, 3 R, 3 ER (Chen ND, W)

9/02: 7.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Norris W, 3-2)

9/03: 5.1 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (Tillman L, 15-5)

9/04: 2.1 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (Britton ND, L)

9/05: 7.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Gonzalez W, 9-7)

9/06: 9.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER (Feldman W, 5-4)

[Grt 2BA FL Gator]

September starter game log

9/01: 4.0 IP, 3 R, 3 ER (Chen ND, W)

9/02: 7.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Norris W, 3-2)

9/03: 5.1 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (Tillman L, 15-5)

9/04: 2.1 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (Britton ND, L)

9/05: 7.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (Gonzalez W, 9-7)

9/06: 9.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER (Feldman W, 5-4)

You're going bump crazy today and I like it. Let's see if Chen/Gonzo and to a lesser degree Tillman can do their thing down the stretch.