Monday, July 26, 2010

J-Zimm struggles at Hagerstown

Jordan Zimmermann went down one level of the Nationals' farm system to make his fifth minor-league rehab start today. His performance went down several notches.

Pitching for low-Class A Hagerstown in the first game of a twi-night doubleheader against West Virginia, Zimmermann was tagged for seven runs and seven hits in five innings, suffering his first loss of the season.

Zimmermann, who hadn't allowed an earned run or issued a walk in four previous rehab starts with high-Class A Potomac, gave up six earned runs today. He also walked a batter, struck out three and served up two home runs.

The right-hander is expected to come off the disabled list and join the Nats' rotation sometime in mid-August.

15 comments:

Nats2005 said...

Ouch!

Farid Rushdi said...

I remember Stephen Strasburg getting crushed in his second outing in the Arizona Fall League last season, giving up something like six or seven runs in just three innings.

He seems to have turned out okay.

One outing doesn't mean much. Not too worried.

Anonymous said...

"The right-hander is expected to come off the disabled list and join the Nats' rotation sometime in mid-August."

Based upon his performance today, Zimmerman will fit right into the Nats rotation!

Anonymous said...

And Danny Rosenbaum, sporting a 0.75 ERA is pitching a shutout in Potomac.

Anonymous8 said...

If that is a one-timer on JZim's rehab record, no biggie.

....so let's hope that is a one-timer!

natsfan1a said...

Hope it's just a blip on the radar as far as J-Zimm's long-term health and recovery.

In other news, that was quite a game at Tampa Bay tonight. I happened to tune in around the 3rd inning and got sucked in. Was glad to see Garza pull it off.

NatsJack in Florida said...

J-Zimm is throwing what amounts to spring traiing outings. He is building pitch counts and working various pitches.

There are times when you are told to throw fastballs only and other times where you are told to throw 50% breaking pitches and others when you are told to work your change up extensively, all with out consideration for the outcome.

Nothing to be concerned about everyone... just relax.

Brian said...

Check out this article from the local Hagerstown paper regarding Zimmermann's outing. It has quotes from Zimmermann saying he felt his pitches were their sharpest they've been. While the results in the box score look ugly, the perspective of the guy doing the throwing stands in contrast

Andrew said...

Brian - You beat me to it!

http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=249810&edition_id=2212&format=html

Good to see Riggleman and McCatty taking no time off and traveling to see JZim in this outing!

NatsJack in Florida said...

As a seasoned spring training observer, as I said in my previous post, watching performances when guys are working on stuff as opposed to focusing on getting guys out, you see through the stats line.

Jason Marquis never looked right in spring trianing and I mean NEVER. Scott Olsen showed marked improvement towards the end of spring training and Livo was consistently good with location through out all of spring training. Lannan on the other hand consitently pitched behind in the count and showed signs of poor location. Stammen and Atilano pitched exactly as they do now... one time good ... two times bad...

Zimmermann has the best stuff on the staff aside from Strasburg and will be fine once he focuses on location and not arm strength.

Doc said...

Mark, where do the Nats big boys put Danny Rosenbaum on the prospects depth chart? Looks like he is demonstrating good linear progress.

Steve M. said...

I enjoyed reading the local paper analysis of the JZim! Sun in the eyes triple. A few errors. A lot of extra pitches. Sounds like Detwiler's outing minus the sun in the eyes triple and replace it with Willie Harris miscue playing 3rd base and of course Detwiler didn't technically have any earned runs. Both looked ugly in the boxscores.

Doc brings up a recurring name, Danny Rosenbaum. I see his stats which are great but still just "A" ball. Mark, to follow up on Doc's question, what does Rosenbaum's fastball clock in at? I believe he is a lefty and cringe at the thought that he is another "crafty" lefty in the pipeline. Hoping he has a plus fastball before I get too excited.

Mark Zuckerman said...

The book on Rosenbaum: He was a 22nd round pick out of Xavier University last year. Obviously has exceeded expectations so far. Had a 1.95 ERA in the GCL last summer and has a combined 2.13 ERA at Hagerstown and Potomac this season. He doesn't have overpowering stuff, though. Typical lefty who relies on fastball location and good offspeed stuff to get guys out. He profiles similar to Tom Milone, another lefty currently at Harrisburg. If they ever make it to the big leagues, they're probably back-of-the-rotation material.

Steve M. said...

Mark, thanks!

For a 22nd round pick, a pleasant surprise still though I would take your description and call him a 'crafty' lefty which doesn't spell top of the rotation.

Doc said...

Mark,thanks for the stuff on Rosenbaum. It'll be interesting to follow his status. A 'crafty righty' named Greg Maddux will soon be in the HOF.

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