Several teams get no relief on Opening Day

ESPN.com

Updated: March 31, 2008

PIGPENS TAKE CENTER STAGE

By Mark Simon, ESPN Research

It may have been a great relief to many fans that baseball was back in full force on Monday (or at least almost full, minus a couple of rainouts), but relief was something that was lacking at a number of ballparks.

Bullpen struggles were a theme of several Opening Day games and were the culprit in losses for the Phillies, White Sox and Cubs, in particular.

Veteran pitchers Tom Gordon, Eric Gagne and Octavio Dotel showed they could all use a little bit more seasoning, though maybe with the calendar turning to April and the weather soon to warm up a little bit, they'll get back into their element the next time out.

PASS THE ROLAIDS
Pitcher Team Result
Tom Gordon Phillies Allowed five-plus runs in a game for the first time since 1997.
Eric
Gagne		 Brewers Allowed three runs to the Cubs. Had previously allowed three runs in 21 2/3 innings against the Cubs in his career.
Kerry Wood Cubs Allowed three runs. Allowed only four runs in 12 spring appearances.
Octavio Dotel White Sox Allowed three runs in his White Sox debut. He had a 10.45 ERA in spring training.
Matt
Capps		 Pirates Allowed three runs. In 76 games in 2007, he allowed three-plus runs only twice.

FIVE PITCHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON IN APRIL

By Orel Hershiser, ESPN

Carlos Zambrano, Cubs
He had a really good spring (1-0, 2.37 ERA, 15 IP, 14 K) and came into camp in a lot better shape. He pitched well in the Cubs' opener on Monday, tossing shutout ball for 6 2/3 innings, but he did leave early with a cramp in his right forearm.

He doesn't have the pressure of a contract extension hanging over him this season like he did in 2007. One thing to watch is the intensity he pitches with -- Zambrano knows he's a better pitcher when he's intense and excited.

Brad Penny, Dodgers
A notorious fast starter throughout his career, Penny is 17-5 with a 3.35 ERA in April. He also pitched well in the Dodgers' opener on Monday, throwing shutout ball for 6 2/3 innings.

He had a big spring (0.90 ERA). Pitching in warm weather is ideal for him, especially early in the season. Penny could be the anchor of a Dodgers team that has high expectations in 2008.

Dontrelle Willis, Tigers
Another fast starter, Willis is 14-2 in his career in April (54-52 after April). While he will pitch in the American League for the first time, he's going to a pitchers' ballpark in Detroit. He also should be able to relax more, knowing that he should get better run support and doesn't have to be the ace of the staff -- which should mean less pressure on him.

This is an ideal situation for Willis to work on his mechanics and find his old form, something he hasn't had in each of the past two seasons.

Want to send in comments for use on "Baseball Tonight"? Join the "Chatter Up!" chat each Tuesday and Thursday throughout the baseball season. Check out the most recent chat wrap.

Brett Myers, Phillies
He had a great spring (2-0, 1.64 ERA), but he also has something to prove now that he's back in the starting rotation after spending 2007 in the Phillies' bullpen. He had an average performance in the Phillies' opener on Monday, allowing four runs on five hits in five innings.

Myers is one of the Phillies' emotional leaders, and if he gets off to a strong start, the Phils could be in a good spot early in the season.

J.J. Putz, Mariners
Everyone knows he has unbelievable stuff, and his save percentage is going to be off the charts again (76 saves, 1.86 ERA in the past two seasons). But Putz gets overlooked because of where he plays, and he's been on a team that hasn't really been in playoff contention in recent years.

If Putz played in the East Coast time zone, he'd be a superstar -- and that's not to say he isn't one, because he is. But can you imagine how much more he'd be noticed if he pitched in New York or Boston?


Comments

You must be signed in to post a comment

Already have an account?

You are fully responsible for the content you post. Content that includes profanity, personal attacks or antisocial behavior (such as "spamming" or "trolling"), or other inappropriate content or material will be removed. We reserve the right to block any user who violates our terms of use, including removing all content posted by that user.

BBTN ON THE AIR: TUESDAY

TIME WHO'S ON?
Midnight ET
ESPN		 Host: Karl Ravech
Analyst: Buster Olney

BASEBALL TONIGHT MINUTE

GOIN' DEEP

Jim Thome and Xavier Nady each hit two home runs in their teams' season-opening games on Monday.

Thome belted two, two-run homers off of C.C. Sabathia -- one in the first inning and one in the third -- in the White Sox's 10-8 loss to the Indians.

Nady blasted a solo shot in the eighth inning and later gave the Pirates the lead for good with a three-run homer in the 12th as Pittsburgh outlasted Atlanta, 12-11.

PEAVY, PADRES SILENCE ASTROS

FORWARD THINKING: TUESDAY

• Blue Jays at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET: The Blue Jays and Yankees were rained out on Monday, so this will be Opening Day for both teams. Chien-Ming Wang will get the start for the Yankees. He won 19 games for a second straight season last year. He made a combined 63 starts over the past two seasons. Roy Halladay will counter for the Blue Jays. He was third in the American League in inning pitched (225.1) last season and finished with a 3.71 ERA in 31 starts.

• Angels at Twins, 8:10 p.m. ET: Jon Garland will make his first start for the Angels since being acquired from the White Sox this past offseason. Garland has pitched more than 200 innings in each of the past four seasons. The Twins will go with Boof Bonser. The right-hander allowed 27 home runs in 173 innings pitched for the Twins last season.

• Red Sox at A's, 10:05 p.m. ET: In a rematch of last Tuesday's season-opening game in Japan, Daisuke Matsuzaka will oppose Joe Blanton. Matsuzaka and Blanton both received no-decisions in the game (the Red Sox went on to win 6-5). Matsuzaka allowed two runs and walked five in five innings pitched. Blanton was touched up for three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.