That's encouraging at least. I just wish he wasn't so "live or die" with the 2SM. I can't see that approach working against most average-great offenses.
Danny Barnes and Wade LeBlanc would be good choices. Barnes' stats look real good in AA and LeBlanc's FIP / K/9 as a starter in AAA could really play up in our BP, possibly improve.
I didn't watch a lot of the game, how did he actually look? Was it the same Stroman as the past few starts only with more K's/less hard contact due to us facing Philly, or did he look different?
Can't blame anyone but himself then. Yet again today, we watched him throw a 2 strike 2SM, and he got crushed for a HR for doing it. This was a good start overall, but, against the Phillies, I can't really say if it was encouraging or not.
He was on BC saying that "his sources in the organization" were saying that Stroman should be using less 2SM, far more high 4SM, and mixing in more curves and sliders. He went on to say that the spin of the sinker (off the side of his hand) could be affecting the spin of the breaking pitches (which should spin over the top). It's a pretty good interview, I'd recommend checking it out.
He seems pretty stubborn and reverts back to the large sinker usage quite frequently, even after experiencing success using more 4SM and working all 4 quadrants of the zone (in his start against Tampa and LA).
I really hope someone is able to get through to him. Tabler revealing his sources' opinions on how to fix him tell me that the organization knows what's up, but Stroman has yet to buy into it.