If Hammel can be like Fister, Orioles pitching revival could be real
NEW YORK -- A year ago, Doug Fister was just another pitcher, basically unnoticed in a Mariners rotation dominated by Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda.
Now, Fister is so important to the Tigers that they're counting the days until he comes off the disabled list (probably next Monday).
A year ago, Jason Hammel was just another starter in a Rockies rotation that fell apart and took Colorado's season with it.
Now, Hammel is a huge part of what seems to be an Orioles pitching revival.
Do you see a comparison there? Rick Adair does.
Adair, who worked with Fister when he was the Mariners pitching coach in 2009-10, is working with Hammel now as the Orioles pitching coach.
"He reminds me a lot of Fister, with more velocity," Adair said. "The height and the athleticism are similar."
The height, the athleticism, and the change of results after a change of team.
Fister was 12-30 with a 3.81 ERA, a 1.238 WHIP and a 2.76 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 60 games with the Mariners. He's 8-1 with a 1.70 ERA, a 0.851 WHIP and a 10.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 12 games with the Tigers. The win-loss record was obviously skewed by the lack of run support in Seattle, but Fister's other numbers improved, as well.
Hammel was 34-45 with a 4.99 ERA and a .794 OPS against in six years with the Rays and Rockies. He's 3-1 with a 1.97 ERA and a .560 OPS against in a month with the Orioles. Yes, it's a small sample size and helped considerably by a .253 batting average on balls in play, Hammel is also striking out more batters and serving up fewer home runs than he has in the past.
Fister is 6-foot-8, and 28 years old. Hammel is 6-foot-6, and he's 29.
Have the Orioles really found something in Hammel, who they got with Matt Lindstrom in the Jeremy Guthrie trade?
It's too early to say for sure, but if he's turning into Doug Fister, maybe this Orioles pitching revival will be real.
Now, Fister is so important to the Tigers that they're counting the days until he comes off the disabled list (probably next Monday).
A year ago, Jason Hammel was just another starter in a Rockies rotation that fell apart and took Colorado's season with it.
Now, Hammel is a huge part of what seems to be an Orioles pitching revival.
Do you see a comparison there? Rick Adair does.
Adair, who worked with Fister when he was the Mariners pitching coach in 2009-10, is working with Hammel now as the Orioles pitching coach.
"He reminds me a lot of Fister, with more velocity," Adair said. "The height and the athleticism are similar."
The height, the athleticism, and the change of results after a change of team.
Fister was 12-30 with a 3.81 ERA, a 1.238 WHIP and a 2.76 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 60 games with the Mariners. He's 8-1 with a 1.70 ERA, a 0.851 WHIP and a 10.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 12 games with the Tigers. The win-loss record was obviously skewed by the lack of run support in Seattle, but Fister's other numbers improved, as well.
Hammel was 34-45 with a 4.99 ERA and a .794 OPS against in six years with the Rays and Rockies. He's 3-1 with a 1.97 ERA and a .560 OPS against in a month with the Orioles. Yes, it's a small sample size and helped considerably by a .253 batting average on balls in play, Hammel is also striking out more batters and serving up fewer home runs than he has in the past.
Fister is 6-foot-8, and 28 years old. Hammel is 6-foot-6, and he's 29.
Have the Orioles really found something in Hammel, who they got with Matt Lindstrom in the Jeremy Guthrie trade?
It's too early to say for sure, but if he's turning into Doug Fister, maybe this Orioles pitching revival will be real.
