tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post2786639710142928080..comments2023-06-28T14:05:14.909-04:00Comments on Watching Durham Bulls Baseball: Torres?Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-88497676579954519062012-07-30T14:15:28.253-04:002012-07-30T14:15:28.253-04:00Orin,
I take your point about Torres being the rar...Orin,<br />I take your point about Torres being the rare left-handed starter available in the Rays system. I had not given that any thought at all. I did want to vent a bit about how much he has hurt the Bulls this year, and the inability of the coaches to figure it out. <br />Yes, he's young and yes, that's part of the fun (and pain) of being a Bulls fan. I think we could agree to disagree over his 2011 numbers: Half full (walks) vs half empty (Ks). Last year he had 83 BB to 156 Ks, for a not-very-good, 1.9 BB/K ratio. This year the he's at 61 BB to 77 Ks for a pretty awful 1.3 ratio. His WHIP went from 1.5 to 2.05. <br /><br />My problem (and obviously the Rays' and Bulls') is what should be done. I'd thought the Bulls were going to give a Paduch, Pendleton, Torra, Archer, Ramos rotation a shot, now I don't know.<br /><br />Don't want to give up. Would like to hear that they have, or are trying to implement, some sort of plan that will help him and the Bulls.Chris W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-62097043955524275202012-07-30T12:20:49.767-04:002012-07-30T12:20:49.767-04:00Alex Torres is one of my favorite Durham Bulls ove...Alex Torres is one of my favorite Durham Bulls over the past couple years so I'm sad that he's lost his way on the mound in 2012. <br /><br />In 2011 he was solid for the Bulls, even spent some time with the big club and did OK (ERA under 3.5 in 4 appearances totaling 8 innings). He remains one of three left handed starters on the 40 man roster (Price and Moore are the others). <br /><br />But 2012 has indeed been another story. Partway through the season Torres went to the bullpen to try to find his control, a big step that can't have been easy. Call ups from Montgomery couldn't fill the hole in the rotation, so back into the breach he went after up and down outings from the pen. As you note, walks and homers have been the issue, even though he's striking out more batters than last season it's not enough. Alex might have been put back into the starting lineup to showcase his skills for a trade, but that certainly hasn't helped in any way. I don't know his contract situation (he came over in the Scott Kazmir trade), but with the tools and positive attitude he has, age 24 is way too soon to give up.<br /><br />My hope is that Alex can go back to the bullpen, get some good coaching for the rest of the season, and get back to a good place; starting just isn't working out for him or the club.Orin Dayhttp://www.dwhoops.comnoreply@blogger.com