In the vast world of sports clichés, one of the most tried and true maxims is that “the hardest thing in sports is to hit a baseball.” And that may be true in the majors, where every hurler not named Kyle Hendricks throws 90+ mph darts and “wildness” means missing by a matter of inches. However, it has long been my suspicion that, at lower levels, pitching a baseball is just as difficult. From 60 feet away you are expected to throw at a target with dimensions that change with every batter (and umpire), and aim not just at the middle of the target, but at specific corners. You’re supposed to do this while standing on a small hill, contorting your body in such a way as to make an already unnatural throwing motion borderline absurd. Meanwhile, there is a guy standing next to that target with a heavy stick, hell bent on smashing the ball you just threw with all of his weight and fury (and heaven help you if that ball returns the way it came). Yeah, pitching is hard. How else do you explain the fact that I finished my high school baseball career with a .000 batting average and a .370 OBP?
Towson’s pitching staff is, unfortunately, proving my point so far this season. The Tigers have allowed 71 runs in 6 games this season and have been outscored 16-0 in the first inning alone. That’s putting a ton of pressure on an offense that has done it’s best to acquit itself. They average over 5 runs per game, riding a scorching start from Richie Palacios and a rotating group of other contributors each game.
There is nothing to preach here but patience. Pitching coach Miles Miller has a lot of success on his resume, but it’s going to take some time for any of his lessons to take effect. The returning pitchers include the one bright spot on the staff (and new addition to the Watch List), but the Tigers have sent three freshman to the mound this season, plus a number of Juco transfers. There are a lot of guys facing a higher quality of competition then ever before.
To use another popular cliché, there’s nowhere to go but up.
Watch List
Richie Palacios, SS – Another game, another hit (at least). He’s had at least one in every contest this season and went 6-13 against Richmond with his third home run. For the year he’s now at .440/.500/.960. LOL.
Andrew Cassard, OF – Cassard went 0-3 with two strikeouts in the Friday’s game and didn’t play the rest of the weekend. I’m leaving him on the list for now, practicing what you preach and all that (I’ve been preaching patience, if you haven’t been paying attention).
Bo Plagge, OF/P – Plagge pitched two innings on Friday, striking out two, but allowing four runs on five hits and a walk. On Sunday, he started the series finale in right field and went 2-3 with a walk and his first home run of the season, before taking the mound for the final inning and allowing two runs on two doubles and a walk.
David Marriggi, P – Marriggi, a senior left-handed pitcher, has been been solid in both of his starts this season. He has gone at least five innings and allowed two runs in each, though he had to work through six walks and a hit batter on Saturday. On the season his other notable numbers include nine strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings and zero extra base hits allowed. I haven’t been able to find any video of Marriggi, but I did find a reference online to him hitting 87 mph in high school, supporting my idea that he’s working with decent stuff. He has to find a way to improve his control, but I’m going to watch Marriggi to see if his new pitching coach can have any influence on his numbers.
UP NEXT
Towson finally gets some home cooking with three games at Schuerholz Park versus the University of Albany. The Great Danes just dropped two of three in their season opening series, but have an experienced team that has been improving in the America East conference. They will be a tough match-up, but the Tigers have enjoyed somewhat of a home-field advantage the last few years. The first game is Friday at 2 p.m., with 1 p.m. starts on Saturday and Sunday. Management willing, perhaps I can take in a game in person.
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