Tim_VanVooren's Blog

So Eric Gagne leads the major leagues in blown saves this season and even when he is successful, has to navigate through some pretty tough traffic.  Derrick Turnbow is off the roster.  Yovani Gallardo is likely lost for the season.  Dave Bush used to drive fans crazy by unravelling in the seventh inning on a semiregular basis.  However, Manny Parra and Carlos Villanueva often don't even get to the seventh.  Jeff Weaver isn't major league ready yet at Nashville and Zach Jackson is pitching his way right out of the picture.  This is a pretty significant turnaround for a team that had a logjam of pitching in spring training.  And it's a pretty troubling development for a team that isn't hitting and has to somehow find a way to get some positive momentum going sooner rather than later.  And if Ben Sheets were to get hurt again.... At least for the time being, Sheets and Jeff Suppan have to pitch like big money, front of the rotaion starters and either Parra or Villanueva has to approach his potential.  General Manager Doug Melvin has put this team in position to warrant high expectations, and he is undoubtedly trying to find a way to shore up his squad's position on the mound.