Berry berry interesding, sounds like “stinkin thinkin” to me. Let me explain why. Did he purposely give up three runs in the first inning to the Red Sox in the first game of the 2013 World Series at Fenway? Did he “accidentally” surrender the first run of the game to the Red Sox in the first inning of the fifth game when the series returned to Fenway? Well, well, well he started two games in the series, and ended up with a 4.50 ERA and pitching 12 innings, giving up 14 hits and eight runs, six of them earned. Oh, by the way his ERA was 2.94 during the 2013 regular season. Could the post season represent the new kryptonite for Adam Wainwright and if so why would you possibly give up home field advantage for your ballclub if they advance to the 2014 “Autumn Classic” just to make Derek Jeter, Babe Ruth, Pee Wee Reese, Hank Aaron or any other retiring major leaguer look good?
Adam Wainwright is an excellent pitcher with an array of pitches so varied that most hitters that face him until they at least partially figure him out, are at a distinct disadvantage. Other intangibles like, what is the pitch that he relies on the most when he is behind in the count or in trouble? What are his greatest “situational” pitches and why and when are they effective and when are certain weapons in his “arsenal” most ineffective?
I need all of you baseball aficionados’ to stay with me and listen carefully to what I am about to say. I don’t care how good any MLB pitcher may be. If a pitcher competes long enough, someone, maybe not everyone is going to figure that individual out and find a chink in their armor. When they do there will be a long line of eager students lining up outside of that “teachers” classroom textbooks and note pads in hand.
(Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412-583-6741 Follow him on Twitter: @ultrascribe.)
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