The season is well under way. I felt like this would a good time to start up the blog again. Here’s the newest edition of Three Up, Three Down where I look at 3 guys who are doing well and 3 who are struggling so far this season.
Three Up
I have to start with the bullpen and Wil Crowe. Crowe has been ridiculously good this year. I always liked his stuff and thought he had value. He’s shown that value in relief. Crowe currently is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. In 13.1 innings, he’s held opponents to a .152 average while striking out 16 and walking only 4. For me, it looks like he is way more aggressive out of the pen and isn’t nibbling and missing as much as when he was a starter.
Sticking with the pen, Dillon Peters seems to have found a home along with Crowe in the relief role. Peters is currently 3-0 and holding opponents to a .034 average in 10.1 innings. In fact, Peters didn’t give up a hit to anyone until 4/24. He’s also struck out 8 while walking 4.
I could keep going with relievers like Anthony Banda and David Bednar, but I want to include a hitter. For that, I got with lead-off man extraordinaire, Dan Vogelbach. Vogelbach is off to a great start. In 45 AB, he’s hitting .311 with 3 HRs. His OPS is sitting at .936. He’s been fun to watch.
Three Down
Acquired in the Jacob Stallings deal, Zach Thompson has had a rough go of it so far. After a decent first start where he went 4 innings and gave up 2 runs, he’s been rocked in his other two starts to the tune of 15 runs (10 earned) over 6 innings. He’s allowed 20 hits and 7 walks over his 10 total innings. That’s not great. It’s early, but it’s not encouraging to see.
JT Brubaker has also struggled. In his 15.1 innings, he’s given up 14 runs (11 earned) with 11 walks. Like Thompson, it’s early, but not encouraging.
As much as I want him to be good and finally breakout at least a little, Cole Tucker is not having a good start. He is 7-41 on the season with 16 Ks. He’s also had his share of misplays in the outfield. They’ll keep putting him in the lineup, but the clock has to be ticking. While I’d still rather they DFA Josh VanMeter when rosters are reduced, Tucker hasn’t done anything to remove his name from that conversation.
Bucco Fever Podcast 