It looks like MLB has told its umps not to call the low strikes, or the corners... but DO call the high strikes. It normally takes a couple of weeks for the umps to forget about all that, and get back to calling their usual zone, so we'll have to deal w/ their crazy lack of consistency for now.
Wow... what an encouraging inning from Pettite (as far as the rest of the year is concerned). He's such a great PITCHer... meaning, he obviously can't just throw it in the strike zone every time and be effective... he's got to rely on his big breaking stuff, and off-speed pitches to always keep the batter off-balance.
He's getting his knee examined on April 12th, and then they'll decide whether or not to send him out on a minor league rehab assignment. But, he won't be doing anything sooner than that.
I hate the fact that if Taveras gets out to end the inning then Pettitte has to lead off the next inning. Or if he gets on with two outs, then Pettitte will end the inning. Its like a no win situation. I guess I could say the same thing about any number 8 hitter, but still. I want Taveras somewhere else in the lineup.
If everything goes fine on April 12th, then he probably spends 3-4 games at Round Rock... so definitely not that long. My guess would be before the end of April.. .but no sooner.
You gotta have some patients with this guy... he's only 22 years old, he's never seen MLB pitching (hell he's never even seen AAA pitching), and its going to take awhile before it settles in that he's an everyday major leaguer. Just looking at his day today (a K looking on a 3-2 pitch that should have warranted a swing, and a GIDP)... you have to realize that he's going to have some growing pains adjusting to MLB pitching.
