Anderson to receive more chances
For good or bad, lefthander Tyler Anderson remains a part of the Rockies’ playoffchase equation.
Manager Bud Black reiterated Monday that he believes Anderson can rebound from a very rough stretch. Anderson lines up to start Friday night at San Francisco.
“It’s a matter of location for Tyler, because the velocity is there,” Black said before the Rockies hosted Arizona in a key National League West showdown. “It’s a matter of arm slot, and I’ve talked to Tyler about that. For me, that’s a little bit inconsistent. He needs a consistent release point.”
Anderson last only 2M innings Sunday in the Rockies’ 96 loss to the Dodgers at Coors Field. Anderson needed 35 pitches to get through the Dodgers’ tworun first inning and ended up throwing 72 pitches, allowing four runs (three earned) in his short stint.
Over his last 11 starts, Anderson is 05 with a 6.75 ERA and Colorado is 29 in those 11 games. Over his last five starts, he’s 04 with an 11.64 ERA.
Still, Anderson insisted he has not lost his confidence.
“I think if I was to pitch to (the Dodgers) tomorrow, I could get them out,” he said Sunday. Black backed up Anderson. “Tyler is one of the most confident, convicted players we have,” Black said. “I feel the same. I know that, being in those shoes, there is a belief that you can really throw a good game every time you take the mound. I think that’s part of what makes a player successful, is their confidence in their ability.
“With Tyler, he’s healthy, his stuff is fine. He’s just not locating the ball. I think probably most of it is mechanics.”
Black believes a few good inning could help Anderson rebound.
“When you get on a roll — onetwothree (inning) — or you give up a hit and then get a double play, and you have another good inning …. that sort builds (momentum),” Black said. “Tyler hasn’t been able to quite do that through August. There were a couple of good starts.
“But is he capable in his next start to do that? Absolutely. I think the talent’s there, the stuff is there, the selfconfidence is there. Now he just has to be right physically.”
At this point in the season, the Rockies don’t have any other real alternatives. Former starter Chad Bettis, now working out of the bullpen, would only be able to provide a maximum of three innings. The Rockies chose not make righthander Jeff Hoffman, who had a rollercoaster season at TripleA, a September callup.
Another option would be to use a “piggyback” system in which two or three pitchers are lined up to pitch the first five or six innings. It is doubtful the Rockies would employ that tactic.