Gaudin gets pounded - Again!

Wednesday August 5, 2009

Chad Gaudin has been showing why the Cubs cut him loose before the season in his last few outings and today's game should be the nail in his coffin.

In his 4th consecutive loss today Gaudin gave up 9 hits, 2 walks and 6 runs in 3.1 innings to the Atlanta Braves to raise his ERA to 5.13 on the season.

If his burgeoning ERA isn't enough, his ludicrous 54 BB in 105 innings should be enough to punch his ticket for the pen or the minors. Occasionally the guy will pitch a good game, (5 quality starts in his last 13 starts since the beginning of June) but the bad games FAR outweigh anything positive he has done recently.

So who is the next young gun to get a shot at the Padres starting rotation?
LeBlanc again? Frieri? Carrillo?


On a side note:
Have you noticed how well Joe "Becky" Thatcher pitches with nothing on the line and his team down by a ton of runs? His BAA with the bases empty is .220. In appearances where the team is down by 4 + runs he has a sub 1.00 ERA and the opposing team hits .222.

Have you also noticed how absolutely putrid he is with men on base and the lead on the line? The guy has pitched in 24 games and has ZERO holds. Not a single one. With RISP he has a .318 BAA and has allowed a .484 OBP. In late and close games opposing batters hit .75 and in tie games the opposing team bats .500 with a .667 OBP!!

In other words the guy CHOKES with men in scoring position or in anything resembling a pressure situation.

Can you say head case?