Eye On You: Scott Kazmir

NOTE: My post-game post will be late tonight, because I’m heading to Trenton in a couple of hours to see Phil Hughes pitch his second rehab start. It’ll be my first time at Waterfront Park, and I can’t wait to get out of here and head to the game. I’ll have pictures from the game, and a post on his performance tonight or tomorrow.

The Yanks are in Tampa again tonight for the second game of their series with the D-Rays. Roger Clemens takes the hill against Scott Kazmir, the focal point of today’s preview.

Stats: 5 wins, 6 losses, 112.1 innings, 119 hits, 58 walks, 115 Ks, 1.58 WHIP, 4.41 ERA.
Scouting: Kazmir is a fastball/slider lefty with a power arm. He relies on his mid-nineties heater, and up until the first half of this year, I thought he was a real ace in the making. His walk numbers this year, however, point to some kind of mechanical problem. A 1.58 WHIP is completely unacceptable, no matter how many guys you strike out. The Yankee patience will probably mean a short night for Kazmir.
History: Kazmir has 2 no-decisions against the Yanks so far this year, but that’s not the history I want to talk about. Kazmir was involved in probably the second-worst trade in the past five years. (If you don’t know what number 1 is, read the archives over at El Lefty Malo. Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser for A.J. Pierzynski). After declaring Kazmir untouchable for years, the Mets had a change of heart when none other than Victor Zambrano became available. Zambrano is out of baseball, and the Mets are hurting for starting pitching. All you Oriole fans out there should be happy to hear that you have the architect of that trade in your front office right now, Jim Duquette.

D-Rays blog-of-the-day: Rays Index