Teeing Off on Tanaka

Kevin Kernan unloads on Masahiro Tanaka and the Yankees starting pitching in general.

The Yankees have lost 7 of 10, their starting pitching is collapsing, and Tanaka can’t get outs. In his outing against the Rays on Opening Day, Tanaka didn’t last three innings and gave up seven runs. In his past three outings against the Rays, Tanaka has surrendered nine home runs over 11?²/? innings.

The Rays are onto something with the struggling right-hander, who now owns a 6.56 ERA. Over his past two starts, Tanaka has surrendered seven home runs in 4 ²/? innings.

What is really interesting about Tanaka is that there appears to be little change from last season. He is throwing all his pitches with the same mix and about the same velocity. He is inducing a lower percentage of line drives, which should be a good thing. His fly balls allowed, however, are leaving the park at an alarming rate, 24.5%, compared to 12% in 2016. It may be that Tanaka has become too predictable, either in his ordering of pitches, or in tipping off his pitches. At the moment, the problem appears to be one that the Yankees could correct.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2pZ8zAW