I have a problem when people begin to jump on a player, especially a pitcher, for having a slow April. There are guys like Nick Masset all around the league: guys who throw like a developmental league player in April (and maybe May) and an All-Star the rest of the year. Granted, Nick Masset, in one way or another, can be blamed for three of the Reds' four losses this year. That's one more than Francisco Cordero has in the last 91 games. But, let's not send him to Louisville just yet (but even if we wanted to, his contract disallows it). Think about it. Relievers sometimes don't get very many innings in the spring, especially in the last 10-15 exhibition games when the starters are beginning to go six or seven inning. There are only so many innings available for fifteen relievers trying to make a roster spot. Here are some month-by-month trends for Masset.
April 2010: 10.1 innings, 17 hits, 13 ER, 11.32 ERA, .379 BA
April 2011: 6.1 innings, 12 hits, 7 ER, 9.95 ERA, .400 BA
May-October 2010: 66.1 innings, 47 hits, 16 ER, 2.17 ERA, .198 BA
Don't speak so soon.
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