Los Angeles Angels closing pitcher Jordan Walden moves to seventh-eighth innings – MLB News
Team manager Mike Scioscia is taking some drastic steps forward to regain the lost respect of his team which has not been not able to play its natural game since start of new Major League Baseball season and lost many games from low averaged opponents.
Recently he has changed his closing pitcher’s job and moved Jordan Walden to pitch seventh or eight innings for better team results from next season onwards.
The main reason of moving Jordan Walden to seventh or eight innings is not that the Angels’ manager has found an appropriate replacement in the face of left hander Scott Downs, but his replacement is being subject to his own poor form since the start of 2012
Major League Baseball competition.
His command over fast pitches has been facing a declining phase and that is the reason he is facing this late strategic change by the Angels organisation.
Recently Mike Scioscia has stated in the media explaining in quite detail about some facts of this late move. He said for Walden as well as for his new closer Downs.
"Right now, we want to get Jordan some innings where he can work on some things, It should be a quick fix. When Jordan gets his stuff right, it will play in the closer spot, and that's what we're working toward, but he needs to control counts and put guys away,”
Scioscia added, “At times, Jordan has had problems with that. It's tough to experiment in the ninth inning of a game, We want to put him in situations where he can still help our bullpen but be able to throw some pitches where the game is not won or lost."
Walden, who is currently playing with an ERA of 8.31 along with one save, six strikeouts and 2.08 WHIP, now will be playing in as another role while Scott Downs, a veteran Major League pitcher, will be playing as new Angels’ closer carries a consistent 3.53
ERA along with 18 saves, 485 strikeouts and 1.32 WHIP and will try his best to give little consistency to the South Los Angeles baseball franchise.
Tags: