Rowland-Smith’s Rebound

by ~ July 18th, 2009 at 2:30 pm

Earlier this month I wrote about Ryan Rowland-Smith’s season long loss of velocity and command.  I highlighted reported loss of range of motion in his elbow, workload increase and possible mechanical inefficiencies as I tried to figure out what had gone wrong.

Right on cue, RRS has reverted to his old self, or at least something very close to it.  Since July 4th he’s made 3 starts, totally 21.1 IP, 15 H, 4 ER, 20K and 1 BB.  Not only are the results looking better, but his velocity has been surging back to his pre-2009 levels and his curve has recovered some of its bite.

It’s still a mystery to me why RRS was looking so broken for so long, but the important thing is that he’s rebounded from whatever was holding him back and looks ready to secure a spot in the Seattle Mariners rotation.

He’ll be on full rest Tuesday, which is supposed to be Garrett Olson’s next scheduled start.

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  • SABR Matt

    They’ll probably give Olson another start. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see RRS back up here and starting when we need a fifth starter again on the 25th.

  • http://www.marinercentral.com Lonnie

    First off, Yea for RR-S! Next, I sure wish we had a better option than Olson. I am completely down on him as a starter, but then, I always thought he should have been in the bullpen, so maybe I’m just jaded.

    Lonnie

  • SABR Matt

    he should be in the pen…he does fine against lefties. Just put Olson in the pen and let RRS and Vargas finish out the year in the rotation with Morrow crowding them if he get shot in AAA

  • http://proballnw.com Jon Shields

    I don’t like all the talk of Morrow coming back to soon. I’d at very least like him to make 5+ starts down there. With Olson not quite cutting it and the team wanting to watch Vargas’ workload after missing all of last season, RRS couldn’t have picked a better time to get it in gear.

  • SABR Matt

    Hence my requiring Morrow to get hot in AAA…hot meaning over a period of more than 2 or 3 starts.

  • http://www.marinercentral.com Lonnie

    LOL, take a look at what he did tonight (7/19)! It may take him a bit more than 2-3 games…

    Lonnie

  • SABR Matt

    Yes…again, I am saying…call him up if and when he has several good outings in a row in AAA where he gets deep into games…and not before.