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luckymann · 05-06-2021, 08:08 AM

By Nik Hill, Head Commentator, PBL-TV

Well I know we are only 6 weeks into the inaugural PBL season and what we are all convinced will turn out to be a long and storied career, but 9 starts in and the question begs: What exactly is wrong with Dwight Gooden?

The 19-year-old native of Tampa, FL came into this league with just about the biggest wraps imaginable on him. All the talk revolved around the monumental number of games his Gothams would win with the Gooden-Walter Johnson-Jacob deGrom 1-2-3 punch at the top of its rotation.

That, of course, is not what has happened so far. While deGrom (4-1 / 2.84 / 74 FIP-) has started brilliantly and Johnson (4-3 / 4.28) held his own, Gooden is languishing at a horrid 0-7 with an ERA of nearly four-and-a-half.

So, what gives?

Let’s start by looking at those 9 starts individually:

4/2: 6 IP / 5 H / 3 ER / 5 BB / 6 K – NO DECISION (5-4 WIN) v LOSA

4/7: 6 IP / 7 H / 3 ER / 3 BB / 6 K – 9-2 LOSS @ BOST

4/12: 6 IP / 7 H / 5 ER / 1 BB / 5 K – 5-3 LOSS @ SEAT

4/17: 9 IP / 8 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 6 K – 2-0 LOSS v CONN

4/22: 8.1 IP / 11 H / 4 ER / 3 BB / 9 K – NO DECISION (6-4 WIN) v NJER

4/28: 6 IP / 7 H / 3 ER / 6 BB / 3 K – 3-2 LOSS v BOST

5/3: 5 IP / 10 H / 5 ER / 2 BB / 4 K – 7-3 LOSS @ LASV

5/8: 8 IP / 8 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 12 K – 1-0 LOSS @ CONN

5/13: 6 IP / 7 H / 3 ER / 3 BB / 6 K – 9-4 LOSS v PORT

A few things jump out from that list.

One is that it’s not as if he’s been getting badly shelled. In the two biggest losses Doc has suffered (4/7 and 5/13), most of the damage came after he had gone and the bullpen deployed. In fact, 5 of his 9 outings qualify as Quality Starts, and his 108 FIP- is only a good game or two away from league average.

Another is that, despite his lack of success, he’s still getting more than his fair share of strikeouts (8.75 K/9).

Apart from Opening Day and the game against Boston at end April, his control has been acceptable, especially for a flamethrower like he is.

He’s not having split-related issues either, with his ERA almost identical against LH and RH hitters. Lefties are definitely hitting him better, with a .323 BA vs .279 for righties, but it hasn’t done much damage in the overall scheme of things.

All of which might lead one to the conclusion that Doc has been fairly unlucky. With 6 of those 9 games decided by 2 runs or less, there’s undoubtedly some truth to that, and his offence hasn’t been much of a friend to him with just 1.6 RSG while Doc’s been on the mound. A .363 BABIP also hints that when facing him, batters have managed to hit ‘em where they ain’t at an above-average rate.

Still, the fact of the matter is that he’s simply been allowing too many baserunners – 14.54 per 9 innings – for him not to expect close games to go against him as often as not, and perhaps more so—as has been the case here. Until he gets this figure down – and by some margin, one would think – he will continue to underperform the lofty (perhaps unrealistic) expectations that have been foisted upon his narrow shoulders.

While I’m sure they are concerned about this poor start, I doubt the coaching staff at New York would be hitting panic stations yet, or anywhere near to. There are enough positive signs strewn among the wreckage of his season to date that, in concert with his irrefutable natural abilities, things will eventually sort themselves out and this period of his career will become nothing more than the first phrase in a trivia question.

For what it's worth, I still believe he’ll finish his career as one of the best pitchers in PBL history.

05-06-2021, 08:08 AM	#123
luckymann Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 13,432	What’s Up, Doc? *By Nik Hill, Head Commentator, PBL-TV* Well I know we are only 6 weeks into the inaugural PBL season and what we are all convinced will turn out to be a long and storied career, but 9 starts in and the question begs: What exactly is wrong with Dwight Gooden? The 19-year-old native of Tampa, FL came into this league with just about the biggest wraps imaginable on him. All the talk revolved around the monumental number of games his Gothams would win with the Gooden-Walter Johnson-Jacob deGrom 1-2-3 punch at the top of its rotation. That, of course, is not what has happened so far. While deGrom (4-1 / 2.84 / 74 FIP-) has started brilliantly and Johnson (4-3 / 4.28) held his own, Gooden is languishing at a horrid 0-7 with an ERA of nearly four-and-a-half. So, what gives? Let’s start by looking at those 9 starts individually: 4/2: 6 IP / 5 H / 3 ER / 5 BB / 6 K – NO DECISION (5-4 WIN) v LOSA 4/7: 6 IP / 7 H / 3 ER / 3 BB / 6 K – 9-2 LOSS @ BOST 4/12: 6 IP / 7 H / 5 ER / 1 BB / 5 K – 5-3 LOSS @ SEAT 4/17: 9 IP / 8 H / 2 ER / 2 BB / 6 K – 2-0 LOSS v CONN 4/22: 8.1 IP / 11 H / 4 ER / 3 BB / 9 K – NO DECISION (6-4 WIN) v NJER 4/28: 6 IP / 7 H / 3 ER / 6 BB / 3 K – 3-2 LOSS v BOST 5/3: 5 IP / 10 H / 5 ER / 2 BB / 4 K – 7-3 LOSS @ LASV 5/8: 8 IP / 8 H / 1 ER / 2 BB / 12 K – 1-0 LOSS @ CONN 5/13: 6 IP / 7 H / 3 ER / 3 BB / 6 K – 9-4 LOSS v PORT A few things jump out from that list. One is that it’s not as if he’s been getting badly shelled. In the two biggest losses Doc has suffered (4/7 and 5/13), most of the damage came after he had gone and the bullpen deployed. In fact, 5 of his 9 outings qualify as Quality Starts, and his 108 FIP- is only a good game or two away from league average. Another is that, despite his lack of success, he’s still getting more than his fair share of strikeouts (8.75 K/9). Apart from Opening Day and the game against Boston at end April, his control has been acceptable, especially for a flamethrower like he is. He’s not having split-related issues either, with his ERA almost identical against LH and RH hitters. Lefties are definitely hitting him better, with a .323 BA vs .279 for righties, but it hasn’t done much damage in the overall scheme of things. All of which might lead one to the conclusion that Doc has been fairly unlucky. With 6 of those 9 games decided by 2 runs or less, there’s undoubtedly some truth to that, and his offence hasn’t been much of a friend to him with just 1.6 RSG while Doc’s been on the mound. A .363 BABIP also hints that when facing him, batters have managed to hit ‘em where they ain’t at an above-average rate. Still, the fact of the matter is that he’s simply been allowing too many baserunners – 14.54 per 9 innings – for him not to expect close games to go against him as often as not, and perhaps more so—as has been the case here. Until he gets this figure down – and by some margin, one would think – he will continue to underperform the lofty (perhaps unrealistic) expectations that have been foisted upon his narrow shoulders. While I’m sure they are concerned about this poor start, I doubt the coaching staff at New York would be hitting panic stations yet, or anywhere near to. There are enough positive signs strewn among the wreckage of his season to date that, in concert with his irrefutable natural abilities, things will eventually sort themselves out and this period of his career will become nothing more than the first phrase in a trivia question. For what it's worth, I still believe he’ll finish his career as one of the best pitchers in PBL history. Attached Images __________________ HISTORICAL DO-OVERS A'S RED SOX DODGERS CUSTOM SAVES ECLIPSE LEAGUE MOON SHOT LEAGUE EVERYMAN LEAGUE GULF LEAGUE USBA Last edited by luckymann; 05-06-2021 at 08:22 AM.