Our Pitcher's Arms are Going to Fall Off

In what is inexplicably yet another loss in Milwaukee, the Pirates allowed the seemingly unthinkable to happen. John Russell allowed Ian Snell to throw 131 pitches. One Hundred and Thirty One. Why on earth should a guy throw 131 pitches in April? There are very few scenarios that I can even imagine seeing a pitcher throw that many. A perfect game opportunity. No hitter opportunity. A clinching of a pennant. Game Seven of the World Series, but the third game of an early season series in Milwaukee?

I think we all remember when Jim Tracy trotted out Tom Gorzelanny for countless meaningless innings, late in the season, but this is all together different. I really cannot understand this one. Granted Snell has a line that looks good, (7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H), but to let him throw that many is really, really strange. Looking at it some of the other starters have had a strong workload.

Zach Duke threw 120 in a complete game and 114 in his last start. Paul Maholm seems to be hovering around 100 or so each time out. Snell has gone over 100 once, 104, and has been in the 90's for two others. Only Ohlendorf and Karstens have yet to reach the 100 pitch mark, but both have thrown plenty of pitches in fewer innings.

The question is how long can these starters continue to be trotted out there like this? Granted some of it is that they have seen early success, therefore they are in there longer, but other times it seems as though they are staying in just a little longer than perhaps ideal. Is this a sign of little confidence in the bullpen? I would have to think so.

In the early going we have seen Jesse Chavez, at first look shaky, Donnie Veal be all over the place, Craig Hansen being Craig Hansen, Tyler Yates really not being as effective as one would like. Some of these things need to change. Yates should change and it looks like Chavez could as well. We cannot expect Veal to get better overnight, and Hansen is a complete mystery.

Too much of a reliance on the starters, could lead to problems later this season, when pitchers tend to get tired, or it could even hurt down the line more, if an injury should befall them. We need for the bullpen to improve and for the defense to continue to be solid, as that is the unsung reason for the better pitching, these guys are faster than last year's team and better defenders.

If the starters have to continue to be abused, it may not matter if you field a team of Gold Glovers, it won't matter.