Rockies’ rookie pitchers still learning, adjusting to adversity on the field
Rockies rookie right-hander Jeff Hoffman certainly did not pitch well in a 13-5 loss to Pittsburgh on Friday night. His seven runs, nine hits and four walks allowed over three innings is evidence of that.
But there were factors out of Hoffman’s control that contributed to that ugly line. The Pirates doinked three hits off him in their two-run first inning. Plus, Hoffman got squeezed by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez. According to Statcast’s strike zone imaging, eight Hoffman borderline strikes were ruled balls. Because four of those were first pitches, Hoffman ended up pitching from behind in the count.
But as they say, “that’s baseball,” and adversity is something young pitchers need to be able to block out and put behind them. That’s the next step in Hoffman’s maturation.
“One thing that I’ve learned is that there is going to be at least one or two times in your start when you are really going to have focus and bear down — I mean really bear down — and make great pitches,” said 25-year-old right-hander Jon Gray, who’s slowly learning how to deal with adversity, especially at Coors Field. “A lot of times, that’s going to make the difference between whether you win or lose, or how long you’ll pitch.”
Read the full story at The Denver Post.
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman (34) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 21, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Coors Field. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman (34) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 21, 2017 in Denver, Colorado at Coors Field. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)