There comes a time in a major league pitcher's career when age and years of wear and tear set in. Most see their career come to a slow, if not scorching, halt. Others make due and give themselves life. Freddy Garcia has given his career life.
White Sox 2009: Freddy Garcia
Garcia hasn't had that since 2006, when he threw his sixth straight 200-plus-inning season, going 17-9 with a 4.51 ERA. He was traded that off-season to the Philadelphia Phillies for Gavin Floyd. Not a pretty trade on the surface for the White Sox, but Garcia proceeded to pitch in just 14 games over the next two seasons (11 starts in '07 with the Phillies; 3 starts in '08 with the Tigers). He proved Williams right, as Floyd panned out.
Who would have thought that Garcia -- on the retirement path just months ago -- would be in a White Sox rotation with Floyd, proving Williams right a second time?
Garcia was brought on board in June. With the White Sox two starters short a stable five-man rotation, it was worth the shot, even if a long shot. Garcia made his way up from the minors and made his first start August 18. The results weren't there (he gave up five runs in 4.1 innings), but it was a new-look Garcia.
No longer with a fastball in the 91-93 range, Garcia used the velocity drop to his advantage, throwing batters' timing off with slow breaking pitches and more movement on his fastball. He finished the season 3-4 with a 4.34 ERA.
Going Forward
If Garcia can carry-over his brief '09 season into 2010, the White Sox will have one of baseball's deepest rotation. The odds of Garcia doing that, or at least getting through an entire season, is still slim, but as a fifth starter and with Daniel Hudson next in line, the White Sox are in good shape.
No Comments
Leave a Comment?
What your comment will look like:
said: