DJ “Mega” Herz

[imref]

Zuck:

DJ Herz's last 10 starts: 2.76 ERA, 1.082 WHIP, 10.5 K/9

[JCA-CrystalCity]

made it almost to the end of the season without a drool or whine thread

[Senatorswin]

Zuck:

DJ Herz's last 10 starts: 2.76 ERA, 1.082 WHIP, 10.5 K/9

Wow, Cubs gotta be sick.

[Slateman]

Small sample size, but like with all our young pitchers, early teturns are promising.

[nobleisthyname]

Out of all the pitching breakouts this season he has by far the best stuff.

[IanRubbish]

Out of all the pitching breakouts this season he has by far the best stuff.

His K/9 of 11 could increase next year. 

Main things are his control and low IP per start.  He's averaged 17.8 P/IP, and just 4.7 IP per start, some of which is Davey keeping his pitch count down.  Next year he's got to get that up to 5.5 or so.

[Senatorswin]

Maybe because the Nats knew they weren't going to make the playoffs it seems they've changed their strategy on limiting pitchers innings. They used to shut them down early before the season ended, now they limit their pitch count per start and apparently pitch them to the end. If Williams gets a couple starts that will push Parker and Herz back some.

[imref]

Nice look at DJ’s offseason efforts to improve his mechanics:

https://wapo.st/4i39mq0

[Slateman]

Maybe because the Nats knew they weren't going to make the playoffs it seems they've changed their strategy on limiting pitchers innings. They used to shut them down early before the season ended, now they limit their pitch count per start and apparently pitch them to the end. If Williams gets a couple starts that will push Parker and Herz back some.

That seems to be the way MLB is moving

[IanRubbish]

That seems to be the way MLB is moving

With extensive data showing starters are less effective third time through the order, pitchers throwing harder than ever, and the wear and tear on their arms as a result, there's been a sharp drop in usage.

When the Nats arrived in 2005, 50 MLB pitchers threw 200+ IP, led by Livo, who had 250+ IP that year for the Nats.   Last year, there were four such pitchers across the entire league, with none topping 208.  Meanwhile, 21 starters had K/9s over 9 last year, compared to 3 in 2005.  91 relievers with at least 48 IP had K/9s over 9 last year compared to 25 in 2005.   

If you look at guys like Susana and Syroka throwing 80-90 innings per minor league season, there's no way they'll be ready for more than 150 when/if they get called up, and this is not just a Nats issue.  But what is a Nats issue is the bulpen was 27th in K/9 last year, and with Robert Garcia gone, they could be dead last this year.

[Smithian]

Maybe because the Nats knew they weren't going to make the playoffs it seems they've changed their strategy on limiting pitchers innings. They used to shut them down early before the season ended, now they limit their pitch count per start and apparently pitch them to the end. If Williams gets a couple starts that will push Parker and Herz back some.

We have a bunch of pitchers this year trying out to be long term back of the rotation options. May as well space out their auditions.

[imref]

Herz' velocity is down https://www.masnsports.com/blog/as-nats-back-off-laboring-herz-fifth-starter-race-comes-into-focus

[Slateman]

So, basically, TJS

[Smithian]

So, basically, TJS

Whatever it is, zero reason not shut him down for a couple weeks minimum.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

So, basically, TJS

just dead arm that he always gets. Start him in AAA  and call him up when he's back to normal.

[Slateman]

He "always" gets dead arm?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He "always" gets dead arm?

what he says.