After last night's loss, in which Randy Johnson got ripped for 10 runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Brewers, Arizona is 2-8 and already 7 1/2 games behind the red-hot Giants. Neither of their two wins have come from their aces Johnson and Curt Schilling. You just can't get buried that early if you want to get into the playoffs. They've got to turn it around soon.

I still think the National League is going to stay/get tight, but the worst news for the D-Backs is that both Schilling and the Big Unit are looking really really old. Schilling's an especially dangerous problem because he was ineffective the last couple of weeks of last season. I'm sure one of them (my money is on Johnson) bounces back, but unless both are competitive for the Cy Young, the D-Backs will be buried.

I think both Schilling and Johnson are very tired. They're just not going to live up to their expectations this year. Age does has an effect on performance.

[ April 12, 2003, 09:50 PM: Message edited by: billsf ]

I know it's only been 3 starts for each, but look at these stats:

Pitching Statistics
NAME G GS W L Sv Hld CG SHO IP H ER HR BB SO K/9 P/GS WHIP ERA
C. Schilling 3 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 18.1 15 11 2 9 22 10.80 106.0 1.31 5.40
Randy Johnson 3 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 17.1 21 16 3 5 19 9.87 93.0 1.50 8.31

I haven't really seen any of their starts, but these lines tell me they have just been very hittable so far. Have they lost movement on their pitches? What makes them look old, besides the fact that they are both late 30's?

One would think that there would be some feelings of tiredness, because they have been carrying the team since the big trade with Philly. Teams must have pitching in order to advance in the postseason, but maybe the Diamondbacks have relied too much on the Big Two, and not concentrated enough on filling out 3-4.

I saw most of Schilling's first start of the year and he looked great for the first six or seven innings. He was the unhittable Schilling of old. But as soon as his pitch count hit 100, he looked like some utility infielder throwing mop-up duty in a 21-2 massacre. His pitches had nothing on them. Lots of pitchers can't make it past 100 pitches, but Schilling's been an exception. He's been a horse. Obviously, he's not anymore. And it looks like he's not yet recovered from that bit of over-use on his opening start.

Again, considering how tired Schilling was at the end of last year, he definitely will need to used a lot more gingerly. And I don't think the D-Backs have the pitching depth to get away with using Schilling gingerly.