what happened to Kazmir?

[PavanoAllstars]

Two horrible starts in a row, i'm starting to worry... is it health? Is he still having trouble with his slider? I mean he's not even made it through the fifth innning in his last two starts! Has anyone heard anything?

[gatorgreenwell]

Too many walks which have led to a high pitch count early in games.

[PavanoAllstars]

just realized that the indians have historically owned Kazmir, so maybe that's part of it... the last time I watched him his slider was really not there, and he usually dominates with that pitch... if it's a mechanical thing or something that can be fixed and not health so be it, it's just that he looked so good the first half and now he's not pitching past the 6th and twice hasn't gotten out of the fifth inning, he's a better pitcher than this and his season numbers are still legit, so he's got to turn this around... right?

[JMB05]

I'm gonna say this guy is done for the year(he'll keep pitching mind you, but his slider just isn't working).

Can't drop him, but I want too.

[willy-t]

I watched the game yesterday and they were giving a breakdown on how he id overstriding which is giving him problems with location. His slider hasn;t looked as nasty either. If this was the rays of 3 years ago we would maybe have seen him shut down if this didn;t change, as there seems to be something wrong with him (he's not gone more than 5 in about 10 outings or something), but Rays really need him to be pitching like thier ace so we'll see how it developes.

He's ionly been getting hit hard in the last couple of starts but if you check his game log is doesn;t make good reading in the last month or 6 weeks.

[Dan Lambskin]

i'm worried he's caught whatever Justin Verlander has

[dubstar]

i'm worried he's caught whatever Justin Verlander has

yea and ive got them both on the same team

[gatorgreenwell]

We shall see:

Rays' Kazmir says mechanical tweak should improve performance

OAKLAND, Calif. — LHP Scott Kazmir said a small adjustment in his stride should result in a big improvement in his pitching tonight.

Kazmir has been a mess lately, struggling to throw strikes due to problems with mechanics. He has failed to last six innings in eight of his past 10 starts and didn't get through five in his past two.

After talks with manager Joe Maddon, pitching coach Jim Hickey and assistant Brian Anderson, Kazmir said he adjusted his stride in a bullpen session Friday, and the results were obvious.

"It felt good when I was done," Kazmir said. "Actually it felt great."
In simple form, Kazmir said his stride had been too long, resulting in a "stiff front leg" that prevented him getting over the top to deliver his pitches. Now his leg is bent "so I can actually get through the ball."

The physical problems led to some mind games, as Kazmir's confidence waned and he started to think too much, which made things worse.

"That's always been the battle," Kazmir said, "and once we get past that, I think everything's going to be great because I'm going to be able to throw all my pitches where I want to. So it's getting better. It's getting a lot better."

Maddon said the improvement should be obvious.
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball ... 767157.ece

[Marrakesh Express]

he seems to be confident that he has fixed his stride issue according to a yahoo update. Or according to this novel above me

[PavanoAllstars]

we shall see indeed....