Jarrod Washburn Plagued By a Sore Knee

by Ian Casselberry on Sep 2, 2009 3:25 PM EDT in News Comment 44 comments

Duane Burleson - AP

Raise your hand if your right knee is sore. Okay, Jarrod Washburn, is that why you've struggled with the Tigers?

So can we blame at least some of Jarrod Washburn's struggles on a sore right knee? The Tigers' big, shiny trade deadline acquistion has been, how do you say, kind of awful in four of his six starts since arriving from the Seattle Mariners. His ERA in Detroit thus far is 6.81.

A popular theory - and highly likely reason - for Washburn's pitching troubles has been Comerica Park's smaller dimensions and the Tigers' lesser defensive range in the outfield. Many of those fly balls that have soared over the fence or dropped into gaps were masked by Safeco Field's vast left-center field and three outfielders with centerfielder range.

But for those still scratching their heads as to why Washburn's sinker hasn't had the same movement on it, why those fastballs haven't had much velocity on them, and why so many of his pitches are left up in the strike zone for opposing batters to mash, Jon Paul Morosi may have discovered the most plausible reason.

Two team sources told Morosi that Washburn has been fighting soreness in his right knee and has been receiving treatment. No word on whether Washburn alerted the Tigers' training staff to the problem or if Kevin Rand had to hold a doll up to him and say, "Show me on the doll where it hurts, Jarrod." But for now, he's still scheduled to make his next start, which would be Saturday at Tampa Bay.

Thanks to those who posted this news in the comments or sent along an e-mail. You know who you are.

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I was thrilled when we got him

I had him on fantasy and for like a month straight, he was an ace. His ERA was below 1!

Hopefully he can still be effective in the playoffs, the only time we will really need to rely on him heavily. This deal would be a success if he won 2/3 playoffs games, and that’s it. Verlander and Jackson can carry us through the playoffs if they bring their All-Star stuff.

I also have French, and he hasn’t done anything either. Production-wise, it’s virtually equal.

by actioncuse on Sep 2, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

White Sux Win White sux Win!!!!!

by Justin Osborn on Sep 2, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, awesome, they did something useful.

by rcpratt on Sep 2, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't follow fantasy that much

I have a league with some other friends who are kind of on par with me, which is “constantly forgetting to check the lineups.” What I don’t understand is that I have Verlander, Sabathia, Oswalt, and Teixiera, and I’m still last in my league.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 2, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh fantasy

So much can happen on the margins- my first and second round draft picks were Jose Reyes and Alfonso Soriano- and I’m still winning my league by like 10 points.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Sep 2, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Show me where it hurts, Jarrod."

Well done, sir.

by NCDee on Sep 2, 2009 3:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, if Washburn does start on Saturday...

…he’ll be opposed by Wade Davis (according to Jason Beck’s Twitter).

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 2, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also per Jason Beck's Twitter

Tonight’s Tiger lineup:

1. Ryan Raburn, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Magglio Ordoñez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Marcus Thames, DH
6. Brandon Inge, 3B
7. Wilkin Ramirez, LF
8. Gerald Laird, C
9. Adam Everett, SS

Rick Porcello, P

I thought we’d see Alex Avila in there, with Porcello on the mound, but other than that, it’s kind of what I was expecting.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 2, 2009 4:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That is...an interesting lineup.

by rcpratt on Sep 2, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that is a ... frightening ... outfield

TGF groundball pitchers.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on Sep 2, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Raburn in center?

Has he played there before?

by Dberg on Sep 2, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure if he's played there this year

But he has in ’07 and ’08

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 2, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's played there twice this season.

by StringTheory on Sep 2, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Washburn's road ERA this season is only 3.18.

So while it is higher than at Safeco, it’s not a ridiculous 3 runs higher. He’s just simply pitching bad in a Tigers’ uniform.

by StringTheory on Sep 2, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's why I don't buy the "smaller ballpark" excuse

Most of those home runs he’s given up would be out anywhere

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 2, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's Jarrod Washburn

He just isn’t that great; average at best and horrible at worst.

by 13194013 on Sep 2, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You think the people at Lone Star Ball are finding that out about Jason Grilli?

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 2, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they are realizing what they bought.

And I think they wish they could get a refund.

by 13194013 on Sep 2, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the people I've sat near at Comerica

are fed up with the burn, calling him all kinds of nicknames, too dirty to get into here, LOL

by zumayafn on Sep 2, 2009 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone else see that White Sox game?

4 runs in the 9th to come back and win it and it all started with 2 outs and 2 back to back HRs!

Why can’t the Tigers ever do something like that…

by ZWC11 on Sep 2, 2009 4:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty sure they have

at least, I remember a few comebacks this year. why do people so easily forget we’re IN FIRST PLACE?

by allikazoo on Sep 2, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because bad things happen.

Bad things.

by 13194013 on Sep 2, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ozzie guillen is not our manager

therefore we are better off no matter how bad we suck.

by allikazoo on Sep 2, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ozzie is funny to watch

But if he were manager of a team I liked I’d hate him more – kind of like Dusty Baker on the Reds.

by 13194013 on Sep 2, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have we come back in the 9th with 2 outs this year?

Maybe we have, but I certainly don’t recall it…

by ZWC11 on Sep 2, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Houston

Down to final strike, Thames walked and Inge hit a 2-run HR

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 2, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not to mention all the walk-offs in general this year.

three in the past month? something like that.

by allikazoo on Sep 2, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think one of the games in the last series against the White Sox

Granderson hit a game-tying single with 2 outs in the ninth, and the Tigers won in extras.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 2, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I stand corrected...

However, I don’t think we’d ever come close to doing something like this against a division rival, much less Joe Nathan and the Twins.

by ZWC11 on Sep 2, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, bad news for those of us who want the Rangers to win the Wild Card

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090902&content_id=6754518&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 2, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

blah, that sucks.

by allikazoo on Sep 2, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Move Chris Young there.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Sep 2, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't he with Arizona?

And not hitting?

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 2, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

D'oh

I meant Chris Davis.

The not hitting thing is still a problem, yes, but there’s more upside than Omar there.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Sep 2, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One other thing.

Every time I hear the “Safeco outfield” argument, I wonder to myself, “Isn’t Comerica bigger?” So I transposed Safeco dimensions on to the Comerica dimensions. The red outline is Safeco (and they overlap in left field). I could have done the math, but this is much faster.

by StringTheory on Sep 2, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That picture says it all, StringTheory

I'm hittin' .361, don't y'all mess with me.

by StorminNormanCash on Sep 2, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, I should really edit my post after looking at that.

Good work!

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Sep 2, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget wind, atmosphere, etc

Comerica plays as a slight pitchers park, but Safeco is much more of one.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by demondeaconsbaseball on Sep 2, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The cooler weather in Seattle has to be a factor.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Sep 2, 2009 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a block from the water...

It makes a difference. Hard hit balls die there.

by russkiejedi on Sep 3, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just to be absolutely clear

I was just kidding a couple of days ago when I was talking about a Jarrod Washburn voodoo doll.

And besides, have torn an ACL before, I definitely wouldn’t be messing with the knees of any such creature…although, I might make an exception for AJ Pierzynski…

Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!

by ahtrap on Sep 2, 2009 4:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

*having

Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!

by ahtrap on Sep 2, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Booyah!

That White Sox comeback was both awesome and soul-crushing! I’m looking forward to tonight’s game.
I’ve got a good feeling about our power-righty lineup doing some damage on Laffey.

A lifelong Tigers fan

by ewild on Sep 2, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Magic Number 27 Thank You Sox's

If the Tiger’s go 16-15 with 16 home games and 15 road game remaining
The Twins will have to go 19-10 .655 to tie with only 12 home games and 17 road games.
The Sox will have to go 21-7 .750 to tie forgetaboutit

by Marcmargolis on Sep 2, 2009 7:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs