Skip to main content

Biddle Staying Positive Despite 0-4 Start

By
Jesse Biddle, last year's 1st round draft pick by the Phillies, is off to a less than ideal start to his first full season of professional baseball. Currently part of the starting rotation for the 2-time defending South Atlantic League champions the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Biddle has yet to earn his first win of the season, through 5 starts.

The 6-foot-5-inch, 235-pound lefty has posted a 0-4 record and a 5.91 ERA. But the failure to date has not soured the outlook of the smiley faced kid from Philadelphia.

"I don't think (my confidence level is effected) at all," Biddle said. "I had a much better outing last time. It just kind of sucks when all your hard work isn't panning out the way you want to."

Biddle allowed just 1 earned run in 5 innings pitched against Savannah in his most recent outing on Monday night, and walked just 2 while striking out 4, but still got stuck with a loss, when his BlueClaws teammates couldn't muster up much offense and fell by a score of 3-1.

His strike out to walk ratio is an alarming 19:14 in 21 1/3 innings pitched thus far in 2011. Adjustments normally wouldn't be what the doctor ordered for Biddle, but when his difficulty throwing strikes lasted and his walk rate stayed high, he worked with his pitching coach Steve Schrenk to refocus and fix the issue.

"The big thing was to go back to the basics," Biddle stated. "I think I was starting to over-complicate things a little bit. After having a couple bad outings, I really started to feel pressure a little bit and over-thinking things. My focus became just to throw to the (catcher's) glove and not worry about the batter or the baserunner...and that's what we were working on in the bullpen (sessions)."

Despite the slow start, Biddle is living the dream...pitching in the minors with an opportunity to develop into a Major Leaguer with the club he grew up adoring, his hometown Phillies. Always an optimist, Biddle won't let a bit of a losing streak ruin his outlook.

"I'm exactly where I want to be and I'm just going to start having some better starts now."

______________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Labels:

Comments

joenose said…
He'll get it together. It's a shame he didn't get any run support Monday night, he had a good outing. But that too is part of the game. Jesse is a level headed guy. He'll be fine!!!
May 3, 2011 at 11:19 PM
Anonymous said…
PhoulBallz leaves out the 4th inning standoff on Monday night. Runners on the corners, no outs. The kid didn't fold and battled hard to get the next three hitters out. That was as good an opportunity to show what you're made of as any I've ever seen.
May 4, 2011 at 4:42 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

By
While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...
6 comments
Read more

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

By
**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...
5 comments
Read more

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

By
The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...
5 comments
Read more