Naturals loss sweep on short start by Lamb

Frisco, TX - The Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals plated six runs with the first seven players to start the game before recording the first out Friday night against the Frisco RoughRiders. A shocking way for John Lamb to take the ball wearing his shortened sleeves to start the game attempting to stay cool during the Texas evening heat. Lamb promptly walked the lead off hitter on four consecutive balls out of the zone. Yet another first of his career but I'm sure will not be the last of his career.




The text message earlier on Friday indicated John’s upbeat attitude about the game and honestly came at a shock to us out here on the West coast. More than likely it was the surprise he had received from the Naturals staff about the opportunity to wear shorter sleeves and expose his arms filled with tattoos at an attempt to stay cool.
 
 

 

 
 
 
The night for the Naturals continued to shock the 10,207 Frisco fans at Dr. Pepper Ballpark with the less than average performance during the third Double-A start for John Lamb. The Naturals could not collect another run throughout the game and Lamb was tagged with his shortest professional appearance of his young career. Lamb faced four batters in the 3rd inning without recording an out. Rowdy Hardy inherited 3 runners whom all scored tying the game at 6-6.




Lamb finished his shortest evening ever in professional baseball with 2 plus innings. He faced a total of 15 batters, threw 56 pitches, 29 strikes, 3 ground-ball outs, 2 fly outs, allowed 7 hits, 6 runs (6 earned runs), 3 walks and 1 strike-out before handing the ball to the Naturals bull-pen.



Rowdy Hardy did a great job for 5.0 innings after allowing the 3 inherited runs to cross in the 3rd. The recently returned Naturals pitcher, Barry Bowden, took the loss following the 8th inning earned run by the RoughRiders who went on to win 7-6. The Naturals did however win the series as they head out of town to Midland, TX to take on the Rockhounds, Texas League affiliate of the Oakland A’s, Saturday evening.

Photo credit - Keith Lovett

 
 
The following paragraphs are going to be extremely difficult to write because it will be filled with some gut instincts about the three Double-A appearances from my son.





The first batter he faced in this recent promotion to the Texas League he struck out, yet he hasn’t had more than a handful since. The first three innings, in that same debut, Lamb didn’t allow a run and than the wheel seemed to be reinvented. Why?




I have heard enough accounts of his performances from scouts and professional baseball minds to know something is wrong. The last time I checked a box score, the pitcher’s name is listed for the win, or loss, and there lies the basis for the active opinion with how to get outs for his team.




I am convinced that the recent results are not due to any changes in his mechanics, but rather the approach at attacking professional minor league hitters. Some guys can get outs by working off of a fast-ball, while others work backwards, as some might say. Both ways get outs and that is the ultimate goal for a pitcher. Right?





If you can’t tell I am losing my mind over the recent results of John Lamb, than you aren’t very perceptive. The sad thing is I know exactly what is happening and there is nothing I can do about the ongoing problem in the Texas League. All I can do is watch an unbelievable second professional minor league season turn to _ _ _ _ over changes in a pitching approach.





I believe with all my heart the Kansas City Royals management and John Lamb will determine the problems…I can only hope sooner, rather than later.