Morton Ready To Make Second Start

Written by Akshay on June 19, 2008 – 11:21 am

We all know Charlie Morton’s story and how it just did not click until last fall in the Arizona Fall League where he went 4-1 with a 2.57 ERA. The final start came in front of Bobby Cox, Roger McDowell and then-new GM Frank Wren.

Morton continued his success in triple A this season going 5-2 with a 2.05 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 12 starts. Oh yeah, he also had 72 strikeouts in 79 innings. His line on Saturday? Pretty darn good for someone making their MLB debut in an away stadium. Morton went six innings allowing just three runs on five hits. He also had four strikeouts and just one walk.

The call up, to be honest, reminds me slightly of Kyle Davies’ debut three seasons ago (Davies by the way is destroying the AL so far, think a change of scenery did him well? The guy has not given up more than one run period in each of his first four starts against Cleveland, New York, Texas and St. Louis, tough teams). The difference? While we may have rushed Davies a little and tried to get him to be the Greg Maddux we all missed, he wasn’t ready for it.

Charlie Morton is not coming in with the same expectations and has spent more time in the minors getting his control together than Davies did. Who knows, he could be the energy our starters needed. Reyes has been dominant, Hudson is Hudson and Jurrjens and Campillo have been pitching well. Morton may become the final cog this pitching staff needs to be a complete five man rotation as opposed to the two and a half-man rotation we have been trotting out the past couple of years.

While we need to see more from Morton (and I think this start will be the true test), I think it is safe to say his stuff is good enough for him to be up here. As I said earlier, the true test comes today. Morton is making his second major league start, so he will not be dealing with the first big league start jitters that plague so many guys, and will be facing a lineup that features great hitters and guys that can take the ball out of their bandbox park in a second as opposed to the get-ahead-and-pitch-to-win Angels.

His opponent today is Scott Feldman of the Rangers. Feldman is 1-3 with a 4.84 ERA, but after two solid outings against Oakland and Tampa he allowed six earned to the Mets last weekend. Hopefully the hitters can get to him early and often and lucky for us, Chip and Tex get to bat lefty.


Posted in Game Threads | 49 Comments »

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49 Responses to “Morton Ready To Make Second Start”

  1. By Colin on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I want to see Morton get his second win. The guy has shown some talent and hopefully can show some continued success this time around. The Rangers can straight up rake – so let’s hope he can contain them.

  2. By Travis Johnson on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    hey hows it going

  3. By Travis Johnson on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    that was a good play

  4. By Travis Johnson on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    i guess im the only one here

  5. By Sheryl on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    how did we get our first run?

  6. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Frenchy was on first and B Jones singled him to third with no outs. He scored on a double play by Corky Miller

  7. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Sorry Travis, I’ll be in and out, no radio or TV here so I’m on game tracker on mlb.com

  8. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I see Frenchy fails to deliver yet again…

  9. By Travis Johnson on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    hows everyone doing

  10. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Doing well Travis, how about yourself?

  11. By Travis Johnson on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    doing good

  12. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Very nice, Morton’s got a shutout through four, let’s see how far he can take this thing.

  13. By Travis Johnson on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    yeah he is pitching really good

  14. By Travis Johnson on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    anyone know what mortons pitch count is

  15. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    77 pitches up to the end of the Kinsler walk at-bat. 48 strikes.

  16. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Damage control mode on, two outs with Josh Hamilton up, one run would be best case scenario here to keep the lead with us.

  17. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I really wish I could have seen the pitch he got Hamilton out on.

  18. By Jonathan on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Well, back from my meeting in Duluth . . . guess I can try to keep up with the game a little at work here.

  19. By Travis Johnson on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    we was doing ok until just a while ago they hit a three run homer

  20. By Jonathan on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I feel so behind lately. I’ve been traveling quite a bit for work lately.

  21. By Sheryl on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    who gave up the homer?

  22. By Sheryl on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    #

    By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I see Frenchy fails to deliver yet again…

    I am just about tired of Frenchy.

  23. By Jonathan on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Ridgway gave it up to Brandon Boggs . . . first batter he faced.

  24. By Jonathan on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Well, that’s the end of the run for .400 I’m pretty sure.

  25. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    As a Tech fan I’m ok with Boggs homering…just not against the Braves.

  26. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Reports said a few weeks ago that Wilson was on shaky ground as the closer, I guess last night and today have reinforced that claim.

  27. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    A sac fly’s a sac fly, but it took one pitch for Infante to take that to the outfield…imagine if Frenchy had just done that earlier…

  28. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Tie game going to the bottom of the ninth, lets take it to the 10th,

  29. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I guess Frenchy did make up for it with his RBI single to put us in position to tie it. So, good job Frenchy.

  30. By Sheryl on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    at least they tied it up….lets hold em!

  31. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Mop up duty starts early when Boyer pitches in a tie game or with the lead. Kinsler doubles to start the 9th

  32. By Sheryl on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Oh no…Bennett—i am watching with my eyes closed

  33. By Sheryl on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    glad i didn’t see that…..aaauuugghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

  34. By Jonathan on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    so glad i got home and turned the game on in time to watch that. :(

  35. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    Great…another walk off win for the other team. I don’t understand why Bobby tries to play matchups more than going with whoever’s doing well? Ohman was doing fine, why change?

  36. By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I’m out, cya guys tomorrow.

  37. By Sheryl on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    jeff shouldn’t have missed that ball–the other guy wasn’t even to 3rd – he should have thrown him out! Let’s trade Jeff! Let’s trade Jeff! :D He ties the game just to lose it.

  38. By Colin on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    I want to see Morton get his second win. The guy has shown some talent and hopefully can show some continued success this time around. The Rangers can straight up rake – so let's hope he can contain them.

  39. By Akshay on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    Sorry Travis, I'll be in and out, no radio or TV here so I'm on game tracker on mlb.com

  40. By Akshay on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    Very nice, Morton's got a shutout through four, let's see how far he can take this thing.

  41. By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    I feel so behind lately. I've been traveling quite a bit for work lately.

  42. By Sheryl on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    #

    By Akshay on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    I see Frenchy fails to deliver yet again

    I am just about tired of Frenchy.

  43. By Jonathan on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    Well, that's the end of the run for .400 I'm pretty sure.

  44. By Akshay on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    As a Tech fan I'm ok with Boggs homering…just not against the Braves.

  45. By Akshay on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    A sac fly's a sac fly, but it took one pitch for Infante to take that to the outfield…imagine if Frenchy had just done that earlier…

  46. By Sheryl on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    glad i didn't see that…..aaauuugghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

  47. By Akshay on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    Great…another walk off win for the other team. I don't understand why Bobby tries to play matchups more than going with whoever's doing well? Ohman was doing fine, why change?

  48. By Akshay on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    I'm out, cya guys tomorrow.

  49. By Sheryl on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    jeff shouldn't have missed that ball–the other guy wasn't even to 3rd – he should have thrown him out! Let's trade Jeff! Let's trade Jeff! :D He ties the game just to lose it.

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