Matt Shoemaker ‘2014’ Needs To Return To The Mound Quickly!!!

No Comments May 8, 2016 Angels By John Stellman

So what ever happened to Matt Shoemaker?

You know, that guy who exploded on the scene in 2014 with all the potential to be a top of the rotation starter .

The over powering right hander who finished second to Chicago’s Jose Abreu in voting for the American League Rookie Of The Year.

Missing In Action

The pitcher whose 16 wins was second only to Jered Weaver (18) on the team.

The guy who lost just four games and posted a sparkling 3.04 earned run average.

The 6’2, 225 pound specimen whose strikeout to walk ratio was an astonishing 124 to 24.

The beast who allowed just 14 home runs in 136 innings.

That Matthew David Shoemaker. Where are you?

Moving Van

Unfortunately Shoemaker now calls Salt Lake City his home. At least temporarily…he hopes.

Shoemaker’s riches to rags story ended one month into this season. But the forward was written last year.

While pitching in 135 1/3 inning in 2015, Shoemaker was a disaster.

His record plummeted to 7-10 while his earn run average skyrocketed to 4.46. He struck out eight less hitters, issued 11 more walks and surrendered 10 more home runs than he did the previous year.

Off To A Bad Start

And so far this season things haven’t gotten much better.

Shoemaker has made five 2016 starts. He’s average just over four innings (20 2/3) in each appearance.

While imploding on the mound the bearded hurler has given up 29 hits, six of which have been home runs and has a strikeout to walk ratio of 16 to 10. His record is a disappointing 1-4 and his earned run average is an out of sight 9.15.

“He’s obviously disappointed but Matt is very accountable,” Mike Scioscia told Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. “I think he understands the results haven’t been not only what we’re looking for, but the way he can pitch.”

In his latest fiasco, the 29-year old hurler got hammered for nine hits and seven runs in just 2 1/3 innings. Seven or those hits (five consecutively) came during that six run third inning.

“That’s unacceptable,” Shoemaker agreed. “I’ve got to try to figure out a way to stop that. The big inning.”

Homework

‘We’ll look at the video, and we want to see exactly where the breakdowns were, and we’ll have a course of action for where we’re going,” Scioscia explained.

It marked the third time in his five starts that Shoemaker has failed to pitch more than three innings. His problem stems from leaving too many pitches up in the strike zone.

“Mentally, I’m always strong,” Shoemaker asserted. ” I know that for a fact. I have battled my whole career trying to get here. I’m still mentally strong. But it’s something you have to battle through.”

With two off days on the horizon, the Angels aren’t going to need a fifth starter again until the middle of May. During that span Shoemaker will likely have made at least one Triple-A start.

No Vacancy On The Disabled List

Shoemaker needs to find answers and turn his season around quickly because three of those options to replace him are currently on the disabled list.

Andrew Heaney, slotted into the No. 2 spot behind Garrett Richards, has had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his left elbow and will likely be sidelined until July. The 24-year old left hander has sought a second opinion because his strained flexor muscle has not improved.

“I don’t think he’ll be on a mound any time in the near future,” general manager Billy Eppler theorized.

Fellow left hander Tyler Skaggs, who missed all of last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, has been shut down because of shoulder problems. He is being reevaluated.

And veteran left hander C.J. Wilson, is recovering from tendinitis in his shoulder. He has begun a throwing program at the Angels spring training complex in Tempe, Arizona and is close to throwing off the mound.

The Angels current rotation includes Richards, Jered Weaver, Hector Santiago and Nick Tropeano.

No Real Pitching Prospects

Unfortunately the farm system isn’t one of the Angels strong suits. The best option is Nate Smith. In six Pacific Coast League games his credentials include a record of 2-1 and an earned run average of 3.79. It’s doubtful that he is major league ready. As a last resort? Maybe!

“When you start talking about starting pitch depth,” Scioscia said, “we are certainly counting on Matt to pitch to his potential. And it hasn’t been there yet.”

Neither 2015 pitching coach Mike Butcher nor current pitching coach Charles Nagy have been able to find the solution of Shoemaker’s baffling inconsistencies.

Maybe the Angels should turn to the front office.

Buddy Black To The Rescue?

Black returned to Anaheim last November as a special assistant to the general manager.

He served as Scioscia’s pitching coach from 2000 until 2006. And when the Angels hoisted the World Series Trophy in 2002, Black’s staff was the fourth best in all of baseball with an earned run average of 3.69.

On November 8, 2006 Black left the Angels to accept an offer to manage the San Diego Padres.

The National League’s Manager Of The Year in 2010, Black was fired on June 15, 2015 after San Diego got off to a 32-33 start and fell six games out of first place in the National League West.

During his 15 year career on the mound Black compiled a 121-116 record to go along with a respectable 3.84 earned run average. He has brought a brilliant baseball mind to Anaheim and his ability to handle a pitching staff is unparalleled.

The Shoemaker Mystery

Perhaps the Angels should tap into his vast knowledge in an effort to solve Shoemaker’s dilemma.

He is already an assistant in the front office, and with his background what is preventing Black from offering some assistance down on the field?

“We’re going to see where we are in a couple weeks,” the manager said. “But no doubt Shoemaker needs to work on a couple things.”

Those next couple of weeks could either make or break Shoemaker. He needs to do whatever it takes at Salt Lake City. He not only has to figure out how to keep the ball down in the zone, but he also needs to figure out how to do it consistently.

Shoemaker’s career may be on the line. The Angels can’t afford another season like he had in 2015 this summer. If he truly wants to stick around Anaheim, Shoemaker clearly needs to make the necessary adjustments and change course immediately!

The longer the Matt Shoemaker of 2014 remains Missing In Action, the less likely it is that he will reemerge this summer.

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John Stellman

I was born with sports in my blood. I began coaching little league baseball at 15. I was the sports editor of my high school newspaper. I did football play by play for the college radio station. I broadcast high school basketball for a local commercial station. But baseball was always my passion. During the 1970's I covered the Angels for the Orange County Register. And now I am back where I belong...