Eduardo Rodriguez still tipping pitches

Did the Angels see this changeup coming?

Eric D. Schabell
Contributing Writer

Monday in game one of a double header against the Angels, Eduardo Rodriguez just might have been tipping pitches again.

He says he wasn't.

Manager John Farrell insisted after the game Rodriguez wasn’t tipping his pitches, but the Angels certainly knew what was coming if Albert Pujols was any indication. He absolutely crushed a nasty curveball down and in which was just one of six hits, two of which were homers and 7 runs.

Rodriguez couldn't even get out of the second inning, making this the third train wreck of a start for the young 22 year old.

The first was on June 14, when he allowed nine earned runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. He allowed four singles, a walk and a home run as the Jays scored six runs in the fourth inning. He then was charged with three more runs in the fifth inning after a walk, a single and a double followed back-to-back groundouts to open the frame.

The second time was on June 25 against the Baltimore Orioles and was even more abrupt. He allowed seven consecutive hits, including a two-run homer, in the fourth inning after retiring 10 straight to begin the game. He never made it out of the inning and the Red Sox lost 8-6. Even worse, he tipped his pitches.

As former Red Sox infielder stated, now that the tipping is know, he might have more problems.


Opponents are going to search high and low for potential tells.

We must not forget he is in his rookie season and the learning curve at this level is steeper than Triple-A. Just ask Xander Bogaerts
what it is like to be under the glass at this level as you develop your skills.

There have been times when Rodriguez looked like Boston’s best pitcher and his 4.64 ERA, up from the 3.59 mark he had to begin Monday just doesn’t do him justice.

These crash and burn starts continue to be reminders that Rodriguez still is very young and still is developing. At some point, these bumps in the road to developing into a major league starting pitcher might slowly become smaller, but right now they are glaring examples of his shortcomings.

One thing is certain, he needs to stop giving the opposing hitters big blinking signs as to what is coming and he needs to sort this out sooner rather than later.

Post a comment or via twitter @erics_redsox with your thoughts.

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