Ben Sheets Returns - Gary Armida's Blog

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Gary Armida's Blog

Ben Sheets Returns Stuck

Posted on July 16, 2012 at 09:22 AM.

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Before Sunday, it has been almost two full years since Ben Sheets threw a pitch in a Major League game. His last start was July 19, 2010 against the Boston Red Sox. Then a member of the Oakland A�s, Sheets pitched 6.2 innings, allowed 7 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and struck out 2 batters. He took a tough loss, but it was his fourth consecutive start of pitching at least 6 innings and allowing three or fewer runs. It was the 20th start of his season and it looked like he could be one of the bigger names on the trade market and that Billy Beane gambled correctly in signing the oft-injured right hander to a one year $10 million deal after Sheets missed the entire 2009 season.

That 20th start was the last start of the year for Sheets whose badly injured elbow just couldn�t hold up. Sheets underwent Tommy John Surgery and couldn�t even be ready for Spring Training 2012, let alone throw a baseball in 2011. Now 33 years old, the former first round pick took a Major League mound as a member of the Atlanta Braves. The fact that he is fought his way back to the Major Leagues is inspiring. Going through all of the necessary rehab once again after battling for most of his career to stay healthy and return from injuries is certainly worthy of our attention.

But, it is also a tale mixed with some sadness. Baseball could have a vast collage of pitchers who flashed brilliance, but were never permitted to fully realize their potential because of injury. Ben Sheets could be on that collage as he entered the Major Leagues in 2001 fresh off of his 2000 Olympic performance. He dominated the Cuban National team by throwing a shutout during the Gold Medal game. It looked as if the Brewers would have an ace for the next decade or so as Sheets looked the part and was dominating his Minor League competition after the Olympic experience.

Making his debut as a 22 year old in 2001, Sheets showed flashes of dominance while going through the regular growing pangs that most young pitchers experience. For his first three seasons, Sheets would be slightly better than league average, but the one thing that he did give the Brewers was innings. He pitched 151 innings in 25 starts during his rookie season. In each of the next two seasons, he made 34 starts while throwing 216 and 220 innings. He entered the 2004 season as a pitcher looking to make the next leap. He already proved he could give innings, but that promise of dominance was still waiting.

2004 was that season. In 34 starts, he pitched 237 innings with an ERA of 2.70 along with allowing 7.6 H/9, 1.2 BB/9, and 10 K/9. He would finish 8th in the Cy Young Award voting. At 25 years old, Sheets seemed to be pitcher the Brewers were waiting for. He was an innings eater, an extreme control pitcher--a career walk rate of 2.1 BB/9--and a pitcher who seemed to be comfortable with the ace label.

But, 2004 was the apex of Sheets� career. He was once again dominant at the onset of 2005, but injuries limited him to 22 starts. He made just 17 starts in 2006. He was nursed through 24 starts in 2007. The Brewers were faced with the classic small market dilemma. They had a pitcher who had talent, but just couldn�t be relied upon. Small market teams cannot recover from these types of pitchers. A successful small market team has to maximize salaries. Pitchers such as Ben Sheets are a real problem for any team, but small market teams especially.

This is where Major League Baseball really misses the true problem. The entire industry is currently wondering what the Nationals will do with Stephen Strasburg, yet few in the industry can pinpoint causes. Sure, there are theories like the �inverted W� or that limitations can prevent injuries. But, nothing has really been done at all. Pitchers like Ben Sheets continue to get hurt despite something like biomechanics just sitting there with data. Detractors say that biomechanics are not a cure. Yet, the same detractors don�t offer any solution. Perhaps science and research can help. Perhaps the industry will stop spending millions per season on injured pitchers. Unless genetics are his issue, Sheets would�ve been better served undergoing the analysis and perhaps finding a delivery flaw, however slight it may be, and correct it.

He did push through 24 starts in 2007 and actually entered the 2008 season healthy. His first half was good enough to be the National League starter in the All-Star Game. He made 31 starts during the Brewers magical run to the playoffs. He got some help from CC Sabathia, which was needed as Sheets couldn�t finish the year. He won 13 games, pitched to a 3.09 ERA, but his walks were up and his strikeouts were down.

He didn�t make it back in 2009, missing all season. That�s when he was signed by the A�s after auditioning for a bunch of teams. He started terribly, but seemed to be finding his way back to being a quality pitcher. The end results were league average, but his year ended with that Red Sox 2-1 loss.

He took the mound yesterday after surprisingly signing a Minor League contract with the Braves. He was the fourth former All-Star to sign a such a deal with a club this season, joining Vladimir Guerrero, Miguel Tejada, and Hideki Matsui as veterans trying to latch on. Of the group, only Matsui is still with his club. After some unspectacular results in the minors, the Braves announced that Sheets would start on Sunday against the Mets. While his Minor League results were unspectacular, his velocity was in the low 90�s and, most importantly, he was healthy.

Ben Sheets made his successful return against the Mets. He pitched six shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out 5 batters. His trademark curveball and control were present as he walked just one batter. In all, he threw 88 pitches, 57 for strikes, and worked in the 89-92 range. His last pitch of the day was a 92 MPH fastball to strike out David Wright. The comeback couldn�t have been more successful.

Now, the Braves are in the same position as the Brewers were for years. There isn�t any doubt that Ben Sheets can be an effective pitcher, especially in the National League. His stuff is still there and that curveball is still one of the most beautiful pitches in the sport. The Braves will hope he can take the mound every fifth day. Just three games behind the Nationals in the National League East and heavily into the Wild Card race, the Braves are in need of pitching after battling their own rash of injuries and underperformance. Ben Sheets could be that guy, all for a small cost and without giving up anything from their farm system. Unlike the Brewers, the Braves only need Sheets for a half season. He�s done that before and seems healthy enough to be able to do that, at least by seeing his stuff.

Sunday gave a glimpse of what Ben Sheets was meant to be on the mound. He was going to be an ace, and at 33 years old, he should be just out of his prime. That prime was meant to be dominant. A bad elbow took that away. Instead, his career will be judged by what he didn�t do.

That�s actually the wrong perspective. His career isn�t a failure. He has come back from two major surgeries. When he has been on the mound, he has been, at worst, a league average pitcher. But, at his best, he�s been one of the sport�s better pitchers. The Braves have shown a resilience this season after their dramatic collapse of a year ago. They�ve come back with the same team and are succeeding. Now they have a pitcher who knows all about comebacks. There will always be a sort of holding your breath type element whenever Sheets takes the mound. It has nothing to do with talent and more about that you just hope that this guy can do what he does best in another five days.

For one day, Ben Sheets was everything we thought he�d be back in 2000. His comeback is impressive. And you hope that he can have a dignified end to his career. Sunday was, hopefully, the start of that.

Comments

# 1 ubernoob @ Jul 16

Great article, and a good story. I'm a Brewers fan that is sad that injuries kept us from Sheets in his prime (he lost some fans here with the injuries) but hope he finishes his career on a good note.

Pitching isn't a natural motion, and takes its toll on arms - even with the best mechanics. This is why you don't see female softball players having the arm troubles the males do - which is just another argument for the biomechanics side. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on where that debate goes in the future.

# 2 MJHSpanda57 @ Jul 16

Great story. I was there yesterday and couldn't have been more happy with the end result. Really hope he stays healthy for the remainder of the season.