TRAX-I-MAZING! O's Pummel Dodgers 8-0

The much maligned Steve Trachsel had a big game today pitching 6 innings of shut out ball and effectively lowering his ERA to a much more palatable 5.34. Traxi's comments in Roch's blog make me really like the guy:

"My location was really good today, especially down in the zone," he said. "It's an extension of what we've been working on since I got here. I was definitely ahead in the count a lot better today as well.

"I'm pretty close. My curveball's still a little bit loopy. I'd like it to be a little more sharp.

Obviously, as long as it continues to stay down in the zone, everything else should be OK. My changeup's been good all spring, which is probably not normal for me. My fastball location gets better. If it keeps getting better every time out, I'll be real happy."

For all the crap Trax has had to take so far this spring, I am rooting for the guy. I'm a softie for the longshots. Now, having said that I do not expect Trax-daddy here to contend for the Cy Young or anything. Hell, he won;t even be the third best pitcher on the staff, but I do think he will be a serviceable arm at the back end of the rotation. Better than what we had there last year anyway.

Also in this game Nick the Stick had a big 4 for 4 day with 2 homeruns and an RBI triple. Yeah, I think this kid might amount to something in the bigs. So you know that Trax had to be surprisingly good to get the lead paragraph in this story.