Ryan Vogelsong’s Strong Performances Making Injuries Hurt Less
When the season opened, the San Francisco Giants‘ rotation was in a state of disarray. Matt Cain, the former ace who never missed a start, was back on the disabled list with a forearm strain. Jake Peavy‘s back was an issue in the Spring, and he was forced to missed his first start. Two rotation spots were empty, and they needed to be filled quick.
Chris Heston, a rookie who seemingly burst on to the scene out of nowhere, took one of those spots and ran with it. He’s been a pleasant surprise, posting a 3-3 record with a 2.91 ERA in his first seven starts filling in for Cain.
Peavy made his first start in the second time through the rotation, but would make only two appearances before his back problems persisted and he landed on the disabled list. With the Giants needing another starter, they turned to Ryan Vogelsong to try and fill the void.
Vogelsong’s 2015 season got off to a miserable start. He started the second game of the season, in Peavy’s place, and gave up seven runs in 4.2 innings while taking the loss. After Peavy returned, Vogelsong moved back to the bullpen as the long reliever, and things didn’t get better there for him. In two appearances, he gave up seven runs (six earned) in 5.2 innings .
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At that point, Vogelsong had given up 14 runs (12 earned) in just 10.1 innings of work, good for a 10.45 ERA, along with a 2.807 WHIP. But when Peavy went back on the shelf, the Giants were desperate, and they turned to Vogelsong with the hopes that he could work through his issues and give the team meaningful innings.
Vogelsong took the mound again in the final game of the Giants’ first series of the year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the biggest series of the season to that point, looking to sweep the Dodgers. Vogelsong stepped up big time, pitching six innings of two-run ball while allowing just three hits. He didn’t earn the win, but the Giants would eventually finish the sweep. In the game, Vogelsong lowered his ERA from 10.45 to 7.71 on the year.
The next outing was a reversal of fortune as he faced the Dodgers again. In three innings, he gave up six runs, taking the loss to push his record to 0-2. It seemed like Vogelsong’s candle was just about to burn out.
That candle didn’t burn out. Instead, the flame grew stronger, and Vogelsong went out the next time and pitched an absolute beauty. Against the San Diego Padres, Vogelsong was a new pitcher. His curveball was sharp, his control was pinpoint, and he completely locked down the Friars’ offense. In seven shutout innings, he allowed just three hits, and was the winning pitcher for the first time.
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He continued that dominance in his next outing, as he held the Miami Marlins to one run and four hits. Again, he didn’t win, but the Giants eventually snuck away with a walk-off win.
On Saturday, Vogelsong fought through some hardships on a night where he wasn’t as dominant. He allowed 10 baserunners, as he issued four walks and six hits, but only gave up two runs on a night when the Giants’ offense exploded for 11 runs. He earned his second win of the year, evening his record at 2-2, and lowering his ERA to 5.31.
Vogelsong hasn’t been perfect this year. Home runs continue to be his achilles heel. He’s allowed nine on the season, and 56 percent of the runs he’s allowed (14/25) have come via the longball. He allowed a solo homer to Jay Bruce on Saturday, but the Giants had the game well in hand by that point, and there was no harm, no foul.
This mini resurgence from Vogelsong is a microcosm of his initial comeback with the Giants. In 2011, the Giants needed a starting pitcher to fill in for the injured Barry Zito. They recalled Vogelsong, a 33-year-old who had been out of the big leagues for five years, from Triple-A in mid-April. By July, he was an All-Star with a 6-1 record and 2.19 ERA.
That’s not saying that Vogelsong will be an All-Star this season. He’s closing in on 38 years old, and he’s playing the role of injury fill-in. He’s acting in that role very well right now. The Giants needed someone to step in and stabilize the rotation, and he’s done exactly that.
It seems like every time Vogelsong is down and out, every time he’s being counted out, he fires back with punch after punch, and he makes us believe again. He’s making his bid to keep our faith right now.