Know Thine Enemy: Lookout Landing
On May 31, Mister Fister allowed five runs over seven and two thirds against our Twins, and suffice it to say I would hope our offense can manage that much again. He's a bit like Blackburn in that he doesn't strike many guys out and, at his best, he doesn't walk many batters either. Throwing a fastball in the upper 80s, along with a change, slider and curve, there isn't much that's really dangerous about Fister...and yet he's having a decent season. Why?
He has a good fastball. He does a decent job of getting hitters to take cuts outside of the strike zone, inducing weak contact (because he's certainly not getting many swings and misses). He doesn't work in any one or two specific areas of the strike zone, and he'll throw all four of his offerings to batters no matter which side of the plate they're on. He works ahead, he's one of the best in baseball at getting the first batter of the inning out, and he doesn't get into many three-ball counts. Fister is the poster boy for the guy who doesn't have ace stuff, because he has command and maybe a little bit of luck on his side.
Seven innings and three runs against the Rangers? Let's hope he can do the same against a far less impressive club. That's all. Pitch well, Mr. Blackburn.