The command problems that plagued Sean Newcomb in the minors have resurfaced in the majors.
Newcomb walked seven Dodgers in 4 2/3 innings Thursday. The Braves’ erratic lefty maintained an over 3.00 walk rate in his minor league career, and walked 33 hitters over 57 2/3 innings in Triple-A Gwinnett before his call-up.
“I guess I just have to do a better job pounding zones,” Newcomb said. “Stop trying to miss so many bats … I just need to get in the zone more.”
Newcomb walked eight over his first four starts (24 1/3 innings), but the wheels came off in July. After walking just two Astros, Newcomb gave four free base runners to the Nationals. He’s walked 22 batters in his last 25 innings since July 9.
Those walks have translated into runs. Newcomb allowed four runs total in his four June starts. He’s since allowed an average of 3.8 runs per game over his last six starts, including Houston blistering him for seven.
Newcomb is now averaging 5.47 walks per nine innings. The current trend is starting to perturb Braves manager Brian Snitker.
“Little bit (concerned),” Snitker said. “He’s throwing good, he did a good job of not letting the game get away from him. But it’s just something we’re going to have to — just going to have to keep working, because his stuff’s too good. And it’s not crazy wild. It’s enough ‘off,’ I guess.
“It’s something he’s battled, I mean it’s not the first time he’s had issues. He’s been pretty good here, something that I’ve read about over the course of last year. But the kid’s got good stuff and, like I say, at least he kept the game from getting out of hand and gave us a chance there.”
Snitker said he likes the way Newcomb battles through rough patches.
“Yeah, I mean, I kinda get myself into the situation where I need to buckle down,” Newcomb said. “So it’s kind of double-sided there where I get myself into it but I kind of turn it up to get myself out of it. I got to do a pretty good job trying to keep it up there the whole time.”
Complementing the walk numbers are Newcomb’s strikeout totals. He averaged 11.55 strikeouts per nine innings in Triple-A. He’s averaged roughly nine strikeouts per major league game, and set down seven Dodgers on Thursday.
Continuing the trend of minor league stats translating, Newcomb’s given up five home runs over 52 2/3 innings. He surrendered five over his final 197 2/3 minor league innings. His ground-ball rate (39.9) is on par with his Triple-A showing (39.4). Opponents hitting .303 off Newcomb on balls in play, close to his .304 mark in Gwinnett and .302 score in Double-A Mississippi.
But Newcomb’s had to grind through his starts. He’s elapsed six innings once in his major league career (6 1/3 in his first start versus the Mets). He threw 110 pitches in just 4 2/3 on Thursday. He needed the same number to go 5 1/3 against the Cubs on July 18.
Added with his most recent outing, Newcomb required 210 pitches for 10 innings against two of the National League’s hottest teams. He threw 214 pitches in 9 2/3 innings (allowing six earned runs) against the Dodgers this season.
“Everything’s going forward, just got to keep working,” Newcomb said. “When you take a step back, just stop thinking too much maybe. Stop trying to, like I said before, miss so many bats. Just start attacking the zone more.”
With the Braves fading out of the playoff race at 48-57, they’ll patiently allow Newcomb to figure himself out.
“We’re going to continue running him out there,” Snitker said. “That stuff’s too good. I like watching him pitch. He competes really well and I know he’s not trying to do that. Just going to have to be a continual work in progress and they’ll get back after it in a couple of days on the side and try to rectify things.”
The Los Angeles Angels selected Newcomb 15th overall in the 2014 draft. He was traded to the Braves in the Andrelton Simmons deal on Nov. 12, 2015.
