This article is in no way suggesting that NL talent scouts should pass on young talents that
This article is in no way suggesting that NL talent scouts should pass on young talents that have had no success at the plate. Micah?s 5-1 record and 3.81 ERA are often overshadowed by teammate Brandon Webb?s explosive 8-0 start. Owings has a similar stature (6?5 ? 225) and similar stats in the young marathon season. Pitching is, after all, the reason these hurlers made it to the big show.Zambrano is 6-1 in nine starts this season and has been virtually unhittable, allowing just 14 earned runs in 62 innings of work. More importantly for Owings, Zambrano and their respective ball clubs, they?ve been dominant on the mound.
It should also be noted that the word ?healthy? and ?Mike Hampton? have not been used in the same sentence since his 1993 debut with the Seattle Mariners. Zambrano?s teammate Jason Marquis, 2005 recipient of the Silver Slugger award, can also hold his own at the plate. Last seasons? Silver Slugger Award winner has five career homers and 18 runs batted in ? including one jack this season and three runs driven in. Not since the days of a young Tom Glavine, a healthy Mike Hampton or the now non-existent Steve Avery have we seen pitchers with this much presence at the plate. Owings has the highest batting average among pitchers this season (.370) with 10 hits in 27 at-bats. Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin has shown a lot of confidence in the Gainesville, Georgia native, using him as a pinch hitter sparingly this season.
The only category Owings needs to improve to trump Big Z in the hitting department is his power, according to Zambrano. In the NL West, the 26 year old Owings is gaining attention not only on the mound, but for his performance at the dish Owings is as good a hitter as Zambrano, if not better. The stat includes Big Z?s first two seasons (2001-02) where the hurler managed to garner only 32 at-bats, and this season, which is far from over. In Zambrano?s eight year career, he has eclipsed five RBI?s in five of them. Of the eight hits, three have gone for extra bases (2 doubles and HR).Carlos? two RBI?s this season brings up his career total to an impressive 35. The 2006 Silver Slugger Award winner has eight hits in 27 at-bats, hitting .296 ? not too bad for the ace of your pitching staff.
So far this season, Big Z is putting up some big numbers at the plate, for a pitcher of course. You can also ask former Cubs catcher Michael Barrett, who fell victim to a different type of swing that landed him in San Diego. The home run was the 13thof Zambrano?s career, tieing a franchise record for a pitcher wearing Cubbie blue. Just ask Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo, who surrendered an opposite field home run to Zambrano on May 1st.