Brett Anderson Showing Flashes Of What Could Have Been If It Wasn’t For Injury
By Andrew Dill
Jul 25, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Brett Anderson (30) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies picked up their second consecutive victory Friday night as they defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-1 behind some timely hitting and the offensive outburst. More importantly, starting pitcher Brett Anderson continues to roll after coming back after a broken finger.
Anderson, 26, suffered a broken finger on April 12th at AT&T Park against the San Francisco Giants where he pitched three solid innings, giving up just one hit while striking out two. Anderson would then be placed on the disabled list, only to make his fourth start of the season on July 13th against the Minnesota Twins.
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Anderson missed nearly three months of action before making his first start against the Twins and it didn’t go so well. The southpaw would give up six runs (five earned) on 10 hits, walking three and striking out four over five innings. Anderson was currently 0-3 with a balmy ERA of 4.95 and looking for answers.
Then on July 19th against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Anderson put together his best start of the season. The former Oakland Athletic looked on top of his game, giving up one run on four hits while walking one and striking out eight. His curveball really kept the Pirates hitters off-balance as he ended up with the tough-luck no-decision as the bullpen couldn’t seal the deal.
The very next week he would start against the Pirates again as they couldn’t figure him out. Anderson pitched 6.1 innings, giving up two hits while walking four but only recorded one strikeout. He was very effective at getting Pirates hitters to roll over on balls, inducing 11 ground ball outs to 7 fly-outs. Brett would pick up his first win of the season and his first in a Colorado Rockies uniform.
Anderson did leave the game in the seventh inning due to a blister on his throwing hand but say’s he will be okay.
The emergence of not only Anderson in the last two games, giving up one run on six hits in 13.1 innings gives the Rockies fans a “what if” scenario if Anderson would’ve never got injured. No one can predict what impact Anderson would have on the Rockies in the standings due to the deflated bullpen, but the record would have been better with him in the rotation.
But I will tell you one thing, if he continues to pitch like he has his past two starts, the Rockies will definitely pick-up his option.