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"Old" Rookie Spins Gem in Season Finale
September 27, 2062 | Marshall Islands > In a game that made a difference to only the Hawaii Tropics and (maybe) himself, 25-year-old lefty Steve Truss threw a seven-inning gem, allowing only four hits and walking two enroute to collecting his first major league victory. He's hoping it's not also his last major league victory.
"It felt good," he said. "I wish I hadn't gotten the ball up to Avison, but on the whole I felt really dialed in. Hawaii outfielder Lynn Avison drilled that Truss slider that was too far up 378 feet into the seat in left center for the Tropic's only run. The Krill won the game 2-1, powered by a Napolean Mellott home run and a single from Glen Branham that scored Keith Williams. Winston Morris pitched a lock-down ninth inning for his 33rd save.
That Truss has been a bit of an enigma in the organization for several seasons now meant that he was, perhaps, pitching for his career tonight. Pitching coaches inside the organization can get a little blubbery as they extoll the upside of Truss's fastball and knuckle curve, and boggle at the fact that he can get guys out with three other offerings. But despite some constant attention, he just hasn't been able to make things work on a consistent basis.
"We all hear the buzz," said Forever Land Sports Network's Misty Morgan. "But the numbers don't lie, and the numbers say he's given up 35 homers in 187 innings at AAA and the BBA this year. That's a lot of homers."
Could Truss Go to the Pen?
Obviously it's too early to be making any real decisions, and the fact is that roster churn could change a lot of the calculus that sit in place now, but some within the organization have begun to signal that they think Truss might benefit from dropping the Screwball/Change/Splitter from his repertoire to focus instead on that glorious fastball and knuckle curve combo, noting that he's quite you and has the stamina to go multiple days in a row. At 6'9" the thought is that he could be dominant if he just reared back and threw hard all the time.
"I like starting," Truss said. "But I also just like being a part of something bigger than me. So I'm open to anything if Fernando (pitching coach Fernando Alaniz) thinks it's best for me and the team."
September 27, 2062 | Marshall Islands > In a game that made a difference to only the Hawaii Tropics and (maybe) himself, 25-year-old lefty Steve Truss threw a seven-inning gem, allowing only four hits and walking two enroute to collecting his first major league victory. He's hoping it's not also his last major league victory.
"It felt good," he said. "I wish I hadn't gotten the ball up to Avison, but on the whole I felt really dialed in. Hawaii outfielder Lynn Avison drilled that Truss slider that was too far up 378 feet into the seat in left center for the Tropic's only run. The Krill won the game 2-1, powered by a Napolean Mellott home run and a single from Glen Branham that scored Keith Williams. Winston Morris pitched a lock-down ninth inning for his 33rd save.
That Truss has been a bit of an enigma in the organization for several seasons now meant that he was, perhaps, pitching for his career tonight. Pitching coaches inside the organization can get a little blubbery as they extoll the upside of Truss's fastball and knuckle curve, and boggle at the fact that he can get guys out with three other offerings. But despite some constant attention, he just hasn't been able to make things work on a consistent basis.
"We all hear the buzz," said Forever Land Sports Network's Misty Morgan. "But the numbers don't lie, and the numbers say he's given up 35 homers in 187 innings at AAA and the BBA this year. That's a lot of homers."
Could Truss Go to the Pen?
Obviously it's too early to be making any real decisions, and the fact is that roster churn could change a lot of the calculus that sit in place now, but some within the organization have begun to signal that they think Truss might benefit from dropping the Screwball/Change/Splitter from his repertoire to focus instead on that glorious fastball and knuckle curve combo, noting that he's quite you and has the stamina to go multiple days in a row. At 6'9" the thought is that he could be dominant if he just reared back and threw hard all the time.
"I like starting," Truss said. "But I also just like being a part of something bigger than me. So I'm open to anything if Fernando (pitching coach Fernando Alaniz) thinks it's best for me and the team."
