There is hope manager John Russell has his pitching staff poised to thrive over the remaining 102 games, notwithstanding today's 7-3 getaway day loss (boxscore, play-by-play) to Pawtucket.
Russell let Heath Totten (1-2), whose pitch count was in the mid-80s, stay in the game after the Lynx (21-21) got some manna in the home half of the sixth. Ottawa had scored three unearned runs to pull within 4-3 after PawSox lefty Abe Alvarez (3-3) dropped a throw at first base for what should have been the third out. Totten, who had thrown 5 2/3 scoreless since giving up four runs within his first five batters, ended up giving it back. A single, a double and a two-run single by Bobby Scales (4-for-5) hastened his exit, with Scales counting the final run on a hit off reliever Brian Sanches.
Russell seems to be letting his starters build stamina and he's not burning out relievers by constantly calling them in around the fifth or sixth inning. That might be the way to manage in Triple-A, especially since this an audition for Russell. As a major-league manager, he's going to handle some precious assets with all those $5-million-per-year arms, so he needs to show that he can keep pitchers in a "safe place" and not overtax their fragile arms and more fragile psyches.
The skipper's approach did not translate to winning one random game today. It should help the Lynx have enough pitching depth to back them up if they go on a run in July and August -- which is what happened for John Russell in Scranton last season.
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If the Lynx are to contend for a postseason spot it will be a result of pitching & defense.
The loss of Mazzone is big but the staff still appears pretty deep, note the demotion by the Phillies of Castro to AA, not to the Lynx. The Phillies staff is also pretty healthy, Madson is back soon, Gordon????
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