WASHINGTON D.C. -- Drew Pomeranz said it a couple times.
"I've been feeling really good," he said after a loss to the Nationals.
Pomeranz has looked the part for the most part, but thus far his season has not been what either side hoped. The Giants wanted a repeat of Derek Holland, but through four starts Pomeranz has a 4.82 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. He never got in gear in a 4-2 loss to the Nationals on Thursday.
The lefty is averaging more than a strikeout per inning and his velocity is up about two mph across the board, but he also is walking too many hitters, has thrown just 18 2/3 innings, and given up four homers.
"I've been feeling really good and the biggest part for me is trying to manage that," Pomeranz said. "I feel like I get on a roll and roll through hitters and a couple of times a game I get jammed up and end up throwing a lot of pitches."
That was Pomeranz in the first inning Thursday. In the fourth he gave up a solo shot to Wilmer Difo with the pitcher on deck and two outs, which certainly qualifies as getting jammed up.
Pomeranz said he has started seasons like this before and then "boom, something clicks." The Giants need that soon, but they are at least encouraged by the quality of the pitches. Pomeranz said an adjustment has to be made, and perhaps that may include mixing it up more. He entered Thursday's start throwing basically only curveballs and four-seamers.
Sports
"The stuff is really good," manager Bruce Bochy said. "But the command has been a little erratic."
--- Mark Melancon has had a couple of nights in this scoreless stretch where he could thank the BABIP Gods. But on Thursday he entered with runners on the corners and no outs, needing a strikeout. So, the fact that Melancon got two of them was a big deal for a guy who has seen his strikeout rate drop in each of the last four years.
"That's a tough spot to be in and he really made some great pitches and got some huge strikeouts," Bochy said. "He threw the ball very well, very well. It's obvious he's feeling really good, too. You can tell with the command of all his pitches."
Through 10 innings, Melancon hasn't allowed a run. He has a 1.00 WHIP after posting a 1.59 last season.
--- The Giants still have not scored a run in the first inning. They have scored nine runs in the ninth inning. It's nice that they never really give up, but that's an awful way to try to win. You're not going to rally against guys like Sean Doolittle too often.
--- As far as I can tell, the Nationals did not have any mention of this being Bochy's last series here. That's certainly not required -- and Bochy doesn't want a bunch of gifts -- but the Giants did anticipate something. It'll be interesting to see how the Pirates and others handle it in the coming weeks. You would think Bochy would get shown on the scoreboard, at the very least.
