Unlike division-foe Mike Leake , Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton is not a pitcher.
Morton, who has allowed at least five runs per start this season, lacks the mental toughness needed to pitch in Major League Baseball.
Morton, 26, has the physical tools needed to be successful in the majors. He is armed with a 95-mph fastball, a sharp-breaking curve, and a change-up that is 20 mph slower than his smoking-hot fastball. Morton has a low-effort delivery and gets most of his velocity from his 6'5", 230-pound frame. Although Morton possesses all of the physical tools needed to succeed in the majors, he has struggled mightily this year. He is 0-4 with an enormously hefty 16.20 ERA.
Morton's biggest problem is he cannot pinpoint his problem. He has a lack of big league experience, so it is nearly impossible for him to know all major league batters' tendencies and hot zones. Sometimes, Morton is reluctant to throw his fastball, and when he does throw his gasser, he has trouble controlling it.
He is losing the key to pitching. As I have stated before , command of yourself and control of your pitches is the key to pitching well.
Morton has lost command of his fastball. He has also lost command of himself.
Morton has been getting rocked all year. The Pirates need him to do a good job and to eat innings, and he has done neither. You can see clearly Morton is getting frustrated. He is throwing on emotion.
Baseball is not a sport when you take emotion or anger and put it into your swing, pitch, or throw. The sport in which you use raw emotion to perform is football. A relaxed baseball player is usually a better baseball player.
Because Morton is losing his command, of his emotions and of his pitches, the Pirates may perform a transaction with him soon. He may be sent to the minors. He may be moved to the bullpen. He may have to relearn how to pitch as Roy Halladay did.
Losing command everywhere, Charlie Morton needs to fix his problem(s) soon.
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