The recap of today's game is straightforward: Brett Anderson was not sharp from the outset, and while he allowed only 3 runs through 5 innings, trailing 3-2 in the top of the 6th Anderson allowed two singles (Michael Young, Adrian Beltre) followed by two homeruns (Nelson Cruz, Mike Napoli), and the blowout was well along. Kurt Suzuki and Josh Willingham HRed for the A's only runs.
If Anderson is entirely healthy -- and we haven't heard anything to suggest otherwise -- and just didn't have it today, (5 IP, 9 hits, 7 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 3 HRs, 90 pitches and only 53 strikes), that's absolutely fine by me. It happens to every pitcher, no matter how good they may be. Here's what concerns, or at the very least, confuses me...
Watching at the game, it looked like Anderson threw very few fastballs today, and when he did throw his fastball he was usually sitting at 89-90 MPH (though I believe he hit 92 a couple times and 93 once). Mostly it was a ton of curves and changeups, and his signature slider, and you wonder why Anderson is going away from his fastball so much and why when he does throw his fastball he is not hitting the velocity he has hit in the past. Cause for alarm? Not until we hear anything beyond "He's fine." Cause for concern or puzzlement? No doubt.
