Tweet
Two more; just two more starts. Conan Wilkerson, front runner for the 1987 IL New Brew will be making his last two starts of the season this week as the Kodiaks plan to shut down their ace in advance of the 1987 BLB Playoffs with the hope that the team will prevent as much wear and tear as possible on his worn out right arm. Wilkerson who will first take on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:place></st1:City> in a crucial division match up at In-and-Out Park on Monday, September 7 will make his last start of the regular season Friday, September 12 against the Virginia Colonials.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Many have questioned why the Kodiaks would plan to shut down their star pitcher when they are wrapped up in a tight divisional race, but Kodiaks management doesn’t seem concerned. “We always planned to cut Conan’s innings this year, it just so happens this week is when he will hit his innings limit” said Kodiaks GM David Lint. In the event though that the Kodiaks do reach the playoffs look for Wilkerson to be brought back to the mound, “We will definitely be bringing him back for any playoff series we might make; he’s our ace and he’ll be well rested and ready to go in the playoffs” said Lint.
<o:p></o:p>
The Kodiaks reasoning behind shutting down Wilkerson early in hopes of curtailing his innings is due to the rash of injuries to young, successful starting pitchers in the BLB over the last couple of years. Names such as Denver Brode, Jeff Franklin, David Tardiff and Don Stevens have all suffered major injuries after logging large amounts of innings at a very early age; by shutting down Wilkerson now, the Kodiaks are hoping to avoid the pitfalls that have hampered rising stars in the past.
<o:p></o:p>
Currently at 158 innings, Wilkerson has been on a 100 pitch, pitch count the entire season. “We believe in bringing along young starters very slowly; Conan is no different” said Lint. What makes the team confident that Wilkerson won’t be hurt by all the potential innings he might throw in the playoffs? Perhaps looking towards the future, the team held him out of Spring Training this season and any innings he picks up in the playoffs will simply replace those that he missed while being held out earlier this year. Helping ease the loss of Wilkerson will be the return of starter Victoro Díaz who has missed much of the season with a torn labrum. Díaz, only 23, won 12 games last year for the Kodiaks and will look to pick up the slack of the departing Wilkerson. “I know I can help this team and I’m looking forward to getting back out on that hill and helping pitch us into the playoffs” said a confident Díaz after his latest bullpen session.
<o:p></o:p>
For the year, Wilkerson is 13-4 with a 2.11 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 163/48 K/BB and a VORP of 52.3 in his maiden season with the Kodiaks.
<o:p></o:p>
Comment