It's been a very ugly start to Andrew Painter's professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies, though it's still far too early to press the panic button just yet.
If anything, him getting some of these reps should be a good thing for the young Florida native, though his 6.89 ERA is definitely not going to play at the highest level. Painter had the same problems in lower levels of the minor leagues, as his inability to command the strike zone at times can be a major problem. He also hasn't put hitters away at an effective level just yet, striking out 30 hitters in 32.2 innings.
He's also walked 12 in that same span, and eight of them have come in his last four starts. To make matters worse, he continues to get bitten by the long ball a good bit, giving up six.
Speaking to reporters about that ahead of his start against the Boston Red Sox, skipper Don Mattingly admitted that for Painter, everything is about him being able to control his own stuff. If he isn't commanding his pitches well, he's not going to find the success that everybody wants him to.
“As much as anything tonight, it was really more command than anything else,” Mattingly said, per NBC Philly. “The one pitch to Langeliers, he’s trying to go up and away, it looks like, and he misses in. I believe the Rooker one, the ball is off the plate, but he’s trying to go away and it leaks back. I think the same thing with Wilson...
“I think he’s been fine,” Mattingly said. “Obviously, you want him to keep getting better and keep improving. I think as the season goes, he’s just going to continue to gain confidence and command.”
Painter will have to get used to facing big league hitters, and even the best in the world have come up in the past and struggled instantly. There isn't any reason to suggest that he still can't be very good for the Phillies one day, and frankly, getting any innings under his belt can actually be viewed as a good thing right now, even if they haven't gone well.
“I think it’s part of the process,” Painter said. “Probably moving in and out a little more [with the pitch].”