Inconsistency is a product of youth. That statement perfectly described the 2009 season of David Price. After being a huge part of the Rays run to the World Series in 2008 coming out of the bullpen, Price, still technically a rookie, learned quickly that being a major league starter wasn't gonna be easy.
That year, Price lasted into the 6th inning only two times through June. He threw over 100 pitches in his first four starts. He averaged just 5.5 innings a start while striking out just over 4 batters per trip to the mound. Inconsistency should be expected out of young players, especially starting pitchers, but after the success of 2008 (when Price's ability to locate the nasty pitches which made him so successful) Rays fans were left surprised. Despite finishing 10-7, Price's short outings and 4.42 ERA were a disappointment.
If you had the pleasure of talking to the young lefty after any of his worst outings you'd see a guy so confident in himself and his ability to bounce back you'd have been confident this youthful inconsistency would pass quickly. In 2010 it has. For every pitch that seemed to miss it's mark and every inconsistent start we saw from Price a year ago, there has been a well located heater and dominant performance.
Price has only pitched less than 6 innings three times thus far in 2010. He's also gone at least 7 innings nine times, including going 8 innings three times and pitching one complete game.
His 7.2 innings in this his 17th start gives him 115.1 innings pitched. That's just 13 fewer innings than Price pitched a in his 23 starts a year ago.
This article appears in Jul 8-14, 2010.