The old saying goes, baseball is a game of inches. The point is simple little things can have a big impact on a ball game.
That truth was on display at PETCO Park on Saturday night. Padres starter Edinson Volquez developed a blister on the thumb of his pitching hand. It may seem like a small, insignificant thing, but with pitchers, it's a huge deal.
Volquez couldn't feel the grip or release on his breaking pitches, so they flattened out and got hit hard. Then his mechanics got messed up, so he started missing the strike zone.
In the 2nd inning, after allowing 4 runs with 4 walks, manager Bud Black (a former Major League pitcher and pitching coach) was smart enough to get Volquez out of the game.
The Padres weren't able to recover, eventually losing 6-2. Chase Headley hit a home run, his 14th of the season, in the loss.
Volquez will get the blister treated, and hopefully get his command back, in the very near future.
