MiLB Pitcher of the Week: Liam Doyle
The Cardinal Chronicle
Liam Doyle Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Week
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Liam Doyle gave Double-A Springfield the kind of start that reminds everyone why he remains one of the Cardinals’ most important pitching prospects.
Doyle is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Week after edging out Daniel Eagen in a close race between two Springfield arms.
Doyle worked 5.0 innings, allowing just one hit, one run, one earned run and two walks while striking out nine. He did not allow a home run, finished with a 1.80 ERA, a 0.60 WHIP and posted a weekly value of 16.5.
That is a strong line, and the dominance was clear.
Doyle’s outing had the kind of swing-and-miss profile the Cardinals want to see from a top pitching prospect. Nine strikeouts in five innings tells the story. He missed bats, limited hard damage and kept Springfield in control from the mound.
Daniel Eagen made this a real decision.
Eagen worked 6.1 innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, no walks and striking out 10. His 0.63 WHIP was excellent, and the 10 strikeouts gave him the highest strikeout total among the two finalists. He also finished with a slightly higher weekly value at 17.7.
But Doyle gets the edge because of run prevention and overall dominance.
He allowed only one hit, gave up just one earned run, kept the ball in the yard and posted the lower ERA and WHIP. Eagen gave Springfield more length and deserves full credit for a strong outing, but Doyle’s cleaner damage line gave him the slight advantage.
This was not a case where one pitcher ran away with the honor. Both Double-A arms delivered quality performances. Both missed bats. Both showed why Springfield’s rotation continues to be one of the most interesting areas of the Cardinals’ system.
But Doyle’s outing had the sharper overall finish.
The Cardinals have a lot invested in Doyle’s development, and outings like this are exactly what they want to see. The strikeouts are always going to draw attention, but the most encouraging part was how little contact damage he allowed. One hit over five innings at Double-A will get noticed.
The walks are still something to watch. Two free passes in five innings keep the line from being spotless. But when a pitcher punches out nine, allows one hit and keeps the ball in the yard, the overall picture is still a winning one.
Doyle earned the honor by delivering the best combination of swing-and-miss stuff, run prevention and limited damage.
The Cardinal Chronicle Minor League Pitcher of the Week:
Liam Doyle, Double-A Springfield
Weekly Line:
5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 0 HR, 1.80 ERA, 0.60 WHIP
Why He Was Chosen:
Doyle delivered the cleanest overall pitching performance, allowing just one hit and one earned run while striking out nine over five innings. His lower ERA, lower WHIP and ability to keep the ball in the yard gave him the edge.
Also in the Mix:
Daniel Eagen, Double-A Springfield — Eagen made a strong case after working 6.1 innings with four hits, three earned runs, no walks and 10 strikeouts. His length, strikeout total and 0.63 WHIP kept the decision close, but Doyle’s run prevention and one-hit outing carried the week.
Old School Take:
This was a good old-fashioned pitching argument. One guy gave you more length and 10 strikeouts. The other gave you one hit, one run and nine strikeouts in five innings.
I will take the cleaner damage line.
Liam Doyle did not just miss bats. He kept hitters from doing much of anything when they made contact.
That is Pitcher of the Week kind of baseball.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.
Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary:
www.cardinalchronicle.com
Photo Credit: Liam Doyle, Springfield Cardinals | MLB