At the game last night, and Dice got more boo's and mock cheers before we got an out than I can ever remember.
Dice K is really pitching his way out of favor in this town, and the ramifications of demoting him or even exploring a trade seem less of a PR nightmare because of his fledgling performance this year. Point blank, if he's not nibbling and pitching to avoid contact, he's getting hit HARD. The league is hitting .378 against him?!?!

Attempting to draw a conclusion, Dice K is either hurt, although his velocity doesn't suggest it. Or, he's failing miserably attempting to convert to the American style of pitching. He's leaving all his junk upstairs, and he can't locate his fastball.
Dice seems too talented to be this bad all year, and his trade value can't be all that high ... but I seriously wonder (out loud) what a team like Seattle would give to partner him with Ichiro and run him out in front of a high Asian fanbase behind Felix and Bedard? This rotation has so many options down the road with Clay, Bowden, and even a kid like Casey Kelly who pitched 6 innings of no hit ball in Portland after getting drafted just last year. If Dice doesn't figure it out - this year or next - a change of scenery may really be in the cards.
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