Despite being less experienced and having fewer numbers due to injuries during the fall, the Texas Tech pitching staff was thought to be a strength going into 2010 because of the ability.

Through three weeks of the season, however, that ability has yet to show, and the ineffectiveness of some pitchers and inconsistency of others has kept what depth remained from emerging as well.

Therefore, similar to last season, the Red Raiders have made changes that they hope will give them the best chance at being competitive when Big 12 Conference play rolls around next week.

Bobby Doran remains the only weekend starter from when the season started, as Chad Bettis and Louis Head have moved to the bullpen. Bettis will serve mostly as Tech’s closer, but left-hander Jay Johnson will still get his shots.

As far as starters, Brett Bruening and TBA, it’s your turn.

“I am a little concerned with the front of the rotation,” head coach Dan Spencer said Tuesday after making the moves. “This gives us a chance if we can hang around and be in it at the end of five (innings), then we can fire our bullets. I think this gives us our best chance to win a series on the weekend, a lot like last year. We have a couple more pieces, but we also need a couple more to join the party.”

Going into this weekend’s action at No. 7 TCU, the Red Raiders (8-6) rank last in the Big 12 as a pitching staff with a 6.82 ERA, almost a full run more than ninth-place Nebraska (5.91) and almost three full runs more than fifth-place Kansas State (3.83).

Tech pitching has given up double-digit runs in four of its last seven games, and in that stretch is just 2-5 after starting the season winning six of its first seven. The Red Raiders started the season with four solidly pitched games, but the pitching has slowly deteriorated to a point that it forced Spencer’s hand at making some changes.

The moves had already had a positive effect on a couple of pitchers. Bettis John Neely and Jay Johnson, who made relief appearances in different roles on Tuesday, saw their ERAs drop with effective outings.

Tech has had problems closing out games, being outscored 40-19 from the seventh inning on in its 14 game so far this year. Before earning a win on Tuesday, Jay Johnson was 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA in the role of the closer.

Bettis (2-1, 4.91 ERA) opened the year as the Friday starter but has had two sub-par performances in his last two starts, allowing a total of 11 earned runs and 19 hits over his last 14 innings. He is moving back to the back of the bullpen where he was so effective a year ago when he had a hand in 17 of Tech’s 25 victories with his 6-1 record, 3.59 ERA and seven saves.

“I’ve been making a couple of worse pitches and it’s showing up more,” said Bettis, who in his first relief appearance on Tuesday allowed a walk and a hit with four strikeouts in two innings against Gonzaga. “This just shows that we need everyone to compete and show up, throw strikes and do what it takes to win a lot of games.”

Brett Bruening (2-0, 5.00 ERA) will take over Bettis’ spot in the rotation. Batters are hitting just .206 off Bruening, so if he can control his walks (he is tied for second on the team with 6), he could be an effective starter.

Doran has been the most consistent Red Raider hurler despite earning three no-decisions with in his three starts. He leads the team with a 3.32 ERA and is second behind Bettis in strikeouts with 16 over 19 innings.

As far as Sunday’s starter, it will be determined after the results of the first two games of the weekend. Spencer said that if Bettis is not used in relief in the first two games of a series, he would start on Sunday.
Regardless of who is on the mound, the focus and task remains the same.

“Just come in and throw strikes, get the first guy out and not leadoff walks,” catcher Jeremy Mayo said. “The guys are getting better at that and showing some character in bouncing back. We’ve had some guys jump up and get guys out. If we have a lead in the sixth, seventh or eighth, then the game’s got to be over. Just come in, focus up and do the job.”

To comment on this story:
george.watson@lubbockonline.com l 766-2166
courtney.linehan@lubbockonline.com l 766-8735