Vance Worley: a hard look at a steep decline

Feb 19, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle (13) talks with pitcher Vance Worley (46) before Thursdays workout at Pirate City. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Vance Worley has officially lost his spot as a starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Numerous outlets have reported it, but many attribute the original report to Travis Sawchik of the Tribune Review, as seen below.

While it’s true that Worley’s early 2015 performance leaves a lot to be desired, the difference between this year’s bespectacled one and last year’s model is startling. Consider this: Worley has walked 14 batters thus far in seven starts. In 17 starts (18 games) in 2014, he walked 22. After considering Worley’s 4.38 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP, I’ll take a pass on showing some of his other peripherals.

The Jeff Locke debate in the offseason was easily one of the hottest topics in the Pirates offseason. All fans had to choose a side, and the contentious debate provided an incredible amount of hot takes. That now seems like a distant memory, as both pitchers have struggled mightily. Now Pirates fans look to Charlie Morton as a potential savior for the back end of the rotation.

But before that happens, let’s take a look at just what factors have reduced Worley’s effectiveness in 2015.

Next: A look at Worley's two-seam fastball