Dodgers News: Butterflies Were in Full Effect for Rookie Emmet Sheehan
Pitching is as mental a game as it is physical, and Emmet Sheehan proved Friday night that he has both the guts and the arm to put together a spectacular performance.
Making his big league debut much earlier than he might have expected, Sheehan threw six no-hit innings before being pulled by manager Dave Roberts to avoid throwing out hit arm.
"To get him through the sixth inning, I thought, was huge. He wasn't going to finish the game," Roberts said. "As a fan, you hope for that. But that wasn't going to happen in any universe."
(Via MLB.com)
No, Roberts' plans for Sheehan transcend single-game accomplishments. Sheehan has the chance to establish a spot in the Dodgers' starting rotation, and his first appearance could not have started better.
As one would imagine, Sheehan was nervous about the prospect of pitching in front of nearly fifty thousand fans in a rivalry matchup against the Giants.
"I was definitely really nervous the couple days leading up to it, but once I got out there, it all faded away," Sheehan said. "I think after the first couple innings, realizing I can get outs here ... It was definitely a confidence builder, for sure."
(Via MLB.com)
Sheehan's nerves will once again be put to the test. While Roberts suggested that he might give Sheehan more time off than typically expected for a starter, he also confirmed that Sheehan will make another start soon.
With the Houston Astros coming to Los Angeles next week, Sheehan could find himself pitching in another rivalry game in front of a Dodger crowd hungry for a series win.
