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Boy have the mighty fallen. I loved Bill going into 09. He was on all four of my teams. My faith was initially rewarded as he was a top 10 pitcher in 1st half. Somewhere in August the wheels came off the wagon...he is not even set to start over scrap heap pick up Padilla now? And noone is writing about it. Is he injured?

He hyper extended a knee and I think it may still bother him. More of a worry is hurting his arm if he alters his delivery cause his knee hurts. That could be a career ender. Ask Dizzy dean.

Thanks for that info...I never saw that report of his injury

The injury Billingsley suffered on August 2 was originally reported as a hyperextended right knee, but later attributed to a hamstring strain. He made his next start on August 7 but then missed the following one before returning on August 18.



Billingsley ended the season by posting a 5.01 ERA and 6.9 K/9 in his last 9 outings of the season after that, so clearly the knee/hamstring injury didn't help, but the truth is he was struggling long before that even became an issue. Compare...



First 14 starts thru 6/14: 2.72 ERA, 9.0 K/BB, 1.23 WHIP, 3 HR in 92.2 IP



Next 8 starts from 6/19 thru 7/28 (the start before the knee/hamstring issue): 6.46 ERA, 7.4 K/9, 1.46 WHIP, 7 HR in 46.0 IP



Whatever was wrong with him started much earlier in the summer.

Billingsley faced SD or SF in half of his first 12 starts, with more than a couple powderpuffs sprinkled in between. Maybe he got worse, or maybe the competition was just better.

Hopefully his teammates call him "The Beav".