Reason for Demps' poor performance early on?

[ctcf]

Per rotoworld:

Ryan Dempster revealed that his daughter was diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome and has been in the hospital since being born prematurely in March.

Riley has had two surgeries because of the syndrome, which disrupts her natural swallowing reflex and her ability to keep food down. Dempster said he believes the worst is now over and his daughter could be released from the hospital in a few weeks. Besides the obvious stress, it's easy to see how all of the extra traveling he's had to do this season has affected his performance.

 

Geez.

[inari]

I just heard about this from my mother. Very sad.

[Bote McBoteface]

wrong topic

[17 Seconds]

His overall numbers actually aren't really bad at all now. I said going into the season I expected like a 3.90ish ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. I think his WHIP i like 1.28 now and his ERA is just barely over 4.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I had heard a rumor that Dempster had a family issue, but never heard what it was. I guess this explains it.

 

I know that sort of thing would be hard on any parent, and especially one that has to travel and be away from family as much as a baseball player is.

 

Hopefully, she is healing and will get better soon.

[Coach C]

I can see why it would be a distraction for his early performance. Hard to concentrate on pitching while there is a major event going on during your personal/family life. One way or another, I'm glad Ryan Dempster is a Cub, and I wish nothing but the best for him and his family.

[pitchcs]

I had heard a rumor that Dempster had a family issue, but never heard what it was. I guess this explains it.

 

I know that sort of thing would be hard on any parent, and especially one that has to travel and be away from family as much as a baseball player is.

 

Hopefully, she is healing and will get better soon.

 

Yeah Vance, I had said a friend told me she thought his wife had a miscarraige a few weeks ago, but I'm sure this is what my friend meant.

 

Ryan is a great guy and has a great family I'm sure. Here's to hoping she's doing bettter.

[Three Finger]

I read about this in the Tribune the other day. What an awful story. I hope everything works out for Dempster. Considering he has to go through with that on his mind all day, can't say that a 4.12 ERA is that bad.

[twothousandfive]

If Dempster's performance was way out of line with his career, this might be an explanation.

 

Though it is sad, and good to hear his daughter may be getting better (assuming the personal lives of pro athletes matter more than others), I find it hard to use it to describe why he is pitching at modestly better than his career numbers, and only worse than two seasons as a starter.

 

He's had four seasons as a starting pitcher where he has been noticeably worse than this year. I don't think that makes it a poor performance so far in 2009.

[Cubbie Swagger]

Sad story.

 

But as far as Dempster... he has just been inconsistent. He's had alot of great starts and alot of bad starts... overall, it averages out to decent numbers. I do think his numbers will keep improving throughout the season, though.