I root for Jeremy Sowers. Like a lot of people, I want him to succeed, to be an exception to those who say he doesn’t miss enough bats to make it in the bigs. This year his K rate has gone up. He seems to have regained the arm strength he lost after he was shut down early in 2006. But, man, has he been lousy on the mound since 2006. In four of his eight starts this season Sowers has given up nine hits or more. Batters hit .356 when Jeremy pitches. His WHIP is 1.86 (the major league average is 1.38). Lefties are 15 for 42 against him in eight starts, OPSing 1.106. With RISP and two outs batters OPS 1.219 (going 8 for 21). His pitch-per-inning rate has gone up since 2006. In that season he was getting groundball outs (a 1.54 G/F rate). Last year he was about even, and this year he is right about league average for inducing ground balls. Some of this is sample size and who he has faced. The Tigers, who kill lefties, love to see him. In 9.2 innings at Comerica he’s given up 17 hits. Miguel Cabrera is four for five against him. Sowers had an incredible year in 2006, but his career numbers aren’t good: 196 innings, 232 hits, 30 homers, 53 walks and 77 strikeouts for a 5.42 ERA. He often seems a pitch away from getting out of a jam, and can’t get the out. He doesn’t seem to nibble so much this season. He has great minor league numbers. What gives with this guy?