It’s funny how distance obscures one’s view. 

From the stands two hundred feet away, or from the comfort of your living room sofa or a bar stool hundreds of miles away, watching Dallas Keuchel’s start last night, it would seem he had another in a long, sad line of his bad outings.

Viewing the box score on the computer screen inches away, you get a pretty good picture of his start. He lasted two outs into the fourth inning, gave up seven hits, walked three, and allowed seven runs to score.

By all accounts—and most eyes—that is not a good start. 

His last start for Texas he got one out into the fifth before giving up seven runs. So, he was two outs better before. But the Rangers manager, who had the benefit of watching Keuchel pitch from just a few feet away, saw it differently.

Beasley saw “progress” in Keuchel’s regression. Yes, he gave up a run in the first, but after that, he retired the next six batters.

Six.

In a row. 

The Cy Young award engravers jumped to their feet.

Beasley said, after the game, he thought Keuchel pitched much better than the line score indicated. 

Maybe Dallas Keuchel is better than the 12.60 ERA he has as a starter for the Texas Rangers. Maybe he is better than his philanthropic 2.200 WHIP would indicate. 

Maybe you have to be a lifetime baseball man and be sitting withing spitting distance of Keuchel to see.

Maybe we fans do not possess that sharp of baseball vision.

Maybe, if Keuchel is given another start, Beasley should sit somewhere more appropriate next time.

In a bomb shelter.

*****