Holmes mechanics and timing are a problem

Holmes was great in 11 of his first 13 appearances.  2-0 with eight saves.  The other good appearance was the series opener against CSUN, where he pitched his way out of a jam up 6-2 and then kept CSUN in check for a 9-2 win.

The other two:

Appearance #2:

Holmes entered in the ninth against Arkansas after Hutch hit the first batter.  One on second and one out.  Holmes gave up a triple to the second batter. 5-4 Arkansas.  Hutch picked up the loss.

Appearance #9:

In the Thursday game against USC, Holmes pitched his way out of a bases-loaded jam with two outs in the seventh.  In the eighth, Holmes gave up a leadoff single and then picked off the runner.  Holmes gave up an infield single and hit the third batter.  Holmes induced the fourth batter to ground out to Holmes.  Holmes walked the bases full and finished off the eighth with a groundball to second.  Having already pitched through the order, Holmes was pulled for Oakes, who hit the first two batters, induced a groundball, and then gave up the game-winning single.  2-1 USC.

After the first 13 appearances:

Appearance #14:

Oregon State blew a 10-4 sixth-inning lead.  Holmes came on in the ninth and gave up a game-winning home run to the first batter that he faced, 11-10 Nevada.  It was Holmes' first earned run of the season.

Appearance #15:

Oregon State came back from 6-2 and 8-6 deficits to tie twice.  Holmes came on in the ninth.  Strikeout, walk, strikeout, and home run.  10-8 California.

Appearance #16:

Oregon State led 7-4 in the eighth.  Joey Mundt gave up a homer, 7-5.  Holmes came on: strikeout, HBP, infield fly, and strikeout.  In the ninth, Holmes started with a single and walk.  Holmes then induced what looked like a double-play ball, but Krieg misfired, 7-6 with the other two runners safe.  Holmes then threw a wild pitch.  Ferguson came on.  Intentional walk, HBP, strikeout, and game-winning walk.  8-7 Cal.

Holmes threw two great games against Oregon to pick up two saves.

Appearance #19:

Oregon State led 2-0 in the ninth.  Holmes started off well with strikeout and groundout.  He then gave up walk, HBP, single, and HBP.  2-1.  Holmes came back to strikeout the final batter.  2-1 win.

Appearance #20:

10-10 in the eighth.  Runner on third with two outs.  Ground ball to first.  Turley homered to take an 11-10 lead.  Holmes induced a groundball to short, single, and strikeout.  Holmes then gave up a single and two HBPs.  11-11.  Macias worked a nine-pitch, two-out, bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth for a 12-11 win.

Appearance #21:

3-2 in the eighth.  Two on and one out.  Holmes gave up a bunt single before inducing an inning-ending 6-3 double-play.  HBP, strikeout, walk, and double for a 4-3 loss.

Holmes played a hand in five of eight of the one-run losses.  Holmes has literally never saved a one-run ballgame, 0/2 finishing off the game with a one-run lead. 

Last eight appearances: (1) loss, (2) loss, (3) turned a two-run lead into a loss, (4 & 5) two two-run saves, (6) allowed a run and loaded the bases before picking up the save, (7) blew a one-run lead before being bailed out by the offense, and (8) blew a one-run lead and picked up the loss.

Holmes has been pretty good with a two-run lead, but I would personally rather roll with someone else at the moment with a one-run lead with no outs in the ninth.  That is simply not enough leeway for Holmes.

Holmes needs at least a three-run lead.  Otherwise, I would personally start moving toward Mundt closing, but that may just be me.