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Post by inger on Jul 24, 2019 11:19:58 GMT -5
7/24 vs. Minnesota Twins / Jake Odorizzi 11-4; 3.18
Odorizzi is 29 years old and has had an up and down career. He put in a lot of work this past winter and his newfound success seems to be based on having added an extra mile per hour or so to his still-below-average velocity fastball.
He uses the fastball 57% of the time, though he also is said to have a nearly imperceptibly different “sinker” that is part of that mix. It comes in at 92-93, sometimes 90-91 (is that the sinker?). Both(?) get swings and misses due to placement and movement. Different sources report this pitch different ways. This pitch(es?) is worked up in the zone.
There is a cutter that is only 86 MPH and is the only pitch in the arsenal that tends to result in ground balls. It’s offered 20% of the time, often when looking for a DP.
He throws a relatively ineffective splitter about 15% of the time that unlike other splitters tends to get flyballs. It acts somewhat more like a changeup to hitters, but the swings and misses are rare.
Finally, The is a greatly reduced usage curveball with sharp downward bite. Again, this gets hit in the air more often than not.
There used to be reports of a nasty slider that was hard to control. Like the sinker, it may still be in the repertoire and being mis-identified as a sinker or splitter or curve or...get it?...
His stuff is murderous on RHH. Best to get some lefty bats in the lineup tonight. He tends to scuffle a bit in the first inning, with a 1.51 WHIP. His command is off until he finds his rhythm. He then tends to remain difficult to get on base against until about the sixth inning.
Is the “new” Odorizzi for real? Tonight may be interesting in that Jake has been knocked around to a 6+ ERA in his last six starts. Has the league figured out what made him so successful earlier this year? His once 1.94 ERA is still nice at 3.18, but his recent lack of success hints regression to the mean...
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Post by kaybli on Jul 24, 2019 13:15:30 GMT -5
7/24 vs. Minnesota Twins / Jake Odorizzi 11-4; 3.18 Odorizzi is 29 years old and has had an up and down career. He put in a lot of work this past winter and his newfound success seems to be based on having added an extra mile per hour or so to his still-below-average velocity fastball. He uses the fastball 57% of the time, though he also is said to have a nearly imperceptibly different “sinker” that is part of that mix. It comes in at 92-93, sometimes 90-91 (is that the sinker?). Both(?) get swings and misses due to placement and movement. Different sources report this pitch different ways. This pitch(es?) is worked up in the zone. There is a cutter that is only 86 MPH and is the only pitch in the arsenal that tends to result in ground balls. It’s offered 20% of the time, often when looking for a DP. He throws a relatively ineffective splitter about 15% of the time that unlike other splitters tends to get flyballs. It acts somewhat more like a changeup to hitters, but the swings and misses are rare. Finally, The is a greatly reduced usage curveball with sharp downward bite. Again, this gets hit in the air more often than not. There used to be reports of a nasty slider that was hard to control. Like the sinker, it may still be in the repertoire and being mis-identified as a sinker or splitter or curve or...get it?... His stuff is murderous on RHH. Best to get some lefty bats in the lineup tonight. He tends to scuffle a bit in the first inning, with a 1.51 WHIP. His command is off until he finds his rhythm. He then tends to remain difficult to get on base against until about the sixth inning. Is the “new” Odorizzi for real? Tonight may be interesting in that Jake has been knocked around to a 6+ ERA in his last six starts. Has the league figured out what made him so successful earlier this year? His once 1.94 ERA is still nice at 3.18, but his recent lack of success hints regression to the mean... Thanks inger! Very informative as usual! |
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Post by kaybli on Jul 25, 2019 3:56:44 GMT -5
6/29 vs. Red Sox / Rick Porcello Still in his prime, the 30 year old Porcello seems unlikely to ever duplicate the 22-4 season he posted in 2016. He’s about a league average pitcher. He throws five pitches, but none dominate. He fills the strike zone with a lot of average velocity (93 mph) four seamers that do have a higher spin rate than most, yet feature little movement. His sinker is a bit slower, has an obvious tail, but does not sink a lot, therefore it does not always do a good job of enticing grounders. The sliders seldom get missed and often hit in the air. The curve has glove side movement, is sometimes under 80 mph, and gets hit in the air. The change up gets some arm side fade, but is almost never a swing and miss pitch. In today’s game Porcello is not at all considered a power pitcher. He is a flyball hurler who has to utilize the large part of the park to succeed. With the short alleys and short CF dimensions in England, he’ll need to try figure out what to do. A change in game plan might be in order. Does he have the weaponry for that? Porcello tends to get hit and get in trouble early in games, then settles down and finds his rhythm through the middle innings. He begins to weaken after 80/90 pitches. As you might expect, with his mostly ineffective change up, left handlers hit him consistently. Right handed hitters find the seats vs. him more frequently, however... BUMPED for inger. |
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Post by inger on Jul 25, 2019 9:03:34 GMT -5
6/29 vs. Red Sox / Rick Porcello Still in his prime, the 30 year old Porcello seems unlikely to ever duplicate the 22-4 season he posted in 2016. He’s about a league average pitcher. He throws five pitches, but none dominate. He fills the strike zone with a lot of average velocity (93 mph) four seamers that do have a higher spin rate than most, yet feature little movement. His sinker is a bit slower, has an obvious tail, but does not sink a lot, therefore it does not always do a good job of enticing grounders. The sliders seldom get missed and often hit in the air. The curve has glove side movement, is sometimes under 80 mph, and gets hit in the air. The change up gets some arm side fade, but is almost never a swing and miss pitch. In today’s game Porcello is not at all considered a power pitcher. He is a flyball hurler who has to utilize the large part of the park to succeed. With the short alleys and short CF dimensions in England, he’ll need to try figure out what to do. A change in game plan might be in order. Does he have the weaponry for that? Porcello tends to get hit and get in trouble early in games, then settles down and finds his rhythm through the middle innings. He begins to weaken after 80/90 pitches. As you might expect, with his mostly ineffective change up, left handlers hit him consistently. Right handed hitters find the seats vs. him more frequently, however... BUMPED for inger. Porcello has made three starts since the 0.1 inning start he made vs. the Yankees across the pond. In those three starts, he’s allowed 16 earned runs on 28 hits in 16.1 innings. He’s also allowed 5 HR. He’s certainly not trending well of late... |
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Post by utahyank on Jul 25, 2019 9:26:36 GMT -5
thanks, inger….I have taken note that he is not currently pitching like the vintage Porcello....this is a huge series from the RS standpoint... they must feel that anything less than winning 3 of 4 games is unacceptable.....
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Post by inger on Jul 25, 2019 23:55:27 GMT -5
7/26/2019 vs. Boston Red Sox / Andrew Cashner 9-5 ; 4.19
Strapping 6’6” 235 32 year old righty lulls batters to sleep with one of the league’s most boring repertoires. He’s pretty much ditched his sinker in favor of a 94 MPH fastball and relies on that pitch and an 84 MPH changeup to carry the load.
He features a harder than expected curve with good downward bite, but like the rest of his repertoire that pitch, despite also having a bit of arm side run seldom indices a swing and miss.
Once in a while you might see an unspectacular slider at 86 MPH, and his sinker, which used to be his dominant pitch at 92 MPH may still have a pulse. Maybe.
Decent control and a low K rate give him about a 2-1 K/BB ratio. He gets lots of ground ball action on his pitches, and has done a great job of keeping the ball in the park despite of Baltimore’s team woes prior to the swap to Boston. He will normally have his struggles during the first three innings, but once he survives those innings he tends to finish of a strong 6 or sometimes 7 inning start.
Recommend taking advantage of early inning opportunities. You may not get opportunities once he settles in through the middle innings...
He’s pitched to a BABIP of around .250 this year. Most likely that means that the past couple of starts he had for Boston should have been expected. Somehow, his career track is a poor W-L record with an ERA that’s been better than his FIP...
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Post by greatfatness on Jul 26, 2019 7:12:14 GMT -5
No scouting report for Austin Romine?
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Post by domeplease on Jul 26, 2019 10:23:45 GMT -5
OUR CURRENT PITCHING STAFF: Hit them early = will lead to more mid-inning hits and late inning hits. They have LOST where the STRIKE ZONE is...
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Post by inger on Jul 26, 2019 10:52:42 GMT -5
No scouting report for Austin Romine? In light of his performance vs. Wilkerson’s of Baltimore last night, I’ll dredge up a memory from 49 years ago. I had my first and only experience as a Little League Manager that year. I was first not regarded seriously, as most managers were either the father’s or grandfathers of one of the players, the group than ran the League thought I was too young. I had a situation arise where family vacations meant that I had no pitcher for a game. I went to our smallest player and told him he was going to pitch and I was going to warm him up before the game so he’d know what to to. I told him to lob his pitches in slowly so they would be dropping when they got to the plate and worked with him to get the desired pitch. Depending upon your view of a particular slightly bobbled play at third (error in my view) he either pitched a no-hitter or a one hitter to lead the team to a 1-0 win. I started him one more time. He started out the game a bit cocky and was throwing harder, getting shelled for a couple quick runs before I made a mound visit. He thought I was there to take him out of the game, but I reminded him that this about pitching, not throwing hard. He settled down and pitched shutout ball the rest of the way in a low scoring loss. There is certainly something to be said for being different from the other pitchers and frustrating hitters. That kid might have been ready at that point to start mixing his FB in and getting some strikeouts. Just nine years old, the minimum for his league...A kid that was so small the opposition kids would often tease him about it had his moment of glory. Yep. Maybe Austin was trying too hard... |
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Post by inger on Jul 26, 2019 21:59:57 GMT -5
7/30 vs. Red Sox / Eduardo Rodriguez Still young lefty has normally pitched with even or reverse splits, which have been more extreme this season than I n the past so far, with LHH taking him deep 7 times in just 90 AB. While he has a high swing and miss rate, he has also been allowing much higher than average exit velocities and a high rate of hard hit balls, which indicates inconsistent command. He uses a lot of 4-seam fastballs (93-94) that have a bit of sink, good swing and miss despite not having a lot of movement. He allows a lot of fly balls with this pitch despite the sink. He throws a hard change up at 88 that shows some fade and better sink than the fastball. It’s the only pitch in his arsenal that results in a lot of grounders, and is his second oft used pitch. When it’s working he’s a much better pitcher. Less often he will cut the ball at about 92-93 and here he also has some sink, yet still gets hit in the air. The slider has some glove side fade, and some drop with respectable swing and miss, but often hangs and gets sent a long way. He seems to get uncomfortable in jams, and settles in a bit late in games, about the third inning. He’s usually very effective in the middle innings but fades badly after 75 or so pitches, which can be the sixth inning or so... In 2019 he’s struggled on the road, although his career numbers show that he’s about the same home or away. He has a career 5-4; 3.89 ERA vs. the Yanks, although the Bombers have hit him for a 116 OPS+... Bump |
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Post by inger on Jul 26, 2019 22:04:15 GMT -5
7/30 vs. Red Sox / Eduardo Rodriguez Still young lefty has normally pitched with even or reverse splits, which have been more extreme this season than I n the past so far, with LHH taking him deep 7 times in just 90 AB. While he has a high swing and miss rate, he has also been allowing much higher than average exit velocities and a high rate of hard hit balls, which indicates inconsistent command. He uses a lot of 4-seam fastballs (93-94) that have a bit of sink, good swing and miss despite not having a lot of movement. He allows a lot of fly balls with this pitch despite the sink. He throws a hard change up at 88 that shows some fade and better sink than the fastball. It’s the only pitch in his arsenal that results in a lot of grounders, and is his second oft used pitch. When it’s working he’s a much better pitcher. Less often he will cut the ball at about 92-93 and here he also has some sink, yet still gets hit in the air. The slider has some glove side fade, and some drop with respectable swing and miss, but often hangs and gets sent a long way. He seems to get uncomfortable in jams, and settles in a bit late in games, about the third inning. He’s usually very effective in the middle innings but fades badly after 75 or so pitches, which can be the sixth inning or so... In 2019 he’s struggled on the road, although his career numbers show that he’s about the same home or away. He has a career 5-4; 3.89 ERA vs. the Yanks, although the Bombers have hit him for a 116 OPS+... Bump Since last facing the Yankees, Rodriguez has been a hot pitcher, winning all 4 of his starts. He’s only allowed 14 hits in 25.1 innings over that stretch with a 1.59 ERA. He’s only allowed a .180 BABIP on the four games... |
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Post by inger on Jul 28, 2019 18:15:32 GMT -5
07/28 vs. Red Sox / Chris Sale 5-9; 4.00
Sale has pretty much returned to his best form after struggling to start the season. He did experience another slump the last half of June and first half of July as he served up 6 HR over a 4 start run, but his last two starts he’s pitched 12 innings with 22 K’s and 5 BB. He’s allowed just 2 runs off 6 hits in those two starts.
He’s been heavily featuring his sweeping, diving slider generates tons of swings and misses while often leaving the strike zone.
His 94+ MPH 4 seamer is hard to contact with his excellent location and natural sink. He moves this ball well anywhere within the zone.
His circle change has a lot of arm side run and typically dives below the strike zone where, when contacted it gets beat into the dirt in front of the plate.
Sale also throws a sinker that comes into the plate at 92 MPH and gets lots of swing and miss action.
The best time to get to Sale seems to be around the middle innings, after which he toughens up again until he exceeds 100 pitches. At that point he’s still usually getting outs, but given his frail frame and second half woes of recent seasons he often gets pulled out at about 110 pitches or six innings...
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Post by inger on Jul 30, 2019 0:00:12 GMT -5
7/30 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks / Taylor Clarke 3-3; 6.10
4 seamer @ 93. Hit in the air.
Slider @ 85 is his best swing and miss offering
Change up @85 has backspin, goes far when hit
12-6 curve @80 is usually used to sneak in a 1st pitch strike
Poorly defined sinker @92 has little movement and gets airborne.
Clarke is known for his “pitchability” because he throws strikes and mixes his repertoire well despite the lack of a stand out pitch.
The 6’ 4”, 25 year old is fresh off the paternity leave list. In his last start he went six innings for the first time in his past 9 starts. He allowed 2 solo HR vs. Baltimore in a four hit outing.
The right hander has been homer prone thus far in his rookie season, and right handed hitters have hit him even harder than left handed hitters. Most teams have hit him early and often as he struggles to go for weak contact. He is neither a ground ball pitcher, nor a strike out pitcher, and is often out of the game before the fourth inning is over...
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Post by inger on Jul 31, 2019 0:08:47 GMT -5
7/31 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks / Zack Greinke 10-4, 2.87
35 year old right hander has strong splits vs. RHH, and even stronger vs. LHH. At this point in his career, he gets by on guile. He’s simply a great athlete. He’s won 5 gold gloves, all in recent seasons. His ERA+ is 155, and he leads the NL in WHIP.
He throws strikes, and keeps the ball in the park.
Zack has an 8-pitch repertoire, though 4 of the pitches make up 92% of his usage.
4SFB 90 MPH. Straight as an arrow, but he can put it on a dime. He throws this 42% of the time. If I could stop here, you’d be anxious to attack him. But wait, there's more. Lots more.
The change up 87 MPH has a small amount of sink, but induces lots of grounders. Thrown 21% of the time.
His slider 83 MPH is thrown 15% of the time. It has a short glove side cut and a bit of drop.
Then we have the curve at 71MPH, slower than batting practice with huge 12/6 drop. He also throws either a slow curve or eephus, depending on your definition. 68 and sometimes slower, a giant yakker that divebombs out of the heavens. It’s mostly for show, but it does work.
Finally he has a split finger and a cutter that tossed in on occasion simply to mess with hitters heads and timing.
There is a lot of information there, but overall it’s a bit confusing as to how he remains able to win. He simply knows how to use the weapons he carries in his quiver. He’s smart, athletic, experienced.
He is one of those veteran pitchers that has a single fatal flaw. He scuffles a bit in the first inning. After that, the deeper into the game he pitches, the stronger he gets. Attack early! He has no qualms about pitching deep into the game, but his manager seldom lets him exceed 100 pitches...
One final thought: Are we past the years where Greinke might feel intimidated in Yankee Stadium? Probably... but we can always hope...
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Post by inger on Jul 31, 2019 23:44:19 GMT -5
7/30 vs. Red Sox / Eduardo Rodriguez Still young lefty has normally pitched with even or reverse splits, which have been more extreme this season than I n the past so far, with LHH taking him deep 7 times in just 90 AB. While he has a high swing and miss rate, he has also been allowing much higher than average exit velocities and a high rate of hard hit balls, which indicates inconsistent command. He uses a lot of 4-seam fastballs (93-94) that have a bit of sink, good swing and miss despite not having a lot of movement. He allows a lot of fly balls with this pitch despite the sink. He throws a hard change up at 88 that shows some fade and better sink than the fastball. It’s the only pitch in his arsenal that results in a lot of grounders, and is his second oft used pitch. When it’s working he’s a much better pitcher. Less often he will cut the ball at about 92-93 and here he also has some sink, yet still gets hit in the air. The slider has some glove side fade, and some drop with respectable swing and miss, but often hangs and gets sent a long way. He seems to get uncomfortable in jams, and settles in a bit late in games, about the third inning. He’s usually very effective in the middle innings but fades badly after 75 or so pitches, which can be the sixth inning or so... In 2019 he’s struggled on the road, although his career numbers show that he’s about the same home or away. He has a career 5-4; 3.89 ERA vs. the Yanks, although the Bombers have hit him for a 116 OPS+...  Bump He’s back again! Eduardo has now won his last 7 decisions and has pitched out of his gourd in July at 5-0; 2.03. He continues to be hit much harder by LHH this season, so we can hope for a hot Tauchman in the lineup along with Didi. I doubt we’d see anything as creative as a Mike Ford call up to play first base in this game, but it might be worth a try. Soon I suppose we’ll find out if Eduardo has matured into a top pitcher, or if he’s simply been hot... |
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