J.A. Happ

Why I watched: Just traded to Seattle and had a decent 2014.

Game(s) Watched: 9/27/14 vs Orioles

Game Thoughts

• He threw his fastballs between 92-95 mph. He had a two and four-seamer. They looked to almost be identical, but the 2-seamer drops just a bit at the last moment. Neither pitch is really special, but they are serviceable. He decreased the usage of the four seamer from 54% to 48% from April to September while increasing his sinker usage from 15% to 22%. Additionally, the lefty pounded the outside of the plate against righties.

• He threw a 78-81 mph curve. It was only a chase pitch as he couldn’t throw it for strikes. A couple of times he hung the pitch.

• His change was at 86 mph and was straight with some late sink.

• Finally, I saw a couple sliders at 86 mph with some glove side run.

• Nothing stood out … maybe the sinker. He is a 4-5 starter.

Final thoughts: I think the sum is better than the parts, but the parts aren’t really that great. It would be interesting if he swapped the usage of the two and four-seamer. I will take him in AL-only leagues, but that is it. Just not enough wow to consider elsewhere.

Wade Miley

Why I watched: Just traded to the Red Rox

Game(s) Watched: 9/27/14 vs Cardinals

Game Thoughts

• The lefty works fast. He is ready to pitch as soon as he gets the ball back from the catcher.

• All of 28-year-old’s pitches traveled in from  10:30 to 4:30. Each is just at a little different speed and little different break.

• He pounded the 1B part of the plate to both LH and RH hitters.

• His two-seamer was between 89-91 mph with some sink. It is a plus pitch with an above average rate of grounders and swinging strikes. His four-seamer, which was around 92-93, just didn’t have the sink. It was tough at times to tell the difference between the two. The one issue he has had with the two-seamer is throwing it for strikes. Only a 40% Zone% on the 2014 season, so if hitters don’t chase it, he can run up his pitch count and is then force to use the 4-seamer (53% Zone%).

• His 86-87 mph slider was a plus chase pitch. It has the same motion as his two–seamer but with more drop. This can be seen with its 60% GB% and 17% GB%.

• His change was at 82-83 mph. It came is just like his 4-seamer, but just 10 mph slower. It will either fool the hitter (14% SwStr%) with the speed difference or the hitter will tee off on it (.380 BABIP, .229 ISO).

• He surprisingly used his curve quite a bit during the game (16% vs 2% on the season). It was at 77 mph with 10-4 motion. It seemed fairly average, but was a nice change of pace considering his other pitches.

Final thoughts: I think he has the chance to be a good pitcher if he could throw strikes more. He has some good downward movement on his pitches with a good amount of swing-and-miss. His main issue will be throwing enough called strikes early in the count to use his breaking pitches.

Chris Bassitt

Why I watched: Just got traded from the White Sox to the A’s

Game(s) Watched: 9/28/14 vs Royals

Game Thoughts

• Tons of movement on his pitches, but he couldn’t throw any of them consistently.

• The 25-year-old righty’s sinker/two-seamer was 92-95 mph with some release side run and sometimes some late drop. The key to this pitch, and most of his others, is they get good movement at lower velocities. They straighten out as he overthrows them for higher speeds. Majors league hitters, besides B.J. Upton, can hit 95 mph straight fastballs.

• His slider was between 82-85 mph with glove side run. Like with his fastball, he overthrew it and just hung it a few times to get crushed.

• His 70-72 mph curve came in with a 12-6 motion and he could throw it for call strikes.

• He threw his slider and curve for a combined ~50% of the time (48.4%). The number is not out of line with his season combined value of 44.4%.

• Though I didn’t notice it during the game, but he is a flyball pitcher (40% GB%, bottom 3/4ths of the league). He allowed no home runs during the 2014 season and had a 0.6 HR/9 in all his minor league stops.

Final thoughts: I wasn’t impressed, but he could work out in Oakland’s large park since he is a flyball pitcher. I see a 5th starter/ longer relief future for him.

Carlos Rodon

Why I watched: One of the 2014 draft picks who is nearly ready to join the big league level club.

Game(s) Watched: 8/30/14 vs Gwinnett Braves

Game Thoughts

• Tough camera angles and this was from one of the better MiLB cameras.

• The lefty is a big boy (6’3 234)

• Used the angles coming from 1B side with a straight fastball. He should be able to own lefties with this pitch.

• Slider just has the same action as his fastball, but moves down with some glove side run. It is a swing and miss pitch with no ability to throw for it for strikes.

Read the rest of this entry »

Again, I will keep taking requests and if a pitcher is in the news, I will probably look at them. Some pitchers I am considering are Juan Nicasio, Carlos Rodon and Roenis Elias.

Anthony DeSclafani

Why I watched: Great in the AFL and as a reliever. Horrible as a starter.

Game(s) Watched: 6/22/14 vs Mets

Game Thoughts

• The 24-year-old righty threw a straight 89-94 mph fastball with some release side run. It “rose” a bit making it flyball in nature (30% GB%). It was his only called strike pitch (63% Zone%).

Read the rest of this entry »

My list of pitchers I want to look at is getting a little thin. Let me know if you have any suggestions. I have access to MiLB.tv  so I can also look at some minor leaguers.

Jeremy Hellickson

Why I watched: Recent rumors of him getting traded.

Game(s) Watched: 9/19/14 vs White Sox

Game Thoughts

• His two stop windup drives me nuts. Here are three examples at the 25 sec to the 50 sec mark from his start before the one I watched.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tyler Matzek

Why I watched: Rookie in Colorado

Game(s) Watched: 9/10/14 vs Mets

Game Thoughts

• The left-hander’s straight fastball was between 88 and 94 mph. It gets an outstanding 50% GB%, but doesn’t have a ton of noticeable downward break.

• He also threw an 83 mph slider which broke in the 10-4 direction. It was a plus pitch when he commanded it. A few times it barely broke, if at all. Hanging breaking balls usually go for home runs. The pitch is a killer on lefties. Overall, he is posted a 2.22 FIP against lefties and 4.35 against righties.

Read the rest of this entry »

David Hale

Why I watched: Picked up some early and late starts with OK numbers.

Game(s) Watched: 9/25/14 vs Pirates

Game Thoughts

• The 26-year-old right hander threw two fastballs, a two- and four-seamer. Starting with the 90-92 mph four-seamer. It is fairly straight pitch with a bit of glove side run. It is about the only pitch he can throw for strikes. Here are his 2014 Zone% values :

Pitch: Zone%
Four season: 57%
Two seam: 40%
Curve/Slider: 27%
Change: 34%

If he needs to throw a strike, it’s only the four-seamer. Some hitters seemed to be looking for it when they are ahead in count since his other pitches rarely go for strikes. While I didn’t notice it during the game, it does get an insane amount of goundballs (51% during the season).

Read the rest of this entry »

Cory Rasmus

Why I watched: Outstanding in the bullpen, but transitioning to starting rotation.

Game(s) Watched: 9/28/14 vs Mariners

Game Thoughts

• His fastball was between 90-93 mph and was straight. It had the illusion of a rising fastball and over the course of the season has only generated a 32% GB%. He seems to only throw this pitch at the edges of the strike zone and will throw the slider or change when he needs a called strike.

• His change and slider are a tough to tell apart. They both come in at 85 mph, but the slider drops and runs more than the change. The change has been his bread and butter with a 52% GB% and a 27% SwStr%. The slider’s results have been worse than the change with a 41% GB% and 13% SwStr%. He has used the change more this past month.

Read the rest of this entry »

Yusmeiro Petit

Why I watched: The 29-year-old is having a great year after posting a career ERA of 5.00 before this season.

Game(s) Watched: 9/20/14 vs. the Padres

Game Thoughts

• Overall, he is a strike throwing, kitchen sink pitcher. With four pitches he throws over 10%, he keeps hitters off guard.

• His four-seam, rising fastball is worthless. It is between 87-91 mph. It is straight with no movement. A few times I wondered if he threw a 2-seamer, but the Pitchf/x data doesn’t show one. It generates a ton of flyballs in which a few turn into home runs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Trevor May

Why I watched: Highly touted prospect up in the majors.

Game(s) Watched: 9/14/14 vs White Sox

Game Thoughts

• Hawk was announcing. I hope I did not lose too many brain cells.

• May’s fastball was from 90-95 mph, straight with little downward movement. Looking at the values, it is at +10.1 vertical movement. Using some of my recent work, his GB% should be near 35% (actual 37.6%). He should get a good number of infield fly balls, but his home runs may be a problem at times.

Read the rest of this entry »

This is a weekly series on players I have selectively watched while exercising. Usually, I will concentrate on lesser known players or rookies just getting their first call ups.

Kevin Gausman

Why I watched: A highly touted prospect.

Game Watched: 9/1/14 vs Twins

Game Thoughts

• His fastball is elite. He normally throws it around 94-95 mph, but can change speeds to launch it up to 97 mph. It sometimes has some release side run which makes it about unhittable. For a 4-seam fastball, it gets a good number of groundballs (43% on the season) mainly because he pitches low in the zone.

• Well, that is about it for good news. His other pitches, a change/splitter and slider, are horrible. He couldn’t throw either for strikes and they just don’t have good movement. His change/splitter gets a bit of swing-and-miss because everyone seems gearing up for his fastball which he throws almost all the time. He throws his fastball 72% of the time which is good for the 8th most in the league (min 80 IP).

Read the rest of this entry »