Felix debut
So will all the fans jump off the bandwagon the first time he walks four batters in an inning? Or get lit up by the Yanks? Or get pulled in the 3rd inning when he can't find the strike zone?
Who cares, because last night we saw one of the more impressive pitching performances we'll see all year, regardless of the age of the pitcher. Felix was just plain awesome.
Most young pitchers are brought up because the club needs them, and they hope they get good while eating up innings. Felix is different. He is 19 years old and is ALREADY good. Is he one of the top ten pitchers in the AL? Quite possibly. Certainly I'd put him in the top twenty.
Two starts against Detroit and Minnesota is too small a sample size. We all understand that. But we also realize that his fastball isn't going to suddenly stop going 95+ mph anytime soon, and his curve is simply amazing. But his most impressive pitch last night?
His changeup. I've never seen a guy throw 95 mph who can throw a changeup in the same location, at 82 MPH!!! You could tell the Twins hitters were getting frustrated. They had to decide whether to swing at a pitch that might be going 96 or 82, and at least halfway to the plate they looked the same.
Most power pitchers that throw in the mid-90's have a changeup that typically goes 86-88 mph. The problem with the small speed differential is sometimes the batter fouls off the pitch to keep himself in the at-bat. It's a lot harder to make contact when you are talking a 15 mph difference.
We can only hope a guy like Putz was watching that brilliant performance last night. Both Felix and JJ throw fastballs in the 95 mph range. The difference is so crystal clear watching them pitch.
How many times did we see Felix start off a hitter last night with a first pitch 84 mph curve for a strike? Or a changeup for a strike on the outside corner of the plate at 82 mph. A guy like JJ starts off with his fastball and lets the hitter get a feel for the timing. Last night Felix kept the hitters guessing all night. They didn't know what was coming- heat, curve or that damn changeup.
To think he has a slider is simply too scary to contemplate. Is anyone else looking forward to his start next Monday?
It's fun to write about the M's for a change.
Thank you Felix!
So will all the fans jump off the bandwagon the first time he walks four batters in an inning? Or get lit up by the Yanks? Or get pulled in the 3rd inning when he can't find the strike zone?
Who cares, because last night we saw one of the more impressive pitching performances we'll see all year, regardless of the age of the pitcher. Felix was just plain awesome.
Most young pitchers are brought up because the club needs them, and they hope they get good while eating up innings. Felix is different. He is 19 years old and is ALREADY good. Is he one of the top ten pitchers in the AL? Quite possibly. Certainly I'd put him in the top twenty.
Two starts against Detroit and Minnesota is too small a sample size. We all understand that. But we also realize that his fastball isn't going to suddenly stop going 95+ mph anytime soon, and his curve is simply amazing. But his most impressive pitch last night?
His changeup. I've never seen a guy throw 95 mph who can throw a changeup in the same location, at 82 MPH!!! You could tell the Twins hitters were getting frustrated. They had to decide whether to swing at a pitch that might be going 96 or 82, and at least halfway to the plate they looked the same.
Most power pitchers that throw in the mid-90's have a changeup that typically goes 86-88 mph. The problem with the small speed differential is sometimes the batter fouls off the pitch to keep himself in the at-bat. It's a lot harder to make contact when you are talking a 15 mph difference.
We can only hope a guy like Putz was watching that brilliant performance last night. Both Felix and JJ throw fastballs in the 95 mph range. The difference is so crystal clear watching them pitch.
How many times did we see Felix start off a hitter last night with a first pitch 84 mph curve for a strike? Or a changeup for a strike on the outside corner of the plate at 82 mph. A guy like JJ starts off with his fastball and lets the hitter get a feel for the timing. Last night Felix kept the hitters guessing all night. They didn't know what was coming- heat, curve or that damn changeup.
To think he has a slider is simply too scary to contemplate. Is anyone else looking forward to his start next Monday?
It's fun to write about the M's for a change.
Thank you Felix!
posted by Tom at
9:55 AM
