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Post by winger98 on Jun 25, 2007 13:22:42 GMT -5
That's a good point. One thing I've loathed about the previous regime is their willingness to rush kids up to the show when they weren't ready......and this regime ain't immune. Had Bonderman spent more time in the minors he might have/should have developed an off-speed pitch that would take him to next step of being an elite pitcher rather than just a good one. Unfortunately I don't get to watch the Tigers much this year (thanks, Dish, you &^%$#*&) so I don't know if Bondy is throwing more breaking pitches. In any case Miller seems enthusiastic about developing his off speed stuff.....let's hope he does. Bondo was the guy I was thinking about, too. The few times I've seen him, I didn't notice much breaking stuff. Whenever he throws it, it's just a "show me" pitch and not something he relies on at all. What saves him is that he has ungodly good stuff with the two pitches he does throw. That slider of his is absolutely filthy. I like Miller's attitude, too. The kid seems to know he has some growing to do but, as you said in your other post, that's hard to do at the MLB level. It's just not a level of baseball made for learning a third pitch as you go. |
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Post by octopus on Jun 25, 2007 14:18:36 GMT -5
Are they still teaching the split-finger fastball? I think Clemens uses it, but I never seem to hear about it much anymore. Why not? It was very effective, for quite a few pitchers, in the '80's and '90's. Is Roger Craig still alive, and competent enough to teach his signature pitch? Also, what's so hard about throwing Dice-K's gyroball? Doesn't seem like it requires anything freakish or unlearnable, from its description, and there's no doubt it can be a very effective weapon in a pitcher's overall arsenal. Get that Japanese coach over here, screw the cost, and lock him in the bullpen with Bonderman, Miller, Verlander, etc., until they have it down. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyroball |
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jaster
Rookie
I miss Detroit
Posts: 464
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Post by jaster on Jun 25, 2007 14:41:07 GMT -5
Are they still teaching the split-finger fastball? I think Clemens uses it, but I never seem to hear about it much anymore. Why not? It was very effective, for quite a few pitchers, in the '80's and '90's. Is Roger Craig still alive, and competent enough to teach his signature pitch? Also, what's so hard about throwing Dice-K's gyroball? Doesn't seem like it requires anything freakish or unlearnable, from its description, and there's no doubt it can be a very effective weapon in a pitcher's overall arsenal. Get that Japanese coach over here, screw the cost, and lock him in the bullpen with Bonderman, Miller, Verlander, etc., until they have it down. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GyroballLol, that would be hilarious. One day all our starters just start throwing the gyro ball! "The Tigers set one of baseball's most amazing records yesterday when their pitching staff completed their 9th consecutive no-hitter!" |
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Post by winger98 on Jun 25, 2007 16:27:23 GMT -5
The splitter is still thrown but it puts a lot of strain on the forearm and I bet that's why we've seen it decrease in popularity.
I know the article says the gyroball isn't a changeup, it sounds like the end results are the same. The batter gets confused about the speed and swings through it. I'd just teach kids the circle-change. It's easy to pick up and easy to throw.
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Post by jimagain on Jun 25, 2007 17:37:08 GMT -5
Can't help but get giddy at the prospect of Miller, Bonderman and Verlander in Tiger unis for a long time. The Braves suck right now but Miller shut them out today throwing just one pitch. It's hard to see anything but the real deal in Miller. I like Miller as much as everyone else but that right there is what worries me. He needs to develop the off-speed stuff but I'm not sure he'll get that opportunity at the major league level, or at least feel like he has the opportunity. The kid has to develop that third pitch and I'm still not sold that Detroit is the best place for it. Joe Morgan was talking about that last night but, he also said MIller has so much different movements on his fastball, that that could be a big help to him. |
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Post by ghostwing on Jun 26, 2007 8:14:20 GMT -5
Pitchers work on or learn new pitches all the time without being in the minors. I remember many pitchers learning the split finger while they continued pitch in the rotation. A 22 year old kid? He's not a veteran pitcher learning to add a pitch. It doesn't seem very smart for a kid just out of college, learning to compete at the highest level, experimenting with a new pitch against major league hitters. Of course he could do that......throw lotsa balls, get behind against hitters, and putting himself in a weak position. That's what the minors and spring training is for. Oh, I forgot the Common Sense part. they practice the pitch off the field and try adding it after they are comfortable with it. |
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Post by rightwinger on Jun 26, 2007 9:07:58 GMT -5
A 22 year old kid? He's not a veteran pitcher learning to add a pitch. It doesn't seem very smart for a kid just out of college, learning to compete at the highest level, experimenting with a new pitch against major league hitters. Of course he could do that......throw lotsa balls, get behind against hitters, and putting himself in a weak position. That's what the minors and spring training is for. Oh, I forgot the Common Sense part. they practice the pitch off the field and try adding it after they are comfortable with it. You probably mean like Bonderman and his off speed stuff. |
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Post by ghostwing on Jun 26, 2007 10:10:43 GMT -5
Oh, I forgot the Common Sense part. they practice the pitch off the field and try adding it after they are comfortable with it. You probably mean like Bonderman and his off speed stuff. But then again they don't need to learn a new pitch, they just need to practice using it more. Next spring would be a good place to do that a lot. They don't need to be in the minors for that. |
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