RJ Swindle's pitches

[Diskono]

I don't mean to sound like I'm piling on Jason Kendall, but I noticed that 3 of Swindle's 4 hits allowed were fastballs thrown while he was ahead or even in the count. I assume that Kendall is calling for these pitches, and I assume that Swindle (being a junkballer) doesn't have the greatest fastball. To me, it seems like he should only be throwing this pitch when behind 3-0 or similar situations. When he's ahead in the count, shouldn't the batter be looking to make contact? If you're the catcher, why call for your pitcher's worst pitch when you know the hitter is going to swing at anything in the zone?

 

Maybe I'm way off, but Swindle did also record two strikeouts on offspeed pitches. Can someone with a better scouting eye shed some light on this? Especially those who may have seen him pitch in Nashville, what was he throwing down there? It just seems odd that a pitcher can be so dominant against AAA hitting, and so bad against major leaguers.

[JJHardy7]

To me, I think he threw more breaking stuff in the minors, but that's just an observation and not a fact. I just think Kendall and him may need to get on the same page. It's pretty easy to hit a slow fastball in the majors if you're not mixing your breaking stuff in.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfx.aspx?playerid=539&position=P

[joepepsi]

I'm ready to blame Kendall for everything.....

[JohnBriggs12]

The situation probably dictated the pitch calling. The game was over and out of hand. I don't think Kendall can be blamed for that.

[thunderbat30]

I said this in an April post and it met some banter because I said it without numbers/professional expertise but Swindle is simply not a major league pitcher. That being said, I'd take his job anyday of the year.

[JJHardy7]

I said this in an April post and it met some banter because I said it without numbers/professional expertise but Swindle is simply not a major league pitcher. That being said, I'd take his job anyday of the year.

I don't recall your comment, but to me you usually should have reason behind something. If it's because he's a soft-tosser or something like that, fine. I just don't like when people say so and so will do this....because! I've seen Swindle pitch more than a few times and to be honest I'm not sure about him. I think he could make it, but I've been 'sold' on other guys than him. I think the best scenario for Swindle is to use his offspeed stuff exclusively for awhile and see what happens.

Why did you say Swindle wasn't a major league pitcher? I don't doubt your opinion or anything, but saying someone is or isn't something without saying anything else usually doesn't carry a lot of weight IMO...either does the few innings Swindle has pitched in the bigs this year.

[thunderbat30]

You're right, I didn't give a reason. My feeling on Swindle is that he'll make hitters look awful on swings during at bats but more often than not good MLB hitters will hammer Swindle because his fastball is so limited. Hitters can sit on off speed stuff exclusively. I don't have any evidence to prove otherwise but a MLB pitcher needs a certain amount of velocity to be effective and it varies from each pitcher depending on their style. There are pitchers than can make this work but there are just so few. I know there are examples, heck Trevor Hoffman has done it with the Brewers this year but Trevor has shown cracks lately because he doesn't have that fastball. His leg kick is so deceiving and command is pinpoint when he's on.

 

Swindle's delivery and location are his best chance to have a shot at all and I don't see how he can help the Brewers in the long run.

 

It really all comes down to perceptions on players. As much coaching as I've done opinions on players vary so much from staff members. Our entire staff constantly views guys differently than the rest beacuse he's 'our' type of player. Right and Wrong by both sides.

[JJHardy7]

That's fair enough and very well could be true. I guess his key is being able to switch up his off-speed stuff and like you said his delivery is key. I didn't mean to be a jerk or anything...just like some kind of reasoning and you provided that. Like I said, I'm on the fence about him. His key is to be able to throw off-speed stuff with accuracy most of the time and that's just not easy.

[Diskono]

To me, I think he threw more breaking stuff in the minors, but that's just an observation and not a fact. I just think Kendall and him may need to get on the same page. It's pretty easy to hit a slow fastball in the majors if you're not mixing your breaking stuff in.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfx.aspx?playerid=539&position=P

Thanks, that goes along the lines of what I suspected.

 

And he may not be good enough, but I don't believe we've seen his best yet in Milwaukee. Anyone who can throw so many pitches for strikes will get my attention., and he has struck out 12 in 11 1/3 major league innings. At a quick glance at gameday data, it appears that he has a lot more success with well-placed offspeed pitches.

[bork]

I saw him pitch last week Sun or Mon and thought he looked alright, especially when everyone else was getting shelled. He struck out two batters on nasty 54 mph pitches. We all did a double take. It looked like he was throwing in slow motion.

[Outlander]

We may not have seen his best, however when you give up 16 runs in 11 1/3 innings and at least 1 run in 8 of the 9 games in the majors, he may not get too many more opportunities.

[Invader3K]

I saw him pitch last week Sun or Mon and thought he looked alright, especially when everyone else was getting shelled. He struck out two batters on nasty 54 mph pitches. We all did a double take. It looked like he was throwing in slow motion.

I'm pretty sure that's the infamous "eephus pitch."

[raven2479]

I saw him pitch last week Sun or Mon and thought he looked alright, especially when everyone else was getting shelled. He struck out two batters on nasty 54 mph pitches. We all did a double take. It looked like he was throwing in slow motion.

 

I was ten rows up directly behind home plate last Monday when he pitched against the Nationals. Sitting a row infront of the Brewers scout that had a radar gun and one of his pitches hit 52 on Terry's gun. Those are some nasty pitches being that they are so slow and look like softballs coming in at you. I'm sure they look appealing to major leaguers but anyone that swung at it was way out in front.

[Brewbadger]

If 55 mph fastballs are all it takes to get major league hitters out, sign me up. I'll win a Cy Young in my rookie year no doubt.

[JJHardy7]

If 55 mph fastballs are all it takes to get major league hitters out, sign me up. I'll win a Cy Young in my rookie year no doubt.

Who throws a 55 mph fastball in MLB?

As many know here, I love the minors and watch a lot of AAA, but I'm still on the fence with Swindle. I know I've at times been thought to be too minor league oriented, but I'm not mad or upset that Swindle is gone (unless we get him back now). I always felt he was an 'interesting' pitcher. I would like to get him back to AAA just because of what he throws, but I really don't know if he's a MLB pitcher or not.

[Diskono]

Who throws a 55 mph fastball in MLB?

Doc Wingate.

 

I should be banned for referencing that movie.

[Legacy25GT]

What is that 50-55 mph pitch anyway? I was at the Nationals game also, and my friend said "what the heck was that???... a screwball or something???" I looked it up on my MLB at-bat application on my iphone, and they listed it as "undefined"

[Brawndo the Thirst Mutilat]

What is that 50-55 mph pitch anyway? I was at the Nationals game also, and my friend said "what the heck was that???... a screwball or something???" I looked it up on my MLB at-bat application on my iphone, and they listed it as "undefined"

It's his version of a curveball. Here's an interview where he talks about his pitches, as well as his awareness that scouts, GMs, etc. have a hard time taking him seriously.

[mletto157]

It's a curveball.

 

Edit - Brawndo beat me to it by a long shot. That's what I get for opening articles and not reading them until later.