http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2013/05/08/whats-wrong-with-atlanta-braves-closer-craig-kimbrel/
[h=1]5/8/13
What’s Wrong with Atlanta Braves Closer Craig Kimbrel?[/h]12 hours ago by Daniel Kock
Kim Klement-USA Today Sports
The Atlanta Braves were poised to take game two and clinch a series win against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. The Braves had two outs and a 4-3 lead with closer Craig Kimbrel on the mound. Then, disaster struck.
Devin Mesoraco hit a two-strike pitch for a solo home run to tie it, and Shin-Soo Choo followed with one of his own to give the Reds an improbable 5-4 victory.
For Kimbrel, the last five outings have been rocky. He has blown three saves, which is as many as the entire 2012 season, allowed five earned runs and given up three home runs. For comparison, he allowed just three home runs and seven earned runs the entire season in 2012.
Kimbrel still features excellent velocity on his fastball and sharp bite on his slider. So, why the change in results?
According to advanced statistics from FanGraphs, the way Kimbrel approaches hitters this season has changed. In 2012, Kimbrel threw his fastball 67.6 percent of his pitches for an average velocity of 96.8 mph. Meanwhile, he has thrown his fastball 77.8 percent of the time in 2013 for an average velocity of 96.2.
The velocity is fine, but this looks to be an example of relying too heavily on his fastball. Kimbrel is basically a two-pitch pitcher, meaning he’s throwing his slider way less. The two home runs hit off Kimbrel on Tuesday night were both 96 mph fastballs. MLB hitters can catch up to the best fastballs when sitting on it.
Thus far, Kimbrel has relied too heavily on it and hitters are looking for it.
Kimbrel may not be as comfortable with his slider in the early portion of the season. If that’s the case, he needs to work out the kinks in his side sessions. If he is comfortable with it, he simply needs to throw it more and the catchers need to call it more. At the very least, it needs to be in the back of the hitter’s mind at the plate.
The closer’s stuff is too electric for him to continue to struggle. Like any pitcher, he can’t have success using just one pitch. Get back to throwing the slider, and the dominant results will return.
Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2013/...ves-closer-craig-kimbrel/?thjfLb4A5TklJJfy.99
[h=1]5/8/13
What’s Wrong with Atlanta Braves Closer Craig Kimbrel?[/h]12 hours ago by Daniel Kock
Kim Klement-USA Today Sports
The Atlanta Braves were poised to take game two and clinch a series win against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. The Braves had two outs and a 4-3 lead with closer Craig Kimbrel on the mound. Then, disaster struck.
Devin Mesoraco hit a two-strike pitch for a solo home run to tie it, and Shin-Soo Choo followed with one of his own to give the Reds an improbable 5-4 victory.
For Kimbrel, the last five outings have been rocky. He has blown three saves, which is as many as the entire 2012 season, allowed five earned runs and given up three home runs. For comparison, he allowed just three home runs and seven earned runs the entire season in 2012.
Kimbrel still features excellent velocity on his fastball and sharp bite on his slider. So, why the change in results?
According to advanced statistics from FanGraphs, the way Kimbrel approaches hitters this season has changed. In 2012, Kimbrel threw his fastball 67.6 percent of his pitches for an average velocity of 96.8 mph. Meanwhile, he has thrown his fastball 77.8 percent of the time in 2013 for an average velocity of 96.2.
The velocity is fine, but this looks to be an example of relying too heavily on his fastball. Kimbrel is basically a two-pitch pitcher, meaning he’s throwing his slider way less. The two home runs hit off Kimbrel on Tuesday night were both 96 mph fastballs. MLB hitters can catch up to the best fastballs when sitting on it.
Thus far, Kimbrel has relied too heavily on it and hitters are looking for it.
Kimbrel may not be as comfortable with his slider in the early portion of the season. If that’s the case, he needs to work out the kinks in his side sessions. If he is comfortable with it, he simply needs to throw it more and the catchers need to call it more. At the very least, it needs to be in the back of the hitter’s mind at the plate.
The closer’s stuff is too electric for him to continue to struggle. Like any pitcher, he can’t have success using just one pitch. Get back to throwing the slider, and the dominant results will return.
Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2013/...ves-closer-craig-kimbrel/?thjfLb4A5TklJJfy.99