Additional Note On Kanekoa Texeira
by Jeff Sullivan on Mar 17, 2010 1:40 PM PDT
in Seattle Mariners Stats
Email
PrintI already talked about Texeira a few weeks ago, so if you want to know how I feel about him as a big league reliever, go read that. But there is one thing in there that I'd like to address. Texeira, throughout the minors, has pitched effectively against left-handed hitters. This, of course, surprised me, what with Texeira being a righty ~sidearming sinker/slider guy. Based on his profile, I saw no reason to believe that this was anything more than a statistical mirage, and that Texeira would struggle against high-level lefty bats as he advanced.
Well, I found something out today from an article that I missed last week. Via Jim Street:
"We thought [Texeira] could be able to help us in the bullpen," Kingston said. "Our scouts pointed out that he was actually better against left-handed batters than right-handed batters because he developed a really good cut fastball.
"Our bullpen is predominantly right-handed, so it was a good fit."
I'd never heard of this before, but it certainly changes things. Texeira is still a righty ~sidearming sinker/slider guy, but he's apparently that guy with a cutter, too. There's no reason to doubt the M's, here, and it certainly helps explain why we've seen what we've seen. Based on PITCHfx work done by Dave Allen, the platoon split for a cut fastball is not statistically significant, meaning it is similarly effective against both lefties and righties when thrown by a right-handed pitcher. You know how Mariano Rivera pretty much only throws a cutter, and has actually pitched better against lefties? Yeah. A good cutter is a great weapon against opposite-handed bats, and knowing that Texeira throws one turns on a dark bulb.
A year ago, Texeira struck out 24% of the lefties he faced. Now we have some idea how, and now I'm higher on him than I already was.
25 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
So what's the better high, Texeira or cocaine?
by Matthew on Mar 17, 2010 1:44 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
No wonder you missed that.
It’s buried within a Street article. Who’d’ve thunk a nugget of any value would’ve been found in there.
Does the World Series trophy come with a plate of bacon?
Sounds like Teixeira has a shot at making this team
And not just in a beat-out-Sean-White competition. I’ve heard that they may be willing to use him as the long reliever, because of his ability to get LHBs out and the fact that he threw 100 IP last year.
I don't see how he doesn't make the team then.
If he is offered back to the Yankees, I would guess they buy his contract back.
Technically incorrect
He cannot go to the minors without being passed through waivers. He can, however, go to the disabled list. I’d say something like 99.9% of all Rule 5 pitchers end up on the DL with some mysterious “soreness”. Teixeira only has to spent 90 days on the active roster to satisfy the Rule 5 requirement. So, basically, half the season.
by davidcameron on Mar 17, 2010 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
He's got a shot
But I don’t know if I’d pencil him in yet. He’s in the mix, though. If they carry 12 pitchers, he’s in. If they carry 11, then Wak would have to be comfortable with him as the long guy. He may be, but I don’t think its decided yet.
by davidcameron on Mar 17, 2010 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe YOUR pencils have erasers
In your fancy schmancy houses with roofs and stuff. Those of us not on the SBNation sportsblogsite gravy train have to decide between erasers and lead for our pencils.
I bet you have shoes, too.
So what you're saying
is that Kanekoa Teixera is going to be as good as Mariano Rivera.
This is like watching Beavis and Butthead make the guitar sound with their mouths while playing air guitar.
FUCK ERIC BYRNES FUCK ERIC BYRNES!
Also, the bald dude looks like Joe Kucan(Kane from the Command and Conquer games)
FUCK ERIC BYRNES FUCK ERIC BYRNES!
This is fascinating
It’s a great explanation for Texeira’s success against lefties; I was suspecting it might be one of these stealth sliders like we saw from Robles (where no scouting report mentioned anything positive about his change until he shows up in camp and everyone can’t shut up about what a great pitch it is).
But out of curiosity, how many side-armers have cutters? I’m just having a pitch generate different horizontal movement with that arm angle. He’s pitched one inning of pitch-fx-enabled baseball this spring, and I can’t really pick out the cutters, but I’m glad someone in the front office/scouting department could.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
