What's up with Perkins?

[TwinsMusings]

Picking up on a comment 'stringer bell' made on another topic I thought was worth a new thread.

 

(Here is the comment.)

"Speaking of concern, I wonder how good Perkins is going to be for the remainder of his contract.  Honestly, I think he has to adapt some and perhaps come up with another pitcher.  He has stayed with his 92-94 mph fastball and his slider.  I think he needs to have something that is a change of speeds.  I think he threw one changeup yesterday and it was in the dirt.  Everybody seems to throw at least 92 in mlb bullpens, so he really needs to locate his fastball."

---

 

I agree that Perkins needs to make some kind of adjustment. His pitch selection has been quite predictable lately. I figure if I can predict what pitch he is going to throw when, the hitters (and opposing scouts/hitting coaches) can too. Part of his recent less than stellar results might be failing to locate especially his fastball, but even when he throws the ball where he wants to, for example slider down and in to Abreu in yesterday's game, the hitter seems to know what is coming. Granted, Abreu is an elite hitter and sometimes you just tip your hat to the hitter getting to a pitch mere mortals would flail at, but recently Perkins has been anything but elite with less that great hitters.

 

Is he tired? Still ailing? Beginning to decline?

 

What are your thoughts?

[howeda7]

A blown save or two in a lost season, OK. This is now concerning...

[Trautmann13]

I just wish they would sit him down for the rest of the year, because who cares anymore at this point. Perk is a part of the future, and for him and the fans to go through this is not worth it. If this neck injury ends his season 2 weeks early, Im fine if it in his best interest.

[Rosterman]

The bullpen is worn out. Sadly. Not that the tryouts from Rochester or New Britain have any less games, but time to see what is happening with these guys, win or lose, than allow the old guard to continue to flail and fail and inflate their eras.

[stringer bell]

I think it's a combination of factors.  He is probably beat up, hitters have figured out his pattern, and he seems to be pitching in terrible luck.  The velocity looks okay, but I don't think he's right.  If the Twins shut him down, that is fine.  If he wants to end the season with some success, maybe he'll try again.

 

Who is the Twins' most reliable reliever right now?  Pressly, Burton?  It is a total mess and while bad starting pitching is poison, a bad bullpen is torture.

[bird]

Could be worse. Could be Nathan.

[USAFChief]

I think it's a combination of factors.  He is probably beat up, hitters have figured out his pattern, and he seems to be pitching in terrible luck.  The velocity looks okay, but I don't think he's right.  If the Twins shut him down, that is fine.  If he wants to end the season with some success, maybe he'll try again.

 

Who is the Twins' most reliable reliever right now?  Pressly, Burton?  It is a total mess and while bad starting pitching is poison, a bad bullpen is torture.

According to fangraphs,

 

2012 and 2013, 4 seam FB average velo, 95.2

 

2014, 4 seam FB, 93.4

 

His slider is off about 1 MPH, too.

 

Hopefully, he gets the lost velocity back next year.  To me, that makes a big difference for him.  He was at 92 on the TV gun tonight, FWIW.

[Seth Stohs]

If he's healthy, he should pitch. That's his job.

 

if he's not healthy, they need to know. He's important and they need to take care of it. 

 

There is reason for concern, sure... 

[Thrylos]

And it is not the blown saves that make him look more like Eddie than Joe lately...

 

I think that this is the symptom.  I am concerned about the 2 mph velocity drop in the fastball and the 1.5 mph velocity drop on the slider.   When Perkins was hitting 96 and 97 he was an excellent closer.  At 93 and 94, he is not that effective.   I think that the Twins should have a long look this off-season and address this or at least try to figure out the root cause.  Is it injury or decline due to age or mechanics or ?

[Thrylos]

Didn't see Parker's article.  Could someone merge please?  Thanks

[Squirrel]

Please use the article thread to continue the Perkins discussion. Thanks.

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/15331-article-what-is-going-on-with-glen/?p=280183