The Twins and Fastballs

[RealTwinsFan357]

I want to preface this by saying I have no data to back this up, but it seems like the Twins starters are throwing way too many fastballs (specifically 4-seam fastballs). I have mainly noticed it with May, Hughes, and Pelfrey. Pelfrey, I think, has always been a one-pitch pitcher, but I feel like the others would have more success using their secondary offerings. A couple weeks ago, I saw May give up 3 or 4 straight hits without throwing anything but 4-seam fastballs, and during the current game I think Hughes went almost an entire inning with all 4-seamers. I've seen his throw 2 cutters and one curve (it's the fourth inning). Is this a function of our coaching, our catcher, the pitchers themselves? I just feel like more variety would mean fewer hits, and ultimately fewer runs.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

 Kurt Suzuki is known for calling a lot of fastballs. Neil Allen is known for preaching the use of the change up.

Hughes loves to throw fastballs up and then mix in a curve - lots of fastballs with an emphasis on location to throw the hitters off.

 

I think the starters are doing just fine with their pitch mix, it's guys like Stauffer, Boyer, and JR Graham that seem like they are stuck trying to get batters out with just one pitch (the "fastball").

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Twins will throw that speedball by you, make you look like a fool, boy.

 

Or not.

[Mike Sixel]

I only "see" the games on gamecast......but it looked like Gibson only throws at one level, or lower. Is that true? Wouldn't the occasional high FB be a good idea (like, that's how you get more strikeouts)?

[Halsey Hall]

I just watched Pelfrey on gameday, but in a 5 pitch sequence he went with 5 different pitches.  Something like this:  4 seam, slider, change, 2 seam, curve.  He's been mixing it up more than the others I think.