FanGraphs: Berrios Should Be Fun To Watch

[Seth Stohs]

FanGraphs' Mike Edwards penned an article on the young Twins starter saying he should be fun to watch. 

 

"He’s struck out more than 30% of the batters he’s faced. He could win Rookie of the Year, and — with arguments to come from Lucas Giolito, Tyler Glasnow, Alex Reyes, Blake Snell, and Julio Urias — he might be the most exciting pitcher to make his big-league debut this season."

 

This article contains lots of charts, graphs and gifs. 

[bluechipper]

A large part of the article is saying that Berrios needs to throw more strikes so that his changeup can be more effective late in counts, and I've got no worries that Berrios will show more control as he continues on this season.

[FormerMinnasotan]

I think Berrios might actually surprise most experts and be better than originally thought. The fact that he battled with the 5 walks (and questionable strike zone as well) and won the game only giving up 3 hits and 2 runs is impressive for someone as green at the Major League level as Berrios. His high fastball impressed me last start. For a pitch most experts claim as straight it sure had a lot of movement on it, and made a few Astros look foolish chasing it. Above all else Berrios has this inner drive to be better, he doesn't appear to settle, and I like that for a young talent from the minors. As long as he keeps himself humbled and driven (and barring career ending injuries) I think we have a keeper in our rotation.

[Platoon]

On a semi related issue, watch the difference in the way Murphy and Suzuki catch the same pitch. I know the end result flys in the face of my observation, but I think that more a factor of what had gone before than the framing. The pitches appear identical, the catcher set up is similar. But Suzukis glove not only wanders further off the inside of the plate, its face turns all the way toward the hitters knees. Both catchers try and pull the ball further into the zone, but Suzukis has to move further because he seems to ride inside more. I know it's only one pitch, but it was a rare opportunity to get a comparison.

[jimmer]

 

On a semi related issue, watch the difference in the way Murphy and Suzuki catch the same pitch. I know the end result flys in the face of my observation, but I think that more a factor of what had gone before than the framing. The pitches appear identical, the catcher set up is similar. But Suzukis glove not only wanders further off the inside of the plate, its face turns all the way toward the hitters knees. Both catchers try and pull the ball further into the zone, but Suzukis has to move further because he seems to ride inside more. I know it's only one pitch, but it was a rare opportunity to get a comparison.

I've noticed that and I don't disagree.  Every part of Suzuki's game is subpar. Funny thing is, the game where Murphy got tossed, they received basically the same inside pitch.  Suzuki caught it worse, in part, because it went where it wasn't supposed to and he had to adjust.  He got the called strike where Murphy didn't. (which got him tossed).