Article: Twins Sign Left-Handed Pitcher Martin Perez

[PseudoSABR]

Glad to have that option year.

[IndianaTwin]

Interesting story from Provus during the game tonight. I'll do my best to recall it, but if someone is listening and can correct details, please do. (Of course, following the story, Gladden tried to offer intelligent analysis of the story, but it was mainly drivel and hyperbole. I digress.)

 

Provus said he was talking to Levine before the game. Perez was signed after Twins Fest, though there were rumors that the signing was coming. Part of the holdup was ongoing conversations they were having with him. Though contract negotiations were well underway, Levine asked Perez if he would be willing to have a conference call (with his agent also taking part) with Wes Johnson and (another pitching guy I can't remember) to talk about things they would like to work on.

 

Perez said, "yes," and the conversation focused on some changes that Johnson wanted to make to his mechanics. Levine asked Perez if he was willing to work at these adjustments if he signed. Perez, recognizing he was coming to a crossroads in his career, agreed. Levine said they would have likely not signed him without this willingness. 

 

Perez bought in during spring training. Provus also said that the agent has been encouraging Perez for a couple of years to use the cutter more regularly. Also said that Pineda in particular was also helpful in helping Perez make the adjustments. 

 

I don't know how common it is to have this kind of conversation, but it sounds like the front office and Johnson did some great work in building rapport in the negotiation process. 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I hope he keeps this up.  I'll gladly eat that delicious crow.

 

And this might be the first sign that this FO can take analytics and deliver high end production by mining opportunities from struggling players.  That's a very good sign.

 

Probably worth noting that both Perez and Odorizzi have absurdly low HR rates right now as well as fairly low GB percentages. Those two don't typically add up.

 

Seems like both are getting hitters to swing under their stuff... wondering if the analytics guys have figured out a remedy to the upper cut swing.

[USAFChief]

 

I’ll be the lone wolf on this one. I don’t like Martin Perez as we know him, but he is dang near a Kyle Gibson clone. A once top prospect with a boatload of pitches, good velocity but a deluded reliance on his sinker which likely caused his uneven career results.

If someone can talk sense into him and point at Gibson as the reason to be smarter about his pitches, maybe he can finally realize his potential.

Zero leash though, if he still stubbornly uses his sinker in spring training like he always has I don’t want him in the rotation to start the year.

nicksaviking wins the internets.

[cmoss84]

A couple of the pitches he threw yesterday were down in the zone at 83/84 mph. Not sure if he was taking a little off his cutter or throwing a change-up. Anyone know?

 

If it was a change-up, and if he can locate it there with the rest of his pitches, his success might be sustainable. Nelly. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

Probably worth noting that both Perez and Odorizzi have absurdly low HR rates right now as well as fairly low GB percentages. Those two don't typically add up.

 

Seems like both are getting hitters to swing under their stuff... wondering if the analytics guys have figured out a remedy to the upper cut swing.

 

That seems like the logical antidote.

[stringer bell]

Watching Pérez' first couple outings this year, I thought he would be helped greatly by an off-speed pitch. Against right handers, he worked almost exclusively in with fastballs and sliders. He seemed to lose command after 50 or so pitches. 

 

Now he's throwing both the cutter and the change and is working both sides of the plate. He's also been solid through 100 pitches. The Twins currently have three of the top 10 pitchers in ERA. One is Berríos, who would have thought the other two would be Odorizzi and Pérez?

[Blake]

 

Watching Pérez' first couple outings this year, I thought he would be helped greatly by an off-speed pitch. Against right handers, he worked almost exclusively in with fastballs and sliders. He seemed to lose command after 50 or so pitches. 

 

Now he's throwing both the cutter and the change and is working both sides of the plate. He's also been solid through 100 pitches. The Twins currently have three of the top 10 pitchers in ERA. One is Berríos, who would have thought the other two would be Odorizzi and Pérez?

I did!

 

 

[Blake]

Almost seems like Perez figured out his career was on the line and he needed to get things together or else.

[SomeGuy]

Perez has been awesome.  His Sierra (4.41) and xFIP(4.43) still think he is a mid 4's guy like a lot of predictions had.  I liked the signing from the beginning but I don't think he is going to continue at an ace level.

 

Its interesting that his groundball rate is way down.  He is basically been a flyball pitcher in the 5 starts he has had but also ditched his past homerun problems.  I wonder if this is by design.  His high GB% was a selling point on me when we signed him but I won't argue with whats working.

[Doomtints]

 

Perez has been awesome.  His Sierra (4.41) and xFIP(4.43) still think he is a mid 4's guy like a lot of predictions had.  I liked the signing from the beginning but I don't think he is going to continue at an ace level.

 

Its interesting that his groundball rate is way down.  He is basically been a flyball pitcher in the 5 starts he has had but also ditched his past homerun problems.  I wonder if this is by design.  His high GB% was a selling point on me when we signed him but I won't argue with whats working.

 

True. His increased K rate has FIP thinking nice things though (3.12).

 

He still walks people too much, but his increased K rate shows he is fooling people at least for now. We will find out soon enough if the scouting reports will catch up.

[SomeGuy]

 

True. His increased K rate has FIP thinking nice things though (3.12).

 

He still walks people too much, but his increased K rate shows he is fooling people at least for now. We will find out soon enough if the scouting reports will catch up.

He did a nice job with the strikeouts last night but before that he was sitting at 6.53 K/9, kind of low but still higher than his career 5.62.  Hopefully he will have more nights like last night.