Duran's 'splinker'

[Squirrel]

I've been hearing about this pitch, then read this article from Do-Hyoung Park. Will this pitch be like Johan's change up? An 'unhittable' pitch? One that has batters looking and going 'What the heck?'

With quotes from Jeffers and Baldeli such as 'How does he do that?' and 'I've never seen anything like it' ... it's made me very (very) interested to see Duran in action and am glad he made the team. Also, finally getting some reward (hopefully) for losing Esco ... still miss that guy.

Was anyone at ST witness to this pitch? What did you think? As good as is being reported?

[Trov]

40 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

I've been hearing about this pitch, then read this article from Do-Hyoung Park. Will this pitch be like Johan's change up? An 'unhittable' pitch? One that has batters looking and going 'What the heck?'

With quotes from Jeffers and Baldeli such as 'How does he do that?' and 'I've never seen anything like it' ... it's made me very (very) interested to see Duran in action and am glad he made the team. Also, finally getting some reward (hopefully) for losing Esco ... still miss that guy.

Was anyone at ST witness to this pitch? What did you think? As good as is being reported?

I have not seen him personally, will be fun to see the pitch in action early on.  It might be one of those once guys see it enough they start to hit it though.  From reading the article it sounds like just a normal split finger pitch, but with his velo it may make more movement than past pitchers that used it.  I know the pitch fell out of favor in recent years, but the guys in the 90s that threw it well they got a ton of strikeouts on it.  Agulara was one of them.  Chuck Finly for Angels and couple years with Cleveland used it to high success, even late in career averaging about a K per inning. I remember at least a few times him getting 4 K's in an inning because the catcher could not block it.  

[cheeseheadgophfan]

Yesterday he faced 3 major league hitters (Shaw, Bradley jr, and Plawecki.  Granted, not murderer's row but he struck out 2 of them and the 3rd batter hit the most feeble half check swing groundball to shortstop to finish the inning.  2 of the 3 were visibly shaking their heads in frustration at seeing that pitch drop in the strike zone while they're keying up for a 100 mph fastball  If nothing else, it's going to be fun watching him this season.  I'd love it if he became a dominant closer and Rogers could be a set-up man.  

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, Trov said:

 Chuck Finly...I remember at least a few times him getting 4 K's in an inning because the catcher could not block it.  

Not even once, according to this list:

 

https://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats19.shtml#:~:text=Ed Crane was the  first,you can pick up overnight.

 

Four Twins have recorded four Ks in an inning though.

[gunnarthor]

There isn't, at least to me, a lot of good news in this pitching staff but Duran could really be a big surprise for us this year. I'm worried about him staying healthy but he could really be something. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

That was a really good article by Do and I’m super-enthused about Duran in the pen!

[nicksaviking]

20 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Not even once, according to this list:

 

https://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats19.shtml#:~:text=Ed Crane was the  first,you can pick up overnight.

 

Four Twins have recorded four Ks in an inning though.

I count Chuck Finley three times on that list, which, wow.

Since they all occurred within the last 15 years I was curious if the numerous Twins on that list shared a common catcher dropping all of those strike 3s. Nope, Jason Castro, Juan Centeno, Drew Butera and Mike Redmond. All supposedly excellent defensive catchers and none of them named Mauer!

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

I count Chuck Finley three times on that list, which, wow.

Since they all occurred within the last 15 years I was curious if the numerous Twins on that list shared a common catcher dropping all of those strike 3s. Nope, Jason Castro, Juan Centeno, Drew Butera and Mike Redmond. All supposedly excellent defensive catchers and none of them named Mauer!

Wow, how did I miss Finley three times??

[nicksaviking]

18 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Wow, how did I miss Finley three times??

Don't feel bad, all of those batters did too.

[raindog]

2 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Not even once, according to this list:

 

https://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats19.shtml#:~:text=Ed Crane was the  first,you can pick up overnight.

 

Four Twins have recorded four Ks in an inning though.

I think you mean five. Twins legend Walter Johnson was the first to ever do it.

[snyder]

So, no one throws that hard with that much movement. In the beginning of July, the reports will be arm soreness and then Tommy John surgery by the end of July. It will be fun to watch while it lasts

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Don't feel bad, all of those batters did too.

And catchers.

[Linus]

There are several variations of split finger pitches. Back in the day it was just called a forkball. They all fell out of favor somewhat as the belief was it caused lots of forearm injuries. 

[old nurse]

5 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Not even once, according to this list:

 

https://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats19.shtml#:~:text=Ed Crane was the  first,you can pick up overnight.

 

Four Twins have recorded four Ks in an inning though.

I see Finley’s name 3 times, so you are correct in not even once.

[Squirrel]

After yesterday’s outing, I am even more excited about Duran. Obviously a little nervous for his debut performance, but when he got down to it, wow. I’m sure there will be a few bumps as he adjusts but I’m hopeful.

[AlwaysinModeration]

On 4/6/2022 at 2:02 PM, USAFChief said:

Wow, how did I miss Finley three times??

Perhaps you were focused on the NL list only, where Finley does not appear even once.