Texas first game

[Montdak]

Lopez didn’t deserve a save in tonight’s opening game versus Texas. Starts great, gets out, goes 1-2 on second batter and decides to not accept success.  Typically starts nibbling and issues the walk that should have cost the game.  Wake up!  Buzz a representative fast ball in there.  Anything.  If he hits a homer it’s almost not as bad as a walk.

[USAFChief]

Both he and Megill seemed to get both fastball shy and strike zone shy.

I don't get it.

[Hrbowski]

10 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Both he and Megill seemed to get both fastball shy and strike zone shy.

I don't get it.

Interesting enough, Lopez had very low walk rates before he came over. Maybe it's the result of the Twins' pitching philosophy?

[prouster]

43 minutes ago, Hrbowski said:

Interesting enough, Lopez had very low walk rates before he came over. Maybe it's the result of the Twins' pitching philosophy?

 

56 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Both he and Megill seemed to get both fastball shy and strike zone shy.

I don't get it.

What’s there not to get? Pitchers miss their spots sometimes. He got out of the inning. Who cares?

[USAFChief]

15 minutes ago, prouster said:

 

What’s there not to get? Pitchers miss their spots sometimes. He got out of the inning. Who cares?

Well I care.

I care he hasn't been effective since his arrival. 

It's a small sample, but he's blown two saves. 12 baserunners in 7 innings. K'S Down

He got through the inning last night, but he was pretty fortunate. 2 walks. A hard line drive to right that could have easily been disaster.

I care that he pitches better going forward. 

 

[mnfireman]

1 hour ago, Hrbowski said:

Interesting enough, Lopez had very low walk rates before he came over. Maybe it's the result of the Twins' pitching philosophy?

I know most of you didn't care for Apple TV+ announcers, BUT one of the announcers acknowledged Lopez's higher walk rate since being traded. He/she (I can't remember which announcer, I was at work) stated that Baltimore catchers are taught to set up over the middle of the plate instead of on the edges and maybe that was the reason. It makes a bit of sense in that if you are aiming for the glove, and it is over the middle of the plate, if you miss to either side, you will probably still be over the plate. And as we have seen with MLB players continuing to hit into the shift, learned behaviors at this level are hard to break (in this case both pitcher and catcher).

[SwainZag]

Just now, mnfireman said:

I know most of you didn't care for Apple TV+ announcers, BUT one of the announcers acknowledged Lopez's higher walk rate since being traded. He/she (I can't remember which announcer, I was at work) stated that Baltimore catchers are taught to set up over the middle of the plate instead of on the edges and maybe that was the reason. It makes a bit of sense in that if you are aiming for the glove, and it is over the middle of the plate, if you miss to either side, you will probably still be over the plate. And as we have seen with MLB players continuing to hit into the shift, learned behaviors at this level are hard to break (in this case both pitcher and catcher).

I mean it's an extreme SSS.  He has walked 4 batters in 7 outings in 7 innings.  Before last night it was 2 batters in 6 appearances....which was in line with his BB/IP in Baltimore.  I'm more concerned with the hard contact against him the last couple outings.

[stringer bell]

Sure I'm concerned. He hasn't had an "easy" inning since his first outing with the Twins. Too many walks, hits and hard contact. That said, if he wasn't just acquired, it would look like a blip on the screen. Some of the hits were soft contact (I remember especially his first blown save) and his history as a bullpen arm features good control as well. 

I'll be anxious when he comes in for a save the next time and probably many more next times. He's had an outstanding season and has really good stuff, but hasn't pitched like that for my favorite team.