Simeon Woods Richardson

[BiggestRoccoFan]

Not sure about any of you but I am getting a little concerned about him in the 5th spot. Biggest issue is that you just have to have an "out" pitch at this level and he just does not and when we face lineups like we did today he is going to get hit hard. Rocco already has worn out the pen so hopefully this is not a trend but dude just does not throw hard enough and has to be perfect.

[tony&rodney]

One start. It is a long season. If the bullpen shuts down Toronto, we might not even be concerned. Vladdy is nitro right now. Look up on June 15 and assess the team at that time.

[jdr]

This has been a funny topic SWR has six starts and the lead in every game when he exits either it be lack of hustle plays balls not hit that hard through short and third, dropped or fly balls dropping in front of outfielders. So let`s truly be objective the bullpen has not done their job. Yes, he can throw 95 and is getting back to his old velocity. So, he will have to learn new professional hitters and the point is, if the bullpen does their job and instead of being 1 - 0 with 5 no decisions and is 6 - 0 would we be having this conversation?

[bean5302]

15 minutes ago, jdr said:

...Yes, he can throw 95 and is getting back to his old velocity...

Woods Richardson has never thrown 95 in his career. Not in high school. Not in the minors. Not in the majors. Not ever. He's never even been close to throwing 95 (average), and I don't know as he's ever thrown a single pitch in his professional career which has hit 95.0mph. It's well established Woods Richardson is throwing harder right now than he's ever thrown, and his average velocity is 93.1 on the season; peaking at 93.7 in the game vs. Toronto where his fastest fastball thrown was 94.7mph (he threw two at 94.7 and two at 94.6). Woods-Richardson worked in the 93.0-94.0mph range pretty consistently that game.

Historically, Woods Richardson has struggled with repeating his mechanics, and when he's been sloppy, his velocity has been in the 88-89mph range where his stuff doesn't play. When he's been on target, he's sat at 90-91mph with an occasional pitch flirting with 92mph, and he's been serviceable in the minors like that.

We're in new territory for Woods Richardson right now. The original post, which was two weeks ago, was a hot take after a game against Toronto. As a back end starter, Woods Richardson will probably be okay if he keeps his velocity up so I don't see any reason to be concerned about him as the #5 rookie rotation piece. He doesn't generate a ton of grounders and he doesn't generate many swinging strikes right now so expecting him to be better than back end is probably optimistic, but he is figuring out how to pitch at the moment now that he's added 5mph to his fastball out of the blue.
 

[Brock Beauchamp]

If I'm concerned about Woods Richardson at the very end of a rotation, I'm probably feeling pretty good about my rotation.

Now he IS walking a bit of a tightrope as evidenced by his roughly 4-ish xERA and xFIP. But I'm also okay with a 4-ish ERA from his spot in the rotation, particularly in his rookie year. If the velocity holds and his command of his arsenal continues, I'm not particularly concerned. I don't think he'll be much more than a good #4 pitcher but hey, every team needs those, too.

[Mike Sixel]

One start in 6 or 7 where he's given up more than 2 runs, and people are worried? High bar.

[jorgenswest]

Woods Richardson doesn’t have a low BABIP or high LOB% that is often simply luck. He throws strikes and that is a good foundation for a 23 year old rookie and also valuable to the team as the 5th/6th starter. 

[Linus]

Yea having a 23 year old in the fifth spot who gives you a chance to win more of the games than you lose is a pretty sweet spot to be in. Have people forgot about Matt Shoemaker?

[D.C Twins]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

Yea having a 23 year old in the fifth spot who gives you a chance to win more of the games than you lose is a pretty sweet spot to be in. Have people forgot about Matt Shoemaker?

Well I HAD.... until you had to bring him up 🤢🤮😉

[Twinsoholic]

Bean, I don’t remember the batter, but SWR threw a above the belt fastball today (a ball) that the radar gun registered as 95 mph. Maybe it’s a fast gun, but it is typically good form to avoid absolutes. Having said my peace, I generally like your observations about players.  

[mnfireman]

13 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Woods Richardson has never thrown 95 in his career. Not in high school. Not in the minors. Not in the majors. Not ever. He's never even been close to throwing 95 (average), and I don't know as he's ever thrown a single pitch in his professional career which has hit 95.0mph. It's well established Woods Richardson is throwing harder right now than he's ever thrown, and his average velocity is 93.1 on the season; peaking at 93.7 in the game vs. Toronto where his fastest fastball thrown was 94.7mph (he threw two at 94.7 and two at 94.6). Woods-Richardson worked in the 93.0-94.0mph range pretty consistently that game.

So, with the pitches clocked at 94.5 and 94.9 today, as well as those other pitches thrown at 94.6 and 94.7, he throws 95....because that's how it works, the pitches are generally rounded off to whole numbers, .5 and above are rounded up

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, mnfireman said:

So, with the pitches clocked at 94.5 and 94.9 today, as well as those other pitches thrown at 94.6 and 94.7, he throws 95....because that's how it works, the pitches are generally rounded off to whole numbers, .5 and above are rounded up

If you're absolutely desperate to try to defend a bad position, sure.

[stringer bell]

"Not overpowering" would be an apt description for Richardson's stuff as illustrated by the low K rate. He doesn't get many swings and misses and as the pitcher he is now, he is going to be subject to some games where the BABiP is high. Except for one game, hitters haven't really squared up many pitches. He has been on a pretty short leash, which makes sense IMHO.