Alex Jackson and missed opportunities

[jorgenswest]

Connor Prielipp needed help yesterday. Alex Jackson was not the help he needed. He wasn’t in his previous start either.

Prielipp has started 7 games. In those 7 games catchers have missed ABS challenge opportunities 8 times. In his first 5 starts Jeffers missed on two opportunities. One was a game with a 7-0 lead. In his last two starts Alex Jackson has missed 6 opportunities. Three in each game. Yesterday it cost him two strike outs. The other count went 2-1 and instead of 1-2. Most of the ball on that pitch was in the strike zone. The one challenge Jackson did attempt failed and was a ball by 2.58 inches.

With Jackson catching Prielipp has given up 11 earned runs in 8.1 innings with 6 strikeouts outs and 6 walks. In his first 5 starts he gave up 8 earned runs in 25 innings with 29 strikeouts and 9 walks.

Jackson has a great pop time but a major league catcher needs to protect his pitcher. Jackson hasn’t done that and I wonder if the Twins should have known. Unlike Jeffers and Caratini, Jackson enters the season with ABS experience. He needs to be better now. Prielipp isn’t the only pitcher needing help from Jackson. He missed two opportunities with Adams yesterday and another with Adam the last time he came in for Prielipp.

The most important job of a catcher has become recognizing a strike and protecting the zone for his pitcher. The Twins should not have patience with Jackson. He needs to do better or they need to look elsewhere.