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.

 

[lecroy24fan]

Small correction that Caratini caught Prielipp's first game. But this is another part of why Prielipp has struggled since Jeffers got hurt. The catchers have not adapted their game calling to help him at all like Jeffers was able to do. Yes he's not pitching well but to me this could be similar to 1991 when Junior Ortiz was Scott Erickson's personal catcher all season. The I think it was Lenny Webster after that. Sometimes a pitcher's best work is because of a catcher that understands what it takes to help the pitcher be good. 

[jorgenswest]

2 hours ago, lecroy24fan said:

Small correction that Caratini caught Prielipp's first game. But this is another part of why Prielipp has struggled since Jeffers got hurt. The catchers have not adapted their game calling to help him at all like Jeffers was able to do. Yes he's not pitching well but to me this could be similar to 1991 when Junior Ortiz was Scott Erickson's personal catcher all season. The I think it was Lenny Webster after that. Sometimes a pitcher's best work is because of a catcher that understands what it takes to help the pitcher be good. 

Thanks. Caratini did not miss any opportunities that game.

[tony&rodney]

A good catcher is critical for pitchers. Martin Maldonado hung on forever because he was good for the pitchers. Cleveland simply doesn't care if their catchers hit as long as they work well with the pitchers. Caratini seems to do a very good job.

[jorgenswest]

9 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

A good catcher is critical for pitchers. Martin Maldonado hung on forever because he was good for the pitchers. Cleveland simply doesn't care if their catchers hit as long as they work well with the pitchers. Caratini seems to do a very good job.

The Twins need another catcher. I know that Olivar has trouble controlling the running game. I am hoping he can balance that by being very good at managing the strike zone and ABS. The Twins need him.

I also wonder what Jackson’s missed opportunity number has been at AAA. Does he struggle recognizing a strike as a catcher like he does as a batter? It could be the small sample and reluctance to pull the trigger and possibly be wrong on a challenge as he begins his time with the Twins.

[jaimedude]

37 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

The Twins need another catcher. I know that Olivar has trouble controlling the running game. I am hoping he can balance that by being very good at managing the strike zone and ABS. The Twins need him.

I also wonder what Jackson’s missed opportunity number has been at AAA. Does he struggle recognizing a strike as a catcher like he does as a batter? It could be the small sample and reluctance to pull the trigger and possibly be wrong on a challenge as he begins his time with the Twins.

Agreed, Twins need to move on from Alex Jackson, not helping the pitching staff or at the plate.