Martin Perez and a Cutter’s Birth

I believe Martin Perez's cutter is here to stay, and that it will in fact get better as the season wears on. I remember Santana's repertoire, but Martin's cutter reminds me more of Liriano's wipe-out slider, the one that would sometimes hit a right handed batter in the rear foot. Perez's cutter slices and dives a lot like Liriano's slider, but Perez throws it at 89 to 91mph, where Liriano's slider was usually arriving at 89. Perez also scatters his cutter around the zone, where Lirano's slider was strictly lower right corner, or just below and inside. 

Perez's repertoire could get even better. We can see that his fastball command has vastly improved, even as he added more heat. But wait, there's more! Perez has yet to explore his use of the change up, which his better command may enhance. I saw him throw one outside to a rightie a game or so ago...it faded away and sank, almost like Johan's change. If Perez adds that weapon, he might have three plus pitches in his mix. At that point, he could become a Cy Young candidate. 

And another case of beer for Wes Johnson.

WJ for president! I mean really my neck it's stiffening up. I didn't realise how much I relied on the previous regime to keep it loose. Might have to take up yoga.

In this modern age of cameras and analytics I'm sure teams will figure out his cutter. Enjoy this run while it lasts because it's unlikely to continue.

I really hope people continue to doubt Perez.

In this modern age of cameras and analytics I'm sure teams will figure out his cutter. Enjoy this run while it lasts because it's unlikely to continue.

Thanks to all this modern age technology there can never again be good pitching. 

In this modern age of cameras and analytics I'm sure teams will figure out his cutter. Enjoy this run while it lasts because it's unlikely to continue.

Especially, if he is reliant on the cutter to get outs.  Perez has the arsenal to get batters out a couple of different ways.  If he can command his fastball, throw the changeup and/or curve for strikes, and have a wipe out cutter, that should be enough to keep batters guessing and off balance.

I'm guessing that 0.1% slider was a misclassified cutter/s, if that's the kind of movement he's getting on that sucker.

There's no question that he's showing a much more effective pitch mix. I'm sure there will be some regression as teams get more tape on it, but he's got the velocity (increased velocity) on the 4-seamer to be effective there too, he seems to be locating his change well, and they're not teeing off on the sinker, so even with better analysis it doesn't change the fact that he's got 4 pitches to work with on a hitter.

I was lukewarm at best on signing perez. felt pretty "meh" at the time, one of those "I know this guy, I'm sure I can get more out of him" moves that always drove me crazy when the Wolves did it, but proof is in the pudding.

And it's hilarious that his agent is claiming credit for telling him to start throwing a cutter, wtf is that BS?

Homer Simpson: "That's right, it's called a Flaming Hom..."

Felix Olivo: "Felix. A Flaming Felix. I invented it and my name is Felix, that's why it's called a Flaming Felix."

The Martin Perez signing thread is chock full of damning evidence that does contain a few meh's, but mostly some incredibly harsh criticism of the signing.  And a couple of intrepid defenders.  You all know who you are.  I think I unfortunately did not document my strong endorsement of the signing, though...

Really, though, it's neither here nor there--we were all right!  And that is why baseball is fun--it is unpredictably predictable, and chock-full of known unknowns and even unknown unknowns.  And maybe a few known knowns, like the rules regarding retaliation pitches and homerun celebrations.

Dare I say that Falvine has unearthed our Arrieta?  Or our Arietta?  Arrietta?  Aarietaa?  

Who's doubting him now? Fans that were disappointed in the signing this winter (myself included) had no way of knowing he was going to transform into a new pitcher. We should be thankful he worked with Johan in spring training to master the new pitch.

In every thread on here about Perez, there is inevitably a post or two similar to the one above mine that you quoted:

"Enjoy this run while it lasts because it's unlikely to continue."

We as fans can only go off public information out there. His past history wasn't good. At a crossroads in his career. With the new pitch mix and cutter thrown 35% of the time we can pretty much toss his past performance in the garbage. He's a completely different pitcher.

True, but, being the 8th ranked prospect in all of baseball at one time is also part of that history.

For me, there was no way the FO signed him to just continue putting up the numbers he had been. The ONLY way it made sense to me is if the FO clearly thought they saw some things they could tweak, which was my argument when they signed him.

Of course, there was no guarantee those tweaks were going to work, but I was happy to at least see them attempt it.

The big question, for me, is will teams adjust to his new pitch and his performances will drop off some.  I expect there will be some adjustment and drop off, but hope it will not be as big of a drop off.  Regardless ride his hot start as far as you can.  I believe his velocity is also up, based on change in his stride from Wes Johnson.  I could be wrong on that, but I thought I heard Perez was one pitcher he changed up the stride to get more velocity. 

Perez has had hot streaks before. Last year, he was good in June and August. In 2017, he was bad in the middle of the year but OK otherwise. In 2016 he was great in May but cancelled that out with a terrible July.

The difference between a #1/#2 starter and the rest is sustained success. They all have hot streaks. Let's see how Perez looks in a couple more months.

Still waiting for Ricky Nolasco's 3-game hot streak with the Twins, on a par with Perez's.

He wasn't a Twin during the time period of the image I posted.

The point is, every pitcher has good stretches or he would not be in the majors for very long.