Papelbon Messed With His Mechanics
October 12th, 2009 | by Darryl Johnston |To be fresh for October.
That didn’t work out too well, did it Paps? Without reading this site or any of the other 15 million Red Sox-related blogs, you can probably imagine that fans are already clamoring for Jonathan Papelbon to be dealt, demoted or outright released. Yes, outright released. Not exactly the most rational idea but that is what happens when one emotional fan overreacts and tries to formulate long-term plans based on small sample sizes of data.
Papelbon is a fastball pitcher. It’s fastball, fastball, fastball. He doesn’t throw his changeup and he steers away from the splitter now as well. Perhaps a by-product of Curt Schilling no longer being around?
One-pitch pitchers aren’t going to get away with that behavior for very long. This was evidenced by Vlad Guerreo jumping on the first fastball he saw from Papelbon, depositing it into center field and ending the Red Sox season. Is that all Papelbon’s fault? No, but I am sure that Vlad was up there looking dead-red.
If he is going to be a one-pitch closer then he needs both velocity and movement. He had neither against Erick Aybar when he allowed the Angels 9-hitter lace a triple. Victor Martinez set up on the inside of the plate and Papelbon completely missed the target leaving the ball across the other side of the plate wasting the two-strike advantage he had in the at-bat.
So if you are going to trade him (which is really doubtful and a completely emotional reaction from a small piece of the fanbase) then what do you deal him for and what is the contingency plan?
Is Daniel Bard the closer in 2010? Do you sign Billy Wagner to close for one season and let Bard work his way into the job? While Bard could probably step into the role, the Red Sox might feel like it’s too early to hand him the reigns full-time. Wagner wants to close but seems like a very volatile pitcher with a significant injury risk.
If Papelbon is dealt you hope it would be for a ton of prospects that could in turn be flipped to acquire a big bat in the likes of Adrian Gonzalez, Prince Fielder or Miguel Cabrera.
Or you can shake this off and remember that even with his flaws, Papelbon is still one of the best closers in the game.
He just needs a second pitch.
Darryl Johnston is the Red Sox correspondent for Fanball.com. He has many years of sports writing under his championship belts. Email him – redsoxdj@gmail.com
Tags: 2009 ALDS, Adrian Gonzalez, Billy Wagner, Boston Red Sox, Curt Schilling, Daniel Bard, Darryl Johnston, Erick Aybar, Fanball, Jonathan Papelbon, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Sox Tea Party, Victor Martinez, Vladimir Guerrero
By Phil From Dracut on Oct 12, 2009
The implosion couldn’t have happened to a better player. Papelbon is a big mouthed jerk who deserves to face some heat himself.
Yankees in ‘09!!
By Phil T. on Oct 12, 2009
The best closer in the history of the game can do it with one pitch. Just ask anyone who faces “Mo” Rivera. It was poetic justice to see Vlad get that hit. I wouldn’t ask my “star” closer to intentionally walk anyone, especially not to load the bases.
By Mister Snitch on Oct 13, 2009
Paps does not need a ’second pitch’ exactly. Mariano Riveira basically throws one pitch – his cutter – but is able to vary its movement. Papelbon needs to be able to do something along those lines.
The problem with a ’second pitch’ is that he’ll have trouble getting the mechanics straight – he’ll throw it ineffectively, or he’ll screw up the fastball, or he’ll tip it. But a variation on his primary pitch requires only modest variations in his routine, and if he can throw the variation effectively, it sets up his primary pitch as well as or better than a changeup.
Sabbathia discovered a different grip late in the season that worked very, very well for him down the stretch. Paps should be encouraged to tinker.