Request for the Texas Rangers: Allow Alex Claudio to Start
It is not only probable but also a definite certainty that Jon Daniels and Thad Levine and Ron Washington and probably also, like, half of the dogs in the Dallas Metro Statistical Area are more qualified than the present author to hold forth on what is best for the Texas Rangers. Nor is it my intention, at all in what follows, to hold forth on any such thing.
Rather, the purpose of this brief post is only to submit a formal request — or, as formal a request as one is capable of making by means of an internet weblog featuring banner ads for the Brazilian Butt Lift. The request is as follows: that they (i.e. the Texas Rangers) allow pitcher Alex Claudio to start one and/or more than one baseball games this September.
For those readers who are less well acquainted with fringe prospects, below are some relevant facts regarding Claudio.
He:
- Is a 22-year-old left-hander from Puerto Rico; and
- Began the current season in the High-A Carolina League; and
- Subsequently recorded strikeout and walk rates of 23.3% and 3.6%, respectively, in 92.0 innings across three minor-league levels; and
- Has recorded strikeout and walk rates of 31.3% and 6.3%, respectively — and also a ground-ball rate of 55.0% — in 7.1 relief innings for Texas following a mid-August promotion; and
- Has recorded, in those 7.1 relief innings, an average fastball velocity (84.6 mph) just a little bit slower than Cardinals infielder Daniel Descalso;
- Has recorded the absolute slowest average changeup velocity (67.5 mph) among anyone to throw a pitch this season.
So far as dramatic effect is concerned, it’s possible that the facts above aren’t ideally arranged. What one needs to know about Claudio, though, is that he (a) features conspicuously underwhelming arm speed, but has also (b) produced decidedly above-average figures (so far) at four different levels this season.
It’s not uncommon, probably, for a relief pitcher to ascend a couple levels and then find success in the majors based on his ability to dominate same-handed batters. Unlike other left-handers with sub-optimal velocity, however, Claudio doesn’t necessarily profile as a LOOGY. While he throws from a low-ish arm slot and features an effective slider, Claudio’s beautiful and strange changeup allows him to neutralize right-handed batters reasonably well, too.
Like, for example, how he decisively neutralized Collin Cowgill recently by means of his changeup:
And then how, here, he neutralized Cowgill again via the changeup on the very next pitch:
Again, though: the intention of this missive isn’t necessarily to argue that adding Alex Claudio to the rotation might make the Rangers better. Rather, it’s to point out that it would obviously make them more interesting — and that, given his record to date, that Claudio probably wouldn’t embarrass either himself or the club.
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
It looks like his windup is quite different between those two pitches. Much higher leg kick on the first one. Odd.
Maybe it’s to confuse the hitter’s timing? It almost looks like he was trying to quick-pitch in the second one.
His motion in the second one doesn’t even look like he’s a pitcher. Just some dude throwing a baseball.
What’s truly bizarre is that such different throwing motions occurred in the same at-bat.
Like he’s trying to do a slide-step to keep the runner honest, but really probably trying to get Cowgill thinking fastball.
Fun to watch.
nice hop after the K by cowgill in the second gif. i’d like to see adam dunn or david ortiz do that after every swing.
The ground would not.
I love this guy already. I have to start watching Rangers games to hopefully catch him in action.
His pitchfx page shows something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. Both his changeup and his sinker actually show negative vertical movement. Usually sinkers actually rise despite their name, they just rise less than other fastballs. Usually only curveballs and some slurvey sliders actually drop, and certainly no fastballs. Given that his changeup has some drop, it’s more of a screwball. As for the fastball, it’s almost like some crazy reverse slider/super-extreme sinker.
Trying not to sound like an ass, but no pitches actually ‘rise’. The only way that would be possible is if you throw underhand.
The +/- values on vertical movement are how much a pitch moves relative to a pitch with zero spin. Fastballs drop less than this theoretical no-spin pitch because they have backspin (which produces a small amount of lift). Breaking balls drop more than the theoretical no-spin pitch because they have topspin.
If his sinker actually has negative vertical movement, I’d question whether it’s actually thrown with a fastball grip. Maybe more of a change or split-fingered grip?
Dear Carson, Please do more of your “Scientifically Objectively Best Pitches Of The Week” series, or whatever it was called, for the pages either of Notgraphs or Instagraphs. I enjoy them, even if they feature mostly the same pitchers over and over (i.e. Brandon League, Felix Hernandez, etc.) Thank you.
I’m still disappointed RJ Swindle’s 59 mph curve never worked out
that job title needs some work
Also a very strange windup. Reminds me of luis Tiant.