Neftali Oh My
Neftali Feliz made his big league debut last night, and he came with the shock and awe. Feliz was brought in to defend a one-run lead against Oakland in the sixth inning, and struck out the first four batters he faced, flashing a nasty breaking ball and a fastball that reached the triple-digits. Here’s a look at his movement in graph in Pitch F/X.
Reading various scouting reports on Feliz, aside from his fastball and curve, he also throws an 85-87 MPH change-up. The reports say nothing of a sinker, so I wonder if that 90 MPH pitch is mislabeled as a two-seamer and should be categorized as a change-up. No matter. What we are certain of is Feliz pumps in the gas — he threw two pitches over 100 MPH — and he generates an impressive amount tail on his fastball. For a more intuitive look, check out his flight paths.
(You can click on the image for a larger view).
That’s just “whoa” worthy, and what makes it even more “whoa” worthy is that he makes it look so effortless.
The Rangers will work Feliz out of the bullpen for now. They did the same with Derek Holland at first; maybe it’s just their way of breaking in a player, but it’s not as if their rotation couldn’t use the help. Only the Orioles’ rotation has a worse FIP in the American League, as the Rangers’ stellar defense that has masked much of what is a lackluster staff. And it’s not as if Texas has no playoff hopes — they’re three games behind Boston in the wild card race.
Regardless of the Ranger’s early usage, Texas fans have plenty to look forward to with Feliz. If I followed the Rangers, I’d be sending former Braves’ GM John Schuerholz a Christmas card every holiday season for that Teixeira trade.
Erik Manning is the founder of Future Redbirds and covers the Cardinals for Heater Magazine. You can get more of his analysis and rantings in bite-sized bits by following him on twitter.
I think I just threw up in my mouth.
As a Braves fan, this makes me very very sad
As a Rangers fan, WHOOPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
I’m pretty sure the 90 mph pitch is a change-up. John Sickels did a scouting report that mentioned the change, as I recall.
John Schuerholz rightfully gets credit for being one of the best baseball minds around, but he sure blew it big time with the trade for Teixeira. It looks like one of the greatest heists of all time and should help Rangers fans forgive Jon Daniels just the tiniest little bit for his screw-up with John Danks.
Danks for McCarthy and The San Diego Debacle (Adrian Gonzalez, Chris Young, and Termel Sledge for Otsuka and 1yr of Adam Eaton) have been forgiven by most Rangers fans considering the Teixeira, Kenny Lofton (for Max Ramirez), and Eric Gagne trades as well as the better Latin American/High School/College scouting/signings. Also, picking up O’Day and Grilli off waivers during the season (and Andruw Jones at the start of the season) were very helpful moves.
Jack Z in Seattle may end up being the better GM, but most Rangers fans are happy with Jon Daniels overall (especially the last couples years).
It’s a very fair trade, unless you account for the fact that atlanta didn’t get to sign Teixeira again, then it’s just relatively bad. While those are good prospects (Feliz is almost a great?), none have put up the type of production Teixiera has. Andrus has been alright this year, but Harrison has not been that good, Saltalamacchia hasn’t been that good, and Feliz and Beau Jones are still MILB players. We’ll just wait and see. Both of ya’ll are jumping the gun on calling it a heist.
Another thing is, Texas is a good team now, but think about them with Teixiera. Scary!
Umm, not exactly. First of all, the major reason the Rangers are better this year is because of defense, and having Elvis allowed them to upgrade at 2 positions (SS and 3B). So it’s not as easy as just adding Tex back.
Secondly, here’s the Player(Age)-WAR involved now playing for Texas:
Elvis (20) – 2.0
Salty (24) – 0.6
Harrison (23) – 0.7 (he’s been on the DL a lot this year)
Total this year: 3.3 WAR
Plus now Feliz. I’m not sure if Beau Jones is ever really going to make it, but that’s 3 players playing important roles anywhere from a little to a lot above average for the next few years.
Tex has actually been worth 3.3 WAR this year, and while it’s tremendously more valuable coming from that one position, he’s also making a lot more money than those three players. It’s always tough to say “we’re not contenders” and act accordingly, but the Rangers obviously played the situation perfectly here. Those 4 players are going to contribute more to Texas while they’re contending (hopefully) over the next 3-4 years than Tex would, and at a fraction of the price.
and your stupid! Thats whats fair. Andrus has been ok? How much Rangers Baseball do you actually watch guy. The dude is 20 years old what else do you want? Do you expect Teixera numbers from him? He isnt going to do that think more Jose Reyes. He is gona win gold glove after gold glove, All star written all over him, could eventually steal 50 bases. A young Derek Jeter with his leadership skills. Once he gets his man muscles he could hit 15 to 20 homers a year possibly. The key thing here is he is 20 years old. Feliz is 21. Harrison and Salty are 23. Give them some time. The Rangers are going to be a scary scary team in years to come!
The 90-91mph pitch is a splitter.
It’s a change. MLB Network freeze framed the grip. It could possibly be a hybrid, as it was a three finger grip, not a circle-change, but he holds the index and middle over the seams (could be slightly split) and third finger on the side of the ball.
Looks a lot more like a change.
I believe the change up is actually a splitter. He said he throws a 4 seam Fb, 2 seam FB, splitter, and curve.
Feliz’ FIP looks pretty good right now.
and so the future for us begins down here in Texas…
All Pirate fans should see the Rangers farm system and future right now and be reminded what a team with a plan can do in the future.
Rangers look well positioned for the coming years.
I just hope he can maintain it. Young pitchers with superhuman stuff (Liriano, Wood) seem incapable of maintaining it.
Definitely rooting for him though.
Verlander and Ubaldo Jiminez beg to differ.
I’m not just talking about throwing hard
Can humans throw this hard, or is he some sort of baseball robot sent from an advanced alien civilization?
Sorry to jump in to the fray but watching Feliz on MLBNetwork last night I was stunned by one of his ~90mph offerings on which he got an akward swing and miss from I believe Adam Kennedy. I played it back in slow motion (42″ HD) and it appeared to me to be a circle change grip.
The lateral movement (away from the lefty) was reminiscent of vintage Pedro.
Now why couldn’t Daniels spin Smoak and Feliz into Doc Halladay again? Thanks for nothing JP.
Doesn’t this make it four players from that Teixiera deal to make it to the majors now? With Beau Jones still to come. Jesus.
Yes.
Jerrod Saltalamacchia C
Matt Harrison SP
Elvis Andrus SS
Neftali Feliz RP – future SP
Beau Jones has been struggling lately.
That’s ridiculous.
While Blunder Boy Daniels did hit on 2 all-stars from that trade, the other 3 are spares/busts. He also chose Gabbard over Bowden when given the choice in the Gagne deal.
No way does that one trade make up for 95% blunders and a failure evey year to help the team at the deadline.
Blah @ the Gagne deal.
I mean I know in the end it may not be that bad since Beltre is still probably 3-4 years away, and Murphy is a 4th OF type, but still.
Josey, is that you?
Has to be.
Salty is not a bust yet. He would be if he had gone down the 1b/dh role, but instead he dropped weight and has become a very capable defensive catcher.. hes looked better than teagarden defensively this year. Will he be able to get his average up enough to take advantage of his raw power and decent patience? I don’t know, but at 24 its too early to write him off.
murphy is not a 4th type of, in fact he is currently our #3 hitter and looks and plays like rusty greer out there…and harrison, what 23 year old and has gone 13-8 over two seasons with the rangers? salty, a 23-year old starting catcher who has gotten considerably better over the last year, elvis looks like the next hanley ramirez…this trade was an absolute steal…so was the gagne trade
Wanna go forward with a .272/.356/.439 LF in a hitter’s park as the 3 hole hitter?
Your funeral.
You take out the 0-for-23 slump he had at the beginning of the season and his stats look better. .301/.388/.486
I also was watching Feliz last night on the MLB network and Bill Ripken immediately called his 90 mph offering a changeup. Harold Reynolds refused to believe him claiming it had to be a two seamer. They freeze framed the pitch before the release and sure enough he had a four finger grip on the ball. Harold almost fell out of his chair.
It can’t be Josey he didn’t call JD donuts!
I think the gun was a little fast at least compared to the gun used in Arlington. All the Ranger pitchers were a couple of mph above average unless everyone was just pumped. Feliz was still 5 mph faster than Frankie and Frankie can bring it, so this kid is special no doubt. It was a changeup at 91. Even if that is a couple of mph fast, how many can throw a changeup at almost 90? That’s ridiculous. Regardless of actual speed, the hitters were overmatched. All of them.
The RBIA gun is about 2 MPH slow. Feliz’s velocity really is that good.
Sure, Feliz is a stud and Andrus is good defensively, but the Tex trade wasn’t the heist it’s been made out to be. Salty hasn’t been all that great, Harrison (though injured) is ok. It was worthwhile for Atlanta at the moment to try to get to the playoffs but, obviously, it didn’t work out. Gotta gamble some time.
This trade would’ve been much more towards even if the Braves could’ve re-signed Teixeira.
No doubt, but Tex’s signability was the whole reason the Rangers moved to trade him. He was never signing anywhere except to the highest bidder in the open market.
Back on topic… look at that tail on the 4 seamer! WOW.
Corey,
Your 2nd point is mute about Teixeria. Without the trade of Teixeria, the Rangers wouldn’t have Andrus or Saltalamacchia. How would you suggest that Texas come up with Saltalamacchia and Andrus while holding on to Teixeria? It wouldn’t happen. Your right that Texas would be scary with all of them, it’s just not reality.
Reminds me of a time an A’s fan – Beane hater tried to bash the Mulder trade, then whined about not having Haren.
What is the record for strikeouts without a walk to start a career?
Feliz is now at 16 Ks, 0 walks, in his first 8.2 IP in MLB.
That’s decent.