GDT 8/3/18 Miami Marlins (Richards) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Velasquez)

[Purduke]

I think he knew that (as evidenced by the smiley face).

[Florida_Sunshine]

Ahhh, good catch.

[Austinfan]

Velasquez has really turned it around since the game when they got him big early lead and he relaxed after a rough start and hasn't looked back since. I think the key is he's finally learned that he doesn't have to max effort every pitch to get hitters out, he was throwing mostly 93-95 and they still couldn't hit his FB, which has late movement. By not trying to max out velocity, he improved his command and I think it's also easier for him to maintain velocity as he gets to the 80 or so pitch mark. Slider looked good after a few up in the zone early, but eventually he needs to develop a two seamer and changeup - but you have to walk before you can run.

[andyb]

Except Velasquez' velocity is basically the same. 94.3 average this year rather than 93.9 last year. Not sure it fits your narrative of "relaxing". He might be just maturing as a pitcher, learning to change speeds better and command his pitches more precisely. Exactly the type of maturity one would hope for with a pitcher with a fastball in the mid 90s with good secondary pitches. When everything moves so much it often takes a few years to command it all.

Reason number 1,000 why guys like Velasquez are better prospects than the command and control types like Eshelman.

[Austinfan]

https://www.fangraphs.com/graphs.aspx?playerid=11189&position=P&pitchgraphs=true&statArr=&legend=1&split=base&time=daily&start=2016&end=2018&rtype=mult&gt1=15&dStatArray=FA&ymin=&ymax=

Definitely a downward trend in velocity since the beginning of the year, it's flattened out the last month or so, but the highest velocity as well as average velocity is down, not drastically, but what you'd expect from a pitcher no longer trying to max out velocity.

[Philsmania]

Velasquez is making the Giles trade look good now.

[allentown]

Giles is making the Giles trade look good, although Houston has already gotten most of the benefits they sought in that deal.

[Austinfan]

Funny how Giles and Neris both crashed and burned.

Relief pitchers, can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.
Houston got 1.5 WAR out of Giles.
We got 3.5 WAR out of Neris when he replaced Giles

And Velasquez is coming into his own.

[bkeich]

At some point they need to think about using VV as a PH. He really can hit and has above average speed from what I can see.

[Austinfan]

With the 4 man benches, it would help to have a RP who was a good hitter.
Not sure I want to risk a starting pitcher in that role, Arrieta's a pretty good hitter as well, but . . .

However, it would make a lot of sense for a middle RP, especially the days when he pitched the night before and you dn't want to use him in that role.

[julio]

Funny how Giles and Neris both crashed and burned.

Relief pitchers, can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

Effective relief pitchers get overused, until they lose effectiveness. Some few of 'em survive the constant work (keeping in mind that fully warming up in the 'pen has to count as at least a "partial" appearance, even if the pitcher doesn't get into the game/stats). Most of them do not.

[andyb]

what you'd expect from a pitcher no longer trying to max out velocity.

But that is your narrative. Reality is just different. He is gaining command and his average velocity this year is up over last year (when he was less good).