Vazquez still struggling mechanically
May 3, 2010, 5:00 pm by iYankees · 40 Comments
Javier Vazquez’s season has obviously not gone well, with the right-hander struggling in basically every start he has had to date (even his one win against Oakland). While many have been quick to blame Vazquez’s raw stuff, saying that it is just not good enough to set down American League hitters, and particularly the AL East hitters, there is a more tangible culprit for the woes—poor mechanics. As stated by manager Joe Girardi after Vazquez’s recent outing against his former team, the White Sox, “Mechanics are a tricky thing,” and, so far, problems with mechanics – i.e., delivery – have truly plagued the embattled Vazquez (he himself discussed it following his latest ineffective effort, as well).
But, what is wrong exactly? Is it his upper half or his lower half? While it is difficult for me to explain the issues in detail, as I am not an expert in such matters, Frankie Piliere, a former scout with the Texas Rangers turned FanHouse scribe, is and provided a nuanced and comprehensive take on Vazquez’s mechanical struggles over the weekend.
Here’s a bit from the read:
The way he’s delivering the ball, he’s throwing against his front leg, rather than driving over the top of it and getting on top of the baseball. Again, Vazquez always has and more than likely always will collapse on his back leg and drift toward the plate. But, recently it’s just gotten away from him. Because he’s unable to drive over that front leg and get on top, he’s forced to rotate around his torso and shoulders, creating more of a side-to-side effect than a downhill effect.
What that turn of his shoulders does to the pitch after it leaves his hand is what’s directly leading to all those mistake fastballs and rolling curveballs over the fat part of the plate. As his front side drifts toward the plate, his lead shoulder is going with it and opening up much too early. The impact of that is a nearly squared up upper body facing home plate, making it almost impossible for Vazquez to get the extension he needs to get the ball to the outside corner against righties, and the inside corner on lefties.
With that front shoulder wide open, he’s getting around his pitches rather than on top, causing the ball to repeatedly leak way back toward the middle of the plate. Not to mention, he’s giving the hitters a very good look at the ball and his pitches are coming in on a flat plane. Pitchers need that good downward angle to stay out of the middle of the plate, and get the bite on the breaking ball and sinking fastball.
Granted, it is a long read, but I think the main takeaway, from a general point of view, is that Vazquez, when he is right (mechanically), has good stuff. He has the ability to be good, and that ability is not dependent upon being in the National League or the American League. If the Yankees can help him correct the delivery problems that he is currently struggling with – Piliere even connects the mechanical issues to Vazquez’s velocity issues – then we could see a very effective pitcher emerge. It is similar to A.J. Burnett, who, like Vazquez, has a lot of talent and great raw stuff. When he turns into “Bad A.J.,” however, it is mainly the result of poor mechanics. Due to delivery issues, Vazquez is stuck being “Bad Javy” right now, but at the end of the day, it is correctable (a “Good Javy” exists).
Photo by the AP
Thanks for the post Chris…
Frankie Piliere has it nailed, poor mechanics will get one every-time. The big problem is, to change everything back to the way it was (for the good Javy). Getting back to norm takes a lot of work, it doesn’t happen over night.
We fans, hope he gets it going sooner rather then later. Andy has the same problem sometimes, the difference is…he has had the problem so long that he is a bit quicker in fixing it.
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a little while ago me and roost had a disagreement about a certain trade. ive thought about it and although I do believe the Yanks need a pitcher [and a great one at that] based on the information about Javy I read, we may not need one until the end of the year. I am praying that the Yankees great coaching staff will correct Vazquez’s mechanical problems, if we can get him to pitch like last year and if Grandy can come back soon and Joba can start throwing to his capability and if Nick Johnson can stop K-ing, we could have the greatest team ever. [sorry bout the and's]
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Yankafan – most pitchers that go bad its either injury, age or bad mechanics. Sometimes nerves make it harder to repeat your mechanics…..you’re too tense…you’re thinking about the fans booing….or your career hanging on the next pitch ….or whatever. Mental toughness gets you through it …helps you focus and stabilizes your mechanics within the game within the inning …..
Javy doesn’t have and will never have the mental toughness to handle the bright lights of NY…the big stage….he should have been left in the NL AAAA. Where he wouldnt have been having these “mechanical” issues.
Hearts like Pavano, Kevin Brown, Randy J. ——-save it!
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who do u think we could get IF we traded him to AAAA??? Vazquez/Melancon/Mcallister/Park=Broxton????? and move Joba to the rotation???
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I dont like Broxton. Do me a favor and look up his career save opportunities and saves and tell me his success rate.
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i dont have to, its awful, however Broxton would be a great setup man for the Great Mariano as he would not be worked as hard under this “Joe”
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If he blows saves, he’ll blow holds. Get me Lee!
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ur gonna make me get sick, Lee, ewwww lol
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what about Heath Bell wasnt he on the market???
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Faah2gKkCOQ
Heath Bell is a big k artist. He sprints from the BP. I like it!
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many ppl feel the twins have the inside track on bell
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ha ha …..dude ….he’s only 31 and has come into his own over the last few seasons…..
2008 29 CLE AL 2.54 CYA-1,MVP-12
2009 30 TOT MLB 3.22
And 2 big intangibles
1. he is unflappable and can handle the big stage NY
2. he is best friends with CC and can become the best 1-2 in baseball
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fine w/e anyway since Joba wont be going to AAA anytime soon he would be our number 6 then right?
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Twasp – LA will never trade Broxton this yr so its a moot point, but I just wanted to say the Blown Save can be a misleading stat. While its an ok stat for closers it is really unfair for other relievers.
A reliever can enter in the 7th with the bases loaded, no out and his team up 5-4. He gets a 6-4-3 DP that scores a run and a K, then follows up with a perfect 8th. He gets a BS for allowing the lead to be lost when in reality he had a perfect outing.
I don’t know what Broxton’s BS’s looked like but he’s only been closing since July 2008. As a closer he is 51 of 60 which is not great but better much better than his career mark.
Broxton does have electric stuff with 95-99 mph FB and wicked slider. Throws a lot like the old Joba used to and he gets Ks at an alarming rate.
My only point is the Blown Save is not a good stat for measuring non-closer relievers.
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Its probably a little early to say this definitively…although the more he pitches, the more he proves this out. I think you are much more right than wrong on this Twasp.
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Yeah, Chris but a pitcher that stinks, stinks because he can’t repeat his good mechanics. And the really good pitchers can get by when they don’t have their best mechanics/pitches working. Like AJ the other day when he couldn’t find his curve ball. He still is good enough to pitch well enough to get AL hitters out. When Javy doesn’t have his best stuff, he still had good enough stuff to get AAAA batters out – but the AL is different- no passes for hanging curve balls and 89mph fastballs.
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Great point, Twasp.
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Kenny – How are you today. Last night I pitched softball and when we threw a runner out at 3b to end the inning he spit on the mound as he ran back to his dugout. What would you have done? I dont know if it was on purpose or not?
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When did ARod start playing softball??
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ha ha… is there an unwritten rule in baseball not to spit on the mound?
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Twasp let me think for a minute…I got it, I would grab my bat and run towards the other bench screaming at the top of my lungs “I going to KILL you…you SOB!). If that doesn’t cure his poor behavior I’ll call Braden.
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Excellent – I should have done that!
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First off…how did the game go, did you win?
It may not have been on purpose but, if it were me (depending on the score) I’d drill the sob the next time up. No doubt about it! But then, I am a very nice guy, so it would probably be with my best fastball…right in the ribs. What did you do about it?
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Chris – can you update the poll on the right?
now include:
- grandy
- swish
- grandy/swish platoon
- gardner
- johnson
- jeter (with gardy 1)
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I think Jeter should bat second. he used to bat there. Gardner gets on first, steals second, Jeter either gets a hit and moves him over or sac fly’s him to third, now Gardner is on third and Teixeira and A-Rod are next.
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He used to bat there but became a bad option after his gb% increased to 71%.
Look at 2007/2008 stats on ground into dp’s:
Double Plays Grounded Into 2008
1. Ordonez (DET) 27
Guerrero (LAA) 27
3. Peralta (CLE) 26
4. Jeter (NYY) 24
Overbay (TOR) 24
6. Betancourt (SEA) 23
Butler (KCR) 23
Guillen (KCR) 23
9. Mauer (MIN) 21
10. Rios (TOR) 20
Suzuki (OAK) 20
Morneau (MIN) 2
Double Plays Grounded Into 2007
1. Teahen (KCR) 23
Young (TBD) 23
3. Markakis (BAL) 22
Johjima (SEA) 22
Tejada (BAL) 22
Mora (BAL) 22
7. Jeter (NYY) 21
Girardi made the right move getting him to the top of the lineup and he thrived having one of his best seasons in years and lowering his gidp.
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This will be our rotation eventually:
CC,Lee,AJ,Hughes,Joba
bridge: Mitre, K-Rob, Logan, Ace, Bell, CHP
closer: Mo
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I’d sign up for that now the one thing you might face is andy wanting to come back again
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yeah – I read that.
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yeah thats true….he’s talking retirement…though you never know if he has another outstanding season and post-season….maybe one more
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Hey BCD – I’m out. catch you later dude.
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Take care twasp it’s been fun as always
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can you imagine the twins with bell and rauch at the end of games in that devision…whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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if andy comes back and the yankees are serious about getting lee than joba never touches the rotation again. No one could argue for chamberlain being a starter because with cc, burnett, lee, andy, and hughes that would be the best rotation in baseball.
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I don’t know if Andy is talking retirement or the talk swirls around Andy but he hasn’t said anything. I will say that if he wins 14 or 15 and pitches well in the post season, I would be skeptical about him closing up shop this year.
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Yes it would, BCD…and it wouldn’t surprise me if that is exactly what comes to pass…Lee is worth the effort to acquire him, for sure.
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yea he is a very good pitcher dare I say great. I know there is a section of fans that don’t want him here. To be honest I’m not completely sold on getting him. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying he shouldn’t be here but I’m not at the point where I think we have to him. I’m sure that will pass as things progress
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Thats true it will be very hard for him to hang it up coming off another PS run. For the yankees it’s a good problem to have unless he shows his age the yr after
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If you have the chance to upgrade your staff by adding a guy like Cliff Lee, IMO you go for it. CC, AJ, Lee, Hughes, and possibly Andy = post season.
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You know he is eventually going to retire…but if he keeps pitching as well as he has been, why would you not offer him another year? You are right – its a good problem to have.
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