NFT: Yankees (11-7) @ Red Sox (11-8), Wednesday Ed.

In comment 13445007 section125 said:

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I think Pedro definitely helped, although he really isn't throwing the change up that often.

He's not throwing that many overall, but he's throwing almost all of them to lefties.

That are making a big difference.

Seems to me like he has a couple of little variations on the slider. It may be just a matter of changing speed with that pitch a little bit or possibly varying the tightness on the grip.

He also seems to be varying the timing a little bit on the leg kick in his delivery, which I think is messing up the hitters' timing ever so slightly. When you're trying to get around on 98, I'd bet it can really screw with you.

In comment 13445092 BigBlueShock said:

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In comment 13444849 Matt M. said: Quote: In comment 13444812 BigBlueShock said: Quote: In comment 13444795 Matt M. said: Quote: In comment 13444103 Phil in LA said: Quote: Trade high on Romine and keep Higgy. Romine' s been out of options and hard to trade till now. I agree. But, I also wanted Higgy to make the squad out of the Spring, in the first place. You also wanted Severino in the minors What does one thing have to do with another? I never questioned Severino's talent. I said if they wanted him in the pen he could pitch at a high level immediately. I thought, based on his last 2 seasons plus weighing in this Spring Training heavily that if they wanted him to start (which they did), he needed work, which should be done in the minors. I was wrong, but I would also guess that he is doing something differently than he did all spring. He looks like a completely different pitcher. It's not really crazy to have suggested he had issues to work out. Now, people are crediting time he spent with Pedro Martinez this offseason with his success. Why didn't that translate in the spring? I don't know. But, something is clicking now and this is the pitcher I expected 2 years ago. As section said, you weren't the only one that thought they should start him in the minors. But you by far the most vocal about it. And when posters tried explaining to you that just maybe the Yankees had a better pulse on the situation than we all do, you shrugged it off as being preposterous. You were adamant about it and kept littering thread after thread about it. You absolutely deserve a little good natured ball busting after the back and fourths this spring. You were wrong, no need to make excuses as to why. The "why" is EXACTLY what posters were trying to say to you back then.

I don't recall ever getting a reply explaining why he shouldn't go down. I never said it was preposterous, although, I do admit to not thinking there was any known justification for keeping him up. It didn't seem like he was working on anything in Spring Training counter to what he is doing now, but it is possible.

Sevy shouldn't go down because he had nothing to prove against MiLB hitters. You either didn't get there point at the time or you have selective memory on the discussions.

Also - I remember specifically posting that he was likely working on pitch technique. Nobody knew he was going to be this hot to start, but there was a debate for a reason, because we didn't all see it the same way.

in the zone. Painting the black. when you can do that at 98 and throw in a tight slider that looks just like a fastball early on you're gonna be deadly. The changeup helps too, but his control and power have made him very difficult to hit, imo.

is going to be back with the team tomorrow against the Orioles. Great news.

In comment 13445347 yatqb said:

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in the zone. Painting the black. when you can do that at 98 and throw in a tight slider that looks just like a fastball early on you're gonna be deadly. The changeup helps too, but his control and power have made him very difficult to hit, imo.

It isn't so much "control" as "command." Most ML SP have the control to throw strikes and get the ball over the plate- but it is a finer line to have the command to put the ball where you intend it to go.

In other words, it is one thing to simply throw a FB and get a strike. It is another for the C to call for a FB low and away- and have enough command of the pitch to get it down and away where the C is set up.

How often do you see a C set up on one side of the plate, only to have to come back to the other to get the ball? Happens rather often actually. However, what Severino has most improved upon is getting the ball where he and the C want it- which makes it easier for the C to move him around the zone and "set up" a hitter for a specific pitch.

Even more specifically- Severino has demonstrated that "command touch" on his off-speed stuff. It is no longer just "get it over the plate" control, but actual command- that he can get it where he wants it to go.

It all shows up in the numbers- if you look back at his numbers over the past two seasons, you see a LOT of walks (over 3 per 9 innings on average) and a LOT of hits (more than a hit per inning), indicating that he was not getting the ball where he wanted it to go- unable to hit corners or the black- or leaving it over the plate for the hitter to smash.

Look at the numbers this season and you see MUCH fewer hits and even fewer walks. In short, he is getting the ball where his C believes the hitter either cannot get to it, will be fooled by the pitch, or simply cannot catch up to it.

THAT is the difference- and that is what Pedro appears to have drilled home into his head- it isn't about throwing strikes and high velo- you have to have a plan and know you can put the ball where you want it. That separates the guys who throw 95+, but are #5 SP or relievers from the guy who is a front-of-the-rotation SP.

And those spots are hard for a batter to do anything productive with. Greg Maddox, but throwing 98. (I know, I wish...but these last two starts he did have total command, using your term.)

Before the Redsox get him to get Porcello right?