Dempster Adds a Change-up

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I saw this note at the end of one of Kiley's articles.

 

Manager Dusty Baker said closer Ryan Dempster is working on a changeup to go with his fastball/slider repertoire. He was pleased to see Dempster handcuff the Giants' Steve Finley with a changeup Saturday.

 

"I saw Finley's reaction,'' Baker said. "He turned around and said, 'Wow, a changeup.' That's a pitch he is working on, and he threw a couple good ones [saturday].''

 

[JWCUB]

If Demp can throw the change over for strikes, he could be flat out nasty.

[TheDude]

Nice. That seems to be the thing for this Spring. All Rich Hill is missing is a solid change and he might be big league ready. I think he's working on it also.

[MustangMike]

Nice. That seems to be the thing for this Spring. All Rich Hill is missing is a solid change and he might be big league ready. I think he's working on it also.

 

I heard he's working on a 3rd pitch as well, I think Rothschild said it was a splitter or a changeup, can't remember. I didn't see him throw one yesterday, just that big hook and a fastball up.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

If Rich Hill adds a plus changeup he'll be something SICK.

 

I'm really glad to see Dempster adding a change. If he gets that working well he should be dominant.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Dempster's problem isn't adding another pitch, it's walking way too many batters.

[JWCUB]

Dempster's problem isn't adding another pitch, it's walking way too many batters.

 

Thats why I said "if he can throw it over for strikes."

[TheDude]

Dempster's problem isn't adding another pitch, it's walking way too many batters.

 

He knows that. I read a quote from him a few weeks back where he talked about how changing from a starter to a reliever changed his outlook on pitching. As a starter he always felt he could recover from a wild start and took more chances on the edge of the strike zone. As a reliever, he commented the games over if he gives up runs, so he started pounding the strike zone more.

 

If you examine his 2005 splits, his K/BB ratio, BB/Inn, and BAA were all far better as a reliever.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Dempster's problem isn't adding another pitch, it's walking way too many batters.

 

He knows that. I read a quote from him a few weeks back where he talked about how changing from a starter to a reliever changed his outlook on pitching. As a starter he always felt he could recover from a wild start and took more chances on the edge of the strike zone. As a reliever, he commented the games over if he gives up runs, so he started pounding the strike zone more.

 

If you examine his 2005 splits, his K/BB ratio, BB/Inn, and BAA were all far better as a reliever.

 

He was better, but he still walked 4.16 guys per 9 innings as a reliever.

[TheDude]

Dempster's problem isn't adding another pitch, it's walking way too many batters.

 

He knows that. I read a quote from him a few weeks back where he talked about how changing from a starter to a reliever changed his outlook on pitching. As a starter he always felt he could recover from a wild start and took more chances on the edge of the strike zone. As a reliever, he commented the games over if he gives up runs, so he started pounding the strike zone more.

 

If you examine his 2005 splits, his K/BB ratio, BB/Inn, and BAA were all far better as a reliever.

 

He was better, but he still walked 4.16 guys per 9 innings as a reliever.

 

True. But I'd anticipate more improvement from him before a regression. And he finds a third pitch he has confidence in, he could really become nasty.

[Brendan]

Nice. That seems to be the thing for this Spring. All Rich Hill is missing is a solid change and he might be big league ready. I think he's working on it also.

 

I heard he's working on a 3rd pitch as well, I think Rothschild said it was a splitter or a changeup, can't remember. I didn't see him throw one yesterday, just that big hook and a fastball up.

 

i think a change and a cutter to go along with his 1 and 2.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Dempster's problem isn't adding another pitch, it's walking way too many batters.

 

He knows that. I read a quote from him a few weeks back where he talked about how changing from a starter to a reliever changed his outlook on pitching. As a starter he always felt he could recover from a wild start and took more chances on the edge of the strike zone. As a reliever, he commented the games over if he gives up runs, so he started pounding the strike zone more.

 

If you examine his 2005 splits, his K/BB ratio, BB/Inn, and BAA were all far better as a reliever.

 

He was better, but he still walked 4.16 guys per 9 innings as a reliever.

 

Prior knew he was nibbling to much last year and still didn't get it figured out. It's one thing to "know" something and another to put it into practice effectively.

 

I love Dempster, but don't set the bar too high.

[Tim]

Nice. That seems to be the thing for this Spring. All Rich Hill is missing is a solid change and he might be big league ready. I think he's working on it also.

 

I heard he's working on a 3rd pitch as well, I think Rothschild said it was a splitter or a changeup, can't remember. I didn't see him throw one yesterday, just that big hook and a fastball up.

 

i think a change and a cutter to go along with his 1 and 2.

Well, I caught two pitches that were either curve balls that spun and did nothing or were changeups. They were both well out of the zone, though.

[cubbieinexile]

You see these kind of articles/notes all the time during spring training. Doesn't mean a thing, I think an SI writer ESPN.com writer wrote a column once that listed all the standard cliche stories of spring training and learning a new pitch was one of them. Dempster has been in the league for 8 seasons and over 1000 innings and unless he is just now taking steroids this is who he is. What will matter much much more then any learned pitch is whether or not he is healthy. The new pitch is fluff.

[Tanner_20]

Where does steroids have anything to do with this? :? Come on.

[Brian]

Where does steroids have anything to do with this? :? Come on.

 

you need to be on the roids to throw the ball slower. duh.

[Tim]

I think you guys missed CIE's point.

 

There are the rare examples of a guy learning a new pitch during the offseason and implementing it to great effect. The most recent example I can think of is Esteban Loaiza, who credited a new pitch with his breakout season a couple years back.

[TheDude]

You see these kind of articles/notes all the time during spring training. Doesn't mean a thing, I think an SI writer ESPN.com writer wrote a column once that listed all the standard cliche stories of spring training and learning a new pitch was one of them. Dempster has been in the league for 8 seasons and over 1000 innings and unless he is just now taking steroids this is who he is. What will matter much much more then any learned pitch is whether or not he is healthy. The new pitch is fluff.

 

It's not fluff. Most guys try to learn new pitches and it doesn't work out. That doesn't mean they aren't working on it - and ST is the one place to do just that.

[goonys evil twin]

You see these kind of articles/notes all the time during spring training. Doesn't mean a thing, I think an SI writer ESPN.com writer wrote a column once that listed all the standard cliche stories of spring training and learning a new pitch was one of them. Dempster has been in the league for 8 seasons and over 1000 innings and unless he is just now taking steroids this is who he is. What will matter much much more then any learned pitch is whether or not he is healthy. The new pitch is fluff.

 

Bill Simmons wrote that column, or something very similar.

 

Other storylines are:

 

The guy in the best shape of his life.

The pudgy guy who really got into shape this offseason.

The guy who did nothing special earlier in his career but is expecting major improvements thanks to a change of scenery.

The guy who gets injured all the team who feels completely healthy.

 

There were a bunch, and it was very true whenever you spend time reading a bunch of spring training articles, especially if you read them about multiple teams. You'll notice that based on expectations nobody will be under .500 this year. I really don't pay much attention to these articles (although I do read them), and wait to see some results before I buy into all the hype.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

You see these kind of articles/notes all the time during spring training. Doesn't mean a thing, I think an SI writer ESPN.com writer wrote a column once that listed all the standard cliche stories of spring training and learning a new pitch was one of them. Dempster has been in the league for 8 seasons and over 1000 innings and unless he is just now taking steroids this is who he is. What will matter much much more then any learned pitch is whether or not he is healthy. The new pitch is fluff.

 

Here's the Simmons story that is being referenced.

 

The stories he refers to are (I'll add this year's Cub versions):

 

1. The New Guy- Take your pick: Pierre, Howry, Eyre.

2. The Washed Up Guy- Does He Have Anything Left?: Grissom

3. The Sleepers: Jacque Jones

4. The Unhappy Guy: I'm not sure we have one. Maybe Walker.

5. The Position Change: Not relevant with the Cubs.

6. The Final Straw: Kerry Wood

7. The Reclamation Project: Wade Miller

8. The Guy With No Angle: Will Ohman

9. The New Coach with the Magic Wand: Not relevant

10. The Injured But Hopeful Pitcher: Wade Miller part deux. Maybe Guzman as well.

11. The Clubhouse Leader: Derrek Lee

12. The Journey Man Pitcher Who Finds a Home: Rusch; Williamson

13. The Quirky Veteran: Zambrano; Dempster

 

The list gets really long, so I'm leaving out some.

 

14. The Last Stand: Maddux

15. The Phenom: Murton; Cedeno

16. The Guy with Something to Prove: Jones

17. The Loveable Bench Guy: Where's Randall Simon go? I'm nominating Blanco here.

18.

[UK1679666180]

I thought Dempster had shown a change-up while with the Fish?

 

It showed the potential to be a plus pitch, he didn't throw it consistently though.

[anemic offense]

I saw this note at the end of one of Kiley's articles.

 

Manager Dusty Baker said closer Ryan Dempster is working on a changeup to go with his fastball/slider repertoire. He was pleased to see Dempster handcuff the Giants' Steve Finley with a changeup Saturday.

 

"I saw Finley's reaction,'' Baker said. "He turned around and said, 'Wow, a changeup.' That's a pitch he is working on, and he threw a couple good ones [saturday].''

 

 

Sounds encouraging, but it seems almost EVERY pitcher is working on "another pitch".

[UK1679666180]

I knew I hadn't started drinking yet...

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/columns/hershiser010614/1213915.html

 

Ryan Dempster

A bright spot in the gloom that is the Florida Marlins, Ryan Dempster is someone this -- or any other -- team could build around. Dempster should have great success for many years to come. The four and two seam fastballs he throws have good late action. He pitches off his fastball with his slider, which is his out-pitch. He has three solid major league pitches: fastball, slider and change-up.