I'm by no means a pitching coach, and I've only seen his games this year against the Braves. My question is what are his pitches? From watching his games all I can see is a fast ball, change-up, and curve. Am I missing any?

 

Josh seems to be relying on his fast ball too much. I know it is likely too late to add another pitch this year, but for him to become a constant ace, I think he needs another pitch. When he doesn't have his A curve ball, Josh seems to struggle at times against good teams. I think he'd be even more dominant if he added a fork ball. All the hard throwers I've seen use it (Clemens, Rivera, etc.) seem to be able to use their fast ball more, because the hitters cannot zero-in for a fast ball as much. My only worry is that I've read that a fork ball can lead to elbow problems and, if that is true, I don't know how useful a fork ball would be for a young pitcher. Most of the pitchers I've seen use a fork ball are older pitchers.

 

I don't think a change-up is effective to keep hitters honest when a pitcher's curve ball is off that night. This seems to be Beckett's problem, IMO. I'd love to see him add a fork ball or a slider sometime in the future for nights when his curve ball is not clicking on all cylinders.

 

Thoughts?

I'd rather have the World Series MVP the way he is right now.

 

Seriously, the guy has a few bad games, and people are all over him.

 

Look, he's still young and EVERYONE is right when they say, "He needs to use more than his fastball"

 

Why are the Braves so good against him? They've seen him enough to know that he's gonna use that fastball a lot. Look at J.D. Drew tonight. First AB, Beckett throws nothing but fastballs and Drew K's.

 

Second AB, Beckett throws nothing but fastballs Drew takes him deep. Drew made the adjustments, now it's Becketts turn.

 

Like Brad Penny had to adjust. People were saying "He needs to learn how to pitch, not throw hard."

 

That's how it is with Beckett. A career record of 18-19 not including the play-offs so he HAS to make those adjustments. He can't let this fame get to his head because when he's on the field, that's when he starts the real talking. This is why I hated the whole cocky attitude last year. Yeah he was great in the play-offs, but in the regular season, teams see you quite a few times and you gotta adjust. He hasn't. But it's just a matter of time until he does. He's not stupid. And with Wayne Rosenthal, you can bet the next start won't be like this.

I'm by no means a pitching coach, and I've only seen his games this year against the Braves. My question is what are his pitches? From watching his games all I can see is a fast ball, change-up, and curve. Am I missing any?

 

Josh seems to be relying on his fast ball too much. I know it is likely too late to add another pitch this year, but for him to become a constant ace, I think he needs another pitch. When he doesn't have his A curve ball, Josh seems to struggle at times against good teams. I think he'd be even more dominant if he added a fork ball. All the hard throwers I've seen use it (Clemens, Rivera, etc.) seem to be able to use their fast ball more, because the hitters cannot zero-in for a fast ball as much. My only worry is that I've read that a fork ball can lead to elbow problems and, if that is true, I don't know how useful a fork ball would be for a young pitcher. Most of the pitchers I've seen use a fork ball are older pitchers.

 

I don't think a change-up is effective to keep hitters honest when a pitcher's curve ball is off that night. This seems to be Beckett's problem, IMO. I'd love to see him add a fork ball or a slider sometime in the future for nights when his curve ball is not clicking on all cylinders.

 

Thoughts?

Josh has 3 "plus" pitches:

 

Fastball

Curve

Changeup

 

Here are some quotes from Baseball America to describe what they think of his pitches:

 

Beckett can touch 99-100 mph and pitches in the 93-98 neighborhood. His curveball is a true 12-to-6 power breaker with put-away capability. His present command and control are just average to a tick above, though.

 

Beckett, conversely, has developed a plus-plus, 80 changeup, far exceeding the projections for that pitch. ?There are times when it?s his best pitch; he just doesn?t throw it enough,? an NL scout said.

 

Beckett?s three-pitch arsenal might be the best pure stuff in baseball

 

note: "80 changeup is a scouting term, they grade players from 20 (servicable) to 80 (great)"

 

I am not hating on any of you but it seems that some fans are a bit spoiled, even the great ones have bad days...

I wasn't ripping on him. Beckett is my favorite Marlin. I was merely asking questions for others that have seen him pitch more than I have. I've only seen his games against the Braves this year.

 

Clemens, Pedro, Randy, etc., all rely on more than three pitches. That was my point. To be a constant ace, I think he'll need to add another pitch to keep hitters guessing more than they are now.

His 3 pitches are just fine.

 

Its all about control and changing speeds.

 

All you need to do is look at what Justin Wayne did, Beckett clearly had better "stuff" than him today but Justin moved the ball around and changed speeds enough to keep the Bravos off balance.

 

Also # of pitches means nothing. Mo Rivera has 1 pitch and he is decent...

His wass off with his breaking ball that why he threw so many fastballs.

Actually, Josh has a 2-seam fastball as well.

 

4-seam

2-seam

Curve

Change

I thought he threw a sinking fastball as well?

Beckett will be fine.

 

He is still young, and needs to learn how to keep it together even when he doesn't have his A game.

 

Another factor is he has been pitching against every other team's Ace..... the key reason he isn't getting alot of run support. It puts additional pressure on him and he will have to adjust to the situation.

I thought he threw a sinking fastball as well?

To lefties it can tail a little bit too, but anyways he is ok I think. He did not have his best stuff last night, and as much as I hate to admit it Russ Ortiz is a pretty good pitcher. JOsh knows what he has to do, and he will go out and do it so no worries right now,

Beckett's control is what determines a good or bad outing. Unfortunately the past couple starts it has not been his best stuff.

I was also impressed with Ortiz. He's developing into a true ace.

Actually, Josh has a 2-seam fastball as well.

 

4-seam

2-seam

Curve

Change

Yep your right JC.

I thought he threw a sinking fastball as well?

2 Seam fastball is the same thing as a "Sinking Fastball".

I thought he threw a sinking fastball as well?

2 Seam fastball is the same thing as a "Sinking Fastball". Actually, it's the same grip, different break.

doesnt Josh have a sinker?

Thanks for the replies. I only had one pitch when I pitched. I threw it and didn't know where it would end up the majority of the time. I'd either throw a shutout or not even make it out of one inning. I guess that is why I'm not in the majors.

My repituore (sp):

 

4-seam

2-seam

Slider

Curve

 

And the very ocassional knuckleball just to throw other teams off. I'll change arm angles every now and then, too.

Beckett's stuff is as good as there is in all of baseball.

 

His problem is that he is struggling to mix up his pitches as well as he should.

 

IMO part of the problem is he doesn't have Pudge back there calling the game for him anymore. That is a factor people aren't talking about, but Pudge calls the best game in all of baseball behind the plate IMO, and it's a consensus that he's at least top 3 in baseball at calling a game.

 

He will be fine though, learning to mix your pitches isn't exactly all that difficult.

My repituore (sp):

 

4-seam

2-seam

Slider

Curve

 

And the very ocassional knuckleball just to throw other teams off. I'll change arm angles every now and then, too.

learn the screwball.

Beckett's stuff is as good as there is in all of baseball.

 

His problem is that he is struggling to mix up his pitches as well as he should.

 

IMO part of the problem is he doesn't have Pudge back there calling the game for him anymore. That is a factor people aren't talking about, but Pudge calls the best game in all of baseball behind the plate IMO, and it's a consensus that he's at least top 3 in baseball at calling a game.

 

He will be fine though, learning to mix your pitches isn't exactly all that difficult.

josh's problem is he doesnt seem to trust his changeup enough.

 

 

 

the scouting reports dont lie.

 

 

 

 

2 seam fastball

 

4 seam fastball

 

 

its all about ball grip on those pitches...same throwing motion..same everything...just different ball grip essentially.

 

 

 

the changeup is the pitch that made nolan ryan dominant.

 

 

once josh starts to trust it more.......he will really be lights out.

This year hes using the change more remember when he strucked out Abreu with mostly change ups and one curve?

The 2 seam and 4 seam fastballs got josh to the majors.....

 

The Chanegeup and Curveball will be what gets josh to status of all star.....

 

Josh's problem is 50% lack of pudge and 50% being young and stupid.

 

He thinks he can just blow everybody away with his heat, and fails to realize that a major leaguer could hit a 110 mph fastball if he knew it was coming.

 

Once Josh learns he has to mix his pitches, look out......

josh has to trust his stuff.

 

 

its that damn good.

 

 

 

there is a reason why greg maddux has won 290 games.

 

 

its not because of his fastball.

 

 

 

there is also a reason why nolan ryan won 326 games...damn i think i'm right.

 

 

its also not because of his fastball.

 

 

josh doesnt throw the change enough. i dont recall seeing it much if at all last night...at least not enough to do any good.

on a second note.

 

 

 

i think jack should just have redmond catch beckett all the time.

 

 

tell red that he is in charge out there and make sure that he keeps josh in line and mixing up pitches well. This is key

 

 

i trust red calling games.

 

 

i dont have that trust with castro at this point.