I know he has had success this season, but I really dislike how Nunez selects and uses his pitches. He relies on that "change-up" far too much. I use that in quotes because at times it just seems like a slower fastball because he has difficulty throwing higher velocity pitches for strikes. I fear that eventually hitters will start catching on to this and he will get clobbered down the road.

 

I know Clippard of the Nationals had similar problems earlier this season. I wonder if that's why he's been struggling lately.

Great that the Marlins won but come on 4th BS in 20 save opportunity for Nunez

We are still bleeding profusely as a team

Credit Nate Robertson for keeping the Fish alive in that 6 run inning... got a hit with 2 outs to set everything up.

U guys are making this sound like we played a horrible game and barely squeaked out a win. I beg to differ. The only miscue was Leo and he's been solid all year so he's due to screw up once in a blue moon. Besides that, Nate was solid, the offense showed up, Hanley and Uggla hit some bombs, Cantu had 3 hits, our middle relief didnt blow the game (they all got holds), we were clutch with two outs, and we straight up won the game! Whats the problem?

We'll sweep if the offense can score more than usual for Volstad

By the way, heck of a CWS game on ESPN right now. Into extras, UCLA and South Carolina tied at 1.

 

 

And congrats to the U of South Carolina on an exciting walkoff championship winner.

doesnt everyone remember during the offseason when leo was talking about developing and using his slider more.....i have yet to see that and tonight was definitely one of those nights that he could have used a third pitch.

 

getting the first out or at least one of the first two men out is key during a save and when you dont do that you will have serious problems.

 

 

 

The worst thing a reliever can do is get beat on his 3rd best pitch. Leo already tried his slider; Aaron Roward hit it out, and everyone complained. I'd prefer he throws his changeup, and it'd be nice if he mixed in his fastball more. A lot more, really. Tonight it seemed like he just started out throwing changeups every pitch. Sometimes he can get by with that because his changeup is really good when it's on, but that wasn't the case tonight. But there's really no need for him to throw sliders in tight games.

I know he has had success this season, but I really dislike how Nunez selects and uses his pitches. He relies on that "change-up" far too much. I use that in quotes because at times it just seems like a slower fastball because he has difficulty throwing higher velocity pitches for strikes. I fear that eventually hitters will start catching on to this and he will get clobbered down the road.

 

I know Clippard of the Nationals had similar problems earlier this season. I wonder if that's why he's been struggling lately.

 

 

I don't think that's entirely fair; the change-up has a ton of movement and is much more than a fastball with the MPH dialed back.

 

His pitch selection can be difficult to comprehend at times, though, I agree.

Leo Nunez has been about as good as the majority of closers in baseball. As they showed tonight, even KRod has his fair share of blown saves. Every closer blows saves; they're human. I'll take the trade. We actually won, and Jose Veras stepped up and pitched well. If the middle relief steps up, I'm not really all that worried about Leo. Hopefully I'm right because beginning next week, he'll be on my fantasy team. His peripherals say he'll be fine. His changeup just wasn't working as well as it normally is tonight.

 

 

Needs to fall out of love with the changeup just like someone else needs to with the fastball IMO.

 

Except his increase usage of change up is why he has continued to get better, both after coming here from the Royals and this year compared to last year. It's easily his best pitch.

 

By using his change up more, his fast ball less, and basically ditching his slider, he has 1) Increased his strike outs, 2) Decreased his walks, and 3) Increased his ground ball rates thanks to it's movement. It's a win across the board

I know he has had success this season, but I really dislike how Nunez selects and uses his pitches. He relies on that "change-up" far too much. I use that in quotes because at times it just seems like a slower fastball because he has difficulty throwing higher velocity pitches for strikes. I fear that eventually hitters will start catching on to this and he will get clobbered down the road.

 

I know Clippard of the Nationals had similar problems earlier this season. I wonder if that's why he's been struggling lately.

 

 

I don't think that's entirely fair; the change-up has a ton of movement and is much more than a fastball with the MPH dialed back.

 

His pitch selection can be difficult to comprehend at times, though, I agree.

This is a post I can get behind.

 

Yeah, his changeup goes 88-89 MPH but it also absolutely dies at the end. But I agree that he if he can't get his fastball up he can get hit. That's not what I felt happened tonight though, to me it looked like more of a mixture of bad pitch selection and just some good hitting.

Hey, we won. I'll take it.

 

Hopefully this is win number 2 in our White Sox-like winning streak.

Since returning, Veras has had 3 appearances, pitching 4 scoreless innings, with 2 hits, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Not much of a sample size, I know, but it is a hell of a lot better than the 4.2 innings he pitched in April

doesnt everyone remember during the offseason when leo was talking about developing and using his slider more.....i have yet to see that and tonight was definitely one of those nights that he could have used a third pitch.

 

getting the first out or at least one of the first two men out is key during a save and when you dont do that you will have serious problems.

 

 

 

The worst thing a reliever can do is get beat on his 3rd best pitch. Leo already tried his slider; Aaron Roward hit it out, and everyone complained. I'd prefer he throws his changeup, and it'd be nice if he mixed in his fastball more. A lot more, really. Tonight it seemed like he just started out throwing changeups every pitch. Sometimes he can get by with that because his changeup is really good when it's on, but that wasn't the case tonight. But there's really no need for him to throw sliders in tight games.

 

Then the question this poses is Leo Nuñez a MLB closer? Is he better as a setup guy? I feel he doesn't have the icewater in his veins to be a closer, However does he even have the stuff?

doesnt everyone remember during the offseason when leo was talking about developing and using his slider more.....i have yet to see that and tonight was definitely one of those nights that he could have used a third pitch.

 

getting the first out or at least one of the first two men out is key during a save and when you dont do that you will have serious problems.

 

 

 

The worst thing a reliever can do is get beat on his 3rd best pitch. Leo already tried his slider; Aaron Roward hit it out, and everyone complained. I'd prefer he throws his changeup, and it'd be nice if he mixed in his fastball more. A lot more, really. Tonight it seemed like he just started out throwing changeups every pitch. Sometimes he can get by with that because his changeup is really good when it's on, but that wasn't the case tonight. But there's really no need for him to throw sliders in tight games.

 

Then the question this poses is Leo Nuñez a MLB closer? Is he better as a setup guy? I feel he doesn't have the icewater in his veins to be a closer, However does he even have the stuff?

 

Personally I have always felt that Leo was setup material and not closer material. Last year he blew an unacceptable number of games and this year he is well on his way to that too. It really doesn't matter that he's lights out in 80 percent of his games, blowing 20 percent of his saves is still too much. It doesn't make him the worst in the league, but he's a lot farther from the best than some think.

 

I've never really seen the killer instinct from Leo that good closers have. Carlos Marmol can have confidence issues like Leo has, but in the end he knows that he can blow his stuff by any hitter if he can command it. Leo doesn't know that, and part of the reason is because on nights like last night hitters show him that his stuff is good but not incredible.

Leo Nunez has been about as good as the majority of closers in baseball. As they showed tonight, even KRod has his fair share of blown saves. Every closer blows saves; they're human. I'll take the trade. We actually won, and Jose Veras stepped up and pitched well. If the middle relief steps up, I'm not really all that worried about Leo. Hopefully I'm right because beginning next week, he'll be on my fantasy team. His peripherals say he'll be fine. His changeup just wasn't working as well as it normally is tonight.

 

 

Needs to fall out of love with the changeup just like someone else needs to with the fastball IMO.

 

Except his increase usage of change up is why he has continued to get better, both after coming here from the Royals and this year compared to last year. It's easily his best pitch.

 

By using his change up more, his fast ball less, and basically ditching his slider, he has 1) Increased his strike outs, 2) Decreased his walks, and 3) Increased his ground ball rates thanks to it's movement. It's a win across the board

 

yeah that article on Leo from fangraphs I posted recently pointed to the same thing. One thing I've heard Tommy mention during the broadchast is that at times Leo's changeup maybe gets a little too much velocity, not enough difference between it & his fastball.

Yea Veras has shown enough to at least prove that his April was an aberration that made no sense whatsover. Im still not entirely confident in him, but I'm not against running him out there now. It doesnt already feel like doom and gloom when I see that number 43.

 

By the way, speaking of doom and gloom, wheres Matt Herges these days?

Leo has blown 4 out of 20 saves and 2 out of his last 5... I really don't think the words "amazing" or great" need to be mentioned next to his name

Leo Nunez has been about as good as the majority of closers in baseball. As they showed tonight, even KRod has his fair share of blown saves. Every closer blows saves; they're human. I'll take the trade. We actually won, and Jose Veras stepped up and pitched well. If the middle relief steps up, I'm not really all that worried about Leo. Hopefully I'm right because beginning next week, he'll be on my fantasy team. His peripherals say he'll be fine. His changeup just wasn't working as well as it normally is tonight.

 

 

Needs to fall out of love with the changeup just like someone else needs to with the fastball IMO.

 

Except his increase usage of change up is why he has continued to get better, both after coming here from the Royals and this year compared to last year. It's easily his best pitch.

 

By using his change up more, his fast ball less, and basically ditching his slider, he has 1) Increased his strike outs, 2) Decreased his walks, and 3) Increased his ground ball rates thanks to it's movement. It's a win across the board

 

yeah that article on Leo from fangraphs I posted recently pointed to the same thing. One thing I've heard Tommy mention during the broadchast is that at times Leo's changeup maybe gets a little too much velocity, not enough difference between it & his fastball.

 

 

Thats also Volstads problem. His change up is also only 7 mph slower than his fastball just like Nunez. They both need to fix that.

Leo Nunez has been about as good as the majority of closers in baseball. As they showed tonight, even KRod has his fair share of blown saves. Every closer blows saves; they're human. I'll take the trade. We actually won, and Jose Veras stepped up and pitched well. If the middle relief steps up, I'm not really all that worried about Leo. Hopefully I'm right because beginning next week, he'll be on my fantasy team. His peripherals say he'll be fine. His changeup just wasn't working as well as it normally is tonight.

 

 

Needs to fall out of love with the changeup just like someone else needs to with the fastball IMO.

 

Except his increase usage of change up is why he has continued to get better, both after coming here from the Royals and this year compared to last year. It's easily his best pitch.

 

By using his change up more, his fast ball less, and basically ditching his slider, he has 1) Increased his strike outs, 2) Decreased his walks, and 3) Increased his ground ball rates thanks to it's movement. It's a win across the board

 

I understand that his stats are good and it is highly due to the fact his changeup is nasty. In his blown saves however, he has only throw a number of fastballs. People ask why get beat on your 2nd or 3rd best pitch? My question is why keep getting beat on your first best pitch? Probably because you throw it way too much.

doesnt everyone remember during the offseason when leo was talking about developing and using his slider more.....i have yet to see that and tonight was definitely one of those nights that he could have used a third pitch.

 

getting the first out or at least one of the first two men out is key during a save and when you dont do that you will have serious problems.

 

 

 

The worst thing a reliever can do is get beat on his 3rd best pitch. Leo already tried his slider; Aaron Roward hit it out, and everyone complained. I'd prefer he throws his changeup, and it'd be nice if he mixed in his fastball more. A lot more, really. Tonight it seemed like he just started out throwing changeups every pitch. Sometimes he can get by with that because his changeup is really good when it's on, but that wasn't the case tonight. But there's really no need for him to throw sliders in tight games.

 

Then the question this poses is Leo Nuñez a MLB closer? Is he better as a setup guy? I feel he doesn't have the icewater in his veins to be a closer, However does he even have the stuff?

 

 

He's shown he's very capable this year (26 saves last year, as well). The question is...can we find about 2 or 3 more Leo Nunez in our bullpen right now? That'd be awesome. We'd be legit contenders, at the moment.

And also...he does have the stuff.

 

Leo Nunez has a fastball in the mid-90's, and amongst relievers, probably the best changeup in baseball, right now. http://www.fangraphs...http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=y&type=7&season=2010&month=0

Leo Nunez has been about as good as the majority of closers in baseball. As they showed tonight, even KRod has his fair share of blown saves. Every closer blows saves; they're human. I'll take the trade. We actually won, and Jose Veras stepped up and pitched well. If the middle relief steps up, I'm not really all that worried about Leo. Hopefully I'm right because beginning next week, he'll be on my fantasy team. His peripherals say he'll be fine. His changeup just wasn't working as well as it normally is tonight.

 

 

Needs to fall out of love with the changeup just like someone else needs to with the fastball IMO.

 

Except his increase usage of change up is why he has continued to get better, both after coming here from the Royals and this year compared to last year. It's easily his best pitch.

 

By using his change up more, his fast ball less, and basically ditching his slider, he has 1) Increased his strike outs, 2) Decreased his walks, and 3) Increased his ground ball rates thanks to it's movement. It's a win across the board

 

I understand that his stats are good and it is highly due to the fact his changeup is nasty. In his blown saves however, he has only throw a number of fastballs. People ask why get beat on your 2nd or 3rd best pitch? My question is why keep getting beat on your first best pitch? Probably because you throw it way too much.

 

 

If Leo gets beat, I would hope he gets beat on his changeup, or at the very least his fastball. Getting beat on his slider would just be dumb. His slider is not a good pitch, really. A reliever normally doesn't even need a 3rd pitch, to be honest. The most successful reliever I've ever seen has mainly been successful with one (Mariano, cutter). It's different from a starter, who needs 3 pitches because he sees the lineup more than once, etc.

doesnt everyone remember during the offseason when leo was talking about developing and using his slider more.....i have yet to see that and tonight was definitely one of those nights that he could have used a third pitch.

 

getting the first out or at least one of the first two men out is key during a save and when you dont do that you will have serious problems.

 

 

 

The worst thing a reliever can do is get beat on his 3rd best pitch. Leo already tried his slider; Aaron Roward hit it out, and everyone complained. I'd prefer he throws his changeup, and it'd be nice if he mixed in his fastball more. A lot more, really. Tonight it seemed like he just started out throwing changeups every pitch. Sometimes he can get by with that because his changeup is really good when it's on, but that wasn't the case tonight. But there's really no need for him to throw sliders in tight games.

 

Then the question this poses is Leo Nuñez a MLB closer? Is he better as a setup guy? I feel he doesn't have the icewater in his veins to be a closer, However does he even have the stuff?

 

Personally I have always felt that Leo was setup material and not closer material. Last year he blew an unacceptable number of games and this year he is well on his way to that too. It really doesn't matter that he's lights out in 80 percent of his games, blowing 20 percent of his saves is still too much. It doesn't make him the worst in the league, but he's a lot farther from the best than some think.

 

I've never really seen the killer instinct from Leo that good closers have. Carlos Marmol can have confidence issues like Leo has, but in the end he knows that he can blow his stuff by any hitter if he can command it. Leo doesn't know that, and part of the reason is because on nights like last night hitters show him that his stuff is good but not incredible.

 

 

This is all wrong. And the reason why it looks like Nunez blew so many games last year is because you're interpreting the statistics wrong (even though Leo wasn't all that good last year...he has been this year). But last year, if you're just going to judge him by his saves/blown saves...it would be fair if you count his holds, as well. Because about half of his blown saves didn't come while he was the closer.

 

Saves/blown saves is really an overrated statistic. Lindstrom didn't pitch well last year, yet his saves/blown saves suggest that he was pretty awesome. Also, a closer can blow a game and not get a blown save (for example, Jonathan Broxton on Sunday night), while a closer can get a blown save while being perfect (for example, coming in with inherited runners with less than 2 outs, and the runner comes in, even though the guy who gets credited for the blown save isn't even fully at fault).

 

And again Leo Nunez STUFF is as good as any closer out there. He has a fastball in the mid-90's, and a ++++++changeup. 2 pitches well above average...it's not as if he's Todd Jones/Joe Borowski or something, and he's just out there getting by with his stuff or luck.

doesnt everyone remember during the offseason when leo was talking about developing and using his slider more.....i have yet to see that and tonight was definitely one of those nights that he could have used a third pitch.

 

getting the first out or at least one of the first two men out is key during a save and when you dont do that you will have serious problems.

 

 

 

The worst thing a reliever can do is get beat on his 3rd best pitch. Leo already tried his slider; Aaron Roward hit it out, and everyone complained. I'd prefer he throws his changeup, and it'd be nice if he mixed in his fastball more. A lot more, really. Tonight it seemed like he just started out throwing changeups every pitch. Sometimes he can get by with that because his changeup is really good when it's on, but that wasn't the case tonight. But there's really no need for him to throw sliders in tight games.

 

Then the question this poses is Leo Nuñez a MLB closer? Is he better as a setup guy? I feel he doesn't have the icewater in his veins to be a closer, However does he even have the stuff?

 

 

He's shown he's very capable this year (26 saves last year, as well). The question is...can we find about 2 or 3 more Leo Nunez in our bullpen right now? That'd be awesome. We'd be legit contenders, at the moment.

And also...he does have the stuff.

 

Leo Nunez has a fastball in the mid-90's, and amongst relievers, probably the best changeup in baseball, right now. http://www.fangraphs...http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=y&type=7&season=2010&month=0

 

Great post. I agree. By season's end I suspect he'll go something like 34/40 in save opportunities. His first blown save this year really wasn't his fault - he got called for a non existent balk.

I don't see Nuñez getting 40 saves at all...he is too hot and cold and he doesnt have the rubber arm for it. My problem with him is with his mindset...he lacks that bravado of the elite relievers. I dont see his heater being all that either...We have been spoiled Harvey, Nen, Urbina etc...Nuñez will never be close to that level of relievers not when out of 20 pitches he throw 17 changeups

I don't see Nuñez getting 40 saves at all...he is too hot and cold and he doesnt have the rubber arm for it. My problem with him is with his mindset...he lacks that bravado of the elite relievers. I dont see his heater being all that either...We have been spoiled Harvey, Nen, Urbina etc...Nuñez will never be close to that level of relievers not when out of 20 pitches he throw 17 changeups

 

 

You're right he probably wont get to 40 saves this season but he should get to 30 easily unless he or the team has a total meltdown.

He's shown us that he has the stuff but as you pointed out the mindset toward him or by him, who really knows, towards his pitches is extremely Change Up happy.

He has a fastball that on average is 94, 95 MPH an can top out at 97, 98 but as you said he seems to just throw one heater and throw repeated changeups which eventually become hittable. If Leo could really develop an above average 3rd pitch he could be dominant(he has a slider that he rarely throws which I'm guessing he isn't at all comfortable with) along with a more diverse pitch sequence. One batter if he could start changeup for a strike he pretty much guaranteed himself an out because they don't know what he's going to throw next, maybe another changeup or a hard fastball with movement.

 

So the main thing in my eyes with Leo is that he needs to work on changing up the pitch sequence every batter or so because it always seems the same. Fastball, strike, then Changeup, Changeup, Changeup, Changeup.