Finding Success: Armando Galarraga

I’m wondering if the change in pitching coaches and catchers didn’t also play a part in Galarraga’s shift in pitch selection. Chuck Hernandez and Pudge Rodriguez were involved in 2008, but with Pudge gone, Laird and Avila were calling the games the last two years and Rick Knapp became the pitching coach. Coincidentally or not, Galarraga’s best year came with Hernandez guiding him and Pudge (or Inge) calling the games. I think it’s at least worth asking if those changes could have contributed to the change in philosophy with Galarraga’s pitching. I’m not saying they’re the reasons, but I wonder if they contributed.

I wonder if the deviation in arm slot is the product of his massive change in pitch selection. I feel like by featuring the fastball and then mixing in his secondary pitches, he’d be able to stay more consistent with his delivery. As soon as his slider % exploded and he started tinkering with his sinker much, MUCH, more, it would have been harder for him to focus on the basics like maintaining his delivery.

Even though he doesn’t have great velocity, I think Armando needs to focus on the FB – even a 90-92 mph fastball can be effective if the control is there. He already seems to get some wicked movement on his slider – I think he just throws it too much now so hitters lay off. Establish the FB, mix in the slider, and he could be a solid back-end starter.

Since I have no clue why Perfecto’s mechanics would be so radically different, let me throw this out there….

I’ve always believed that Armando’s biggest problem was his lack of confidence. He doesn’t trust his stuff, especially his fastball. He over thinks at times and feels that he needs to trick hitters to get them out. He becomes obsessed with trying to get hitters to swing at pitches that break out of the zone, because he doesn’t feel that he can miss bats adequately by throwing strikes. He has to get back to throwing strikes, but just don’t miss out over the plate.

 I think that Leyland is at his wit’s end with Armando’s nibbling. I truly believe that the comments in the media, to the effect that the Tigers are happy with the “top four”, including Coke who’s never been a major league starter, but Armando has to win a job, are designed to give him a kick in the arse (at the same time giving Coke a vote of confidence to go ahead with the plan to pitch in the rotation). In reality, they have to be hoping that we see the Galarraga of 2008, and they have to be lining up some insurance in the (extremely possible) event that Coke doesn’t make the transition to the rotation.

In the rear view mirror, it looks like Armando was very fortunate in 2008, but very unfortunate last year. Even Bonderman, having the highest ERA in the league among qualified starting pitchers, racked up 8 wins to AG’s 4. Even doing things exactly the same way, he’d be bound to get more wins. The defense isn’t any better this year, so the pitchers looking to improve will have to do it on the mound.

As for his mechanics, any chance that the change in arm slot can be attributed to pitching tentatively? Just wondering, because that’s where my thoughts have been with Armando. He needs a good spring. He’s out of options and there will be competition for his job. If he gets beat out, expect him to be traded for not much of a return, and that would be a shame. I can’t picture him in an Idnians uniform. I’m pulling for him this year, big time.

He’s just suffered from what happened to Boesch. In 08’ his slider was clearly his out pitch. He used his other pitches well to set it up and then guys would go chasing or they’d tap weak grounders somewhere. Likewise Boesch was hitting balls out of the solar system until people learned what his deal was and adjusted.

Eventually people realized just exactly how Armando was dominating their hitters and told them to expect a slider and never swing at it (as apparently he doesn’t often throw it for a strike). Personally I think the jig is up on him and he is going to have to really rework his whole game. Clearly he has the stuff to be good and even great (from time to time) but it just seems to me that he’s hoping people will forget the scouting report on him and until then he’ll just bide his time nibbling the corners of the plate.

Armando’s slider is his best pitch- his fastball is middling at best, which means he’s much more likely to use the slider when he gets behind (as he’s likely to do if his fastball sucks).

I do think pitch selection is a problem, but Galarraga’s probably using the sinker because it’s a better choice than the fastball. He was working on it all through the minors, and John Sickels gave it good marks in the 2008 prospect annual. That being said, using the fastball more would be a pretty good decision.

Laird’s comments obviously touched a nerve with Armando, and set off quite an angry reaction.