Fangraphs: Carlos Rodon has taken a step forward

[southsider2k5]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/carlos-rodo...a-step-forward/

[OmarComing25]

In this month, during which he’s dominated, Rodon’s thrown 91 changeups. In the four months prior, he threw a combined total of 115. The uptick began in Rodon’s first start following the All-Star break. Percentage rates are more telling.

 

Carlos Rodon changeup usage

 

Pre-ASB: 6.0%

Post-ASB: 17.3%

The changeup rate’s tripled. Righties have seen it a quarter of the time on the first pitch. He’s used it while behind, he’s used it while ahead, and he’s used it as a strikeout pitch. The usage figures alone indicate that Rodon’s developed a greater feel for the offering. His numbers during the usage spike support his decision. But we can dive deeper to figure out with what kind of a change Rodon’s working, and whether it might be here to stay.

 

When our own Jeff Sullivan wrote up Rodon’s slider back in February, he used the pitch’s velocity and movement readings to find an individual pitch comp, and found that, by the end of the year, the slider Rodon was throwing was almost identical in terms of velocity and movement to the slider thrown by Clayton Kershaw. Doing the same with the changeup, while folding in spin rate, we get Alex Wood, Gio Gonzalez and Matt Moore as our top three comps. Quality major leaguers with quality changeups. Only a little further down, we get Cole Hamels.

 

It’s shown both more horizontal and vertical movement than the average change, according to PITCHf/x. And when Rodon’s throwing it, he’s doing a better job of keeping it down in the zone, relative to the first half:

[Y2Jimmy0]

Rodon is well on his way to becoming a TOR starter. We knew this though if paying attention. He's still a really young pitcher that didn't have any minor league time.

Edited September 1, 2016 by Y2JImmy0

[bmags]

Well if this doesn't thrill you:

When our own Jeff Sullivan wrote up Rodon’s slider back in February, he used the pitch’s velocity and movement readings to find an individual pitch comp, and found that, by the end of the year, the slider Rodon was throwing was almost identical in terms of velocity and movement to the slider thrown by Clayton Kershaw. Doing the same with the changeup, while folding in spin rate, we get Alex Wood, Gio Gonzalez and Matt Moore as our top three comps. Quality major leaguers with quality changeups. Only a little further down, we get Cole Hamels.

 

It’s shown both more horizontal and vertical movement than the average change, according to PITCHf/x. And when Rodon’s throwing it, he’s doing a better job of keeping it down in the zone, relative to the first half:

 

[southsider2k5]

Daryl Van Schouwen ‏@CST_soxvan 1h1 hour ago Changeup is changing things for Carlos Rodon, who was 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA in August. http://bit.ly/2bZ8wNx

 

 

[SCCWS]

Daryl Van Schouwen ‏@CST_soxvan 1h1 hour ago Changeup is changing things for Carlos Rodon, who was 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA in August. http://bit.ly/2bZ8wNx

 

Unfortunately this is September. Hopefully nobody told Rodon.