The heavy movement of his sinker is the key to his season, without a doubt.

 

Before this season none of Jon pitches had much of a different angle to them to change the slant of the hitters eyes.  His fastball and change were on the same plane, so if you guessed the right speed, you would crush the ball.  (which his change was usually going 400 feet somewhere)  His curve also didn't have much of a break to it, and was obvious once the hitter picked up the spin.

 

Now with the sinker he has a pitch that moves downward, with some occasional sideways movement if he cuts it, between 6 inches to a foot.  He throws it out of the same release point as the change and fastball so it gives him 3 pitches that the hitter has to guess.  Also the sinker and the change have pretty simliar speeds.  What this does it make the change much more effective, because the hitter has to wait and see if the bottom is going to fall out if it, until he can pick his swing plane.    It also makes the curveball more effective as even if the hitter recognizes the spin, he has to guess on sinker vs curve to get his swing plane, and speed of the pitch as the curve is a bit slower.  Finally his fastball is instantly better, as instead of just having to guess speed, the hitter has that sinker in the back of his mind, and if he hestitates, even a 91-93 mph fastball will get past him.

 

That sinker is huge.

 

I was just going to post this. I noticed that the angle of his pitches is very different this year, with the sinker cutting and his fastball going in on right handed batters. Also his change seems to have break towards left handed batters. I think the catchers also are calling a much better game than previous as well. When Widger is behind the plate the pitchers are posting a 1.0 ERA

When Widger is behind the plate the pitchers are posting a 1.0 ERA

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That's really something. So far, the decision to put him on the team over Davis and Burke is paying big dividends.

 

I really like how he sets up behind the plate and he appears to be quite good defensively. Clutch 2 run HR's off Barry Zito are a huge unexpected bonus.

That's really something.  So far, the decision to put him on the team over Davis and Burke is paying big dividends.

 

I really like how he sets up behind the plate and he appears to be quite good defensively.  Clutch 2 run HR's off Barry Zito are a huge unexpected bonus.

 

If he keeps being that effective behind the plate, I don't care if he is an automatic out, as he was characterized somewhere on this board.

The heavy movement of his sinker is the key to his season, without a doubt.

 

Before this season none of Jon pitches had much of a different angle to them to change the slant of the hitters eyes.  His fastball and change were on the same plane, so if you guessed the right speed, you would crush the ball.  (which his change was usually going 400 feet somewhere)  His curve also didn't have much of a break to it, and was obvious once the hitter picked up the spin.

 

Now with the sinker he has a pitch that moves downward, with some occasional sideways movement if he cuts it, between 6 inches to a foot.  He throws it out of the same release point as the change and fastball so it gives him 3 pitches that the hitter has to guess.  Also the sinker and the change have pretty simliar speeds.  What this does it make the change much more effective, because the hitter has to wait and see if the bottom is going to fall out if it, until he can pick his swing plane.    It also makes the curveball more effective as even if the hitter recognizes the spin, he has to guess on sinker vs curve to get his swing plane, and speed of the pitch as the curve is a bit slower.  Finally his fastball is instantly better, as instead of just having to guess speed, the hitter has that sinker in the back of his mind, and if he hestitates, even a 91-93 mph fastball will get past him.

 

That sinker is huge.

 

While I agree with the spirit and idea of the post, there are a few things to clear up. The sinker and the changeup should be thrown at very different speeds. The sinker is a variation of the fastball (two seam vs. four seam). The sinker also has a different spin than the curveball.

 

the results of what you said are true but some of the reasons are exactly right.

If he keeps being that effective behind the plate, I don't care if he is an automatic out, as he was characterized somewhere on this board.

 

 

My sentiments exactly YASNY

My sentiments exactly YASNY

 

I agree. The primary job of the catcher is to get the pitcher in a good rythm and call a good game. Offense should be secondary. I think many catchers tend to get away from this.

A much more effective game caller than our last 3 catchers by far. I actually said this earlier when we dropped Ben Davis.

If he keeps being that effective behind the plate, I don't care if he is an automatic out, as he was characterized somewhere on this board.

An automatic out that has better career numbers than davis.

If he keeps being that effective behind the plate, I don't care if he is an automatic out, as he was characterized somewhere on this board.

 

 

Right now it looks like Dye is the only automatic out on this team.

 

I hope he proves me wrong tonight.