Skaggs' two-seam fastball

[Chuck]

 Skaggs unveiled a sinking two-seam fastball, which played a huge part in his success against Houston.

 

"That's what you have to do -- you have to keep your secret weapon in your back pocket," Skaggs said, per The Los Angeles Times. "I don't think any of the teams knew that. I don't even think the Angels knew I had one, honestly."

 

Skaggs said he threw his two-seamer "90 percent of the time" Saturday, as he set up his curveball and changeup.

 

"That's why you see all those 90- and 91-mph [fastballs] instead of 93 and 94," Skaggs said. "They kept swinging at it, so why not get outs early in the count and throw some two-seamers? I threw it in the bullpen and it was good. It turned out to be a plus pitch for me today."

[nate]

That is awesome but also a concern.  Once teams have video of it as part of their scouting, hitters may adjust.  Hopefully not because he was by far the best part of the first week of games.

[Mark68]

Yeah, I saw this on mlb.com in the game wrap, and I was wringing my hands and giving an evil "Mwahahahahahaha" laugh.

 

 

Having a two-seamer added to his arsenal will be HUGE.

[bloodbrother]

Good to hear him adding to his arsenal. It's a constant game of adjustments. When hitters adjust to the 2 seamer, he can dial up the 4 seam some more or toss in some more changeups(he has a pretty good one)

 

His curve though...

 

 

love, love this trade they made this past offseason

Edited April 7, 2014 by bloodbrother

[Sully151]

That curve was just sick.

[Brent Maguire]

Having a good two seam is a huge pitch to have against righties. Having a pitch that runs away from them rather than running in on them make a big difference.

I think he'll mix up his gameplan from time to time too. I'm sure next game he'll throw more 4 seams and less 2 seams to keep the hitters guessing.

[eaterfan]

He saves this pitch to unleash it against Houston?! Save it for the playoffs, bud. Hell, save it for WS game 7.

[Thomas]

Next outing...the six seam fastball!

[arch stanton]

Now comes the cutter.

[ukyah]

gyro ball.

[Mark68]

Eephus pitch

[tdawg87]

That is awesome but also a concern. Once teams have video of it as part of their scouting, hitters may adjust. Hopefully not because he was by far the best part of the first week of games.

Of course they will adjust. Baseball is all about making adjustments. It's just good that he has another pitch to throw at batters.

[ELEVEN]

 

 Skaggs unveiled a sinking two-seam fastball, which played a huge part in his success against Houston.

 

"That's what you have to do -- you have to keep your secret weapon in your back pocket," Skaggs said, per The Los Angeles Times. "I don't think any of the teams knew that. I don't even think the Angels knew I had one, honestly."

 

Skaggs said he threw his two-seamer "90 percent of the time" Saturday, as he set up his curveball and changeup.

 

"That's why you see all those 90- and 91-mph [fastballs] instead of 93 and 94," Skaggs said. "They kept swinging at it, so why not get outs early in the count and throw some two-seamers? I threw it in the bullpen and it was good. It turned out to be a plus pitch for me today."

 

I saw him working on this in Phoenix. He really get a good sinking action with it, to the point I had mentioned it in a post a couple of weeks ago thinking it was a true sinker. If he feels confident with it, watch out!

[Inside Pitch]

That is awesome but also a concern.  Once teams have video of it as part of their scouting, hitters may adjust.  Hopefully not because he was by far the best part of the first week of games.

 

Well, you would think he would then employ his 4 seamer to counter it.

[QuinlansMinion]

If Skaggs reaches his potential and becomes true ace like material, we might have a pretty good rotation. 

[Angel Oracle]

Get Coello back here to teach the forkball.

[Homebrewer]

He should be teaching it to Jepsen and Kohn. Any movement at all would be more than those guys have.

[YouthofToday]

News to the Dbacks as well. Maybe their manager doesn't think 2 seamers are gritty enough?

[Inside Pitch]

Get Coello back here to teach the forkball.

 

 

Marcel Lacheman is still in the organization right?   There is always Chuck Finley too...   Angels actually have a few people who were adept at either throwing or teaching the forkball.

[Docwaukee]

no love for butcher? 

[OregonLAA]

no love for butcher?

Nope. He has nothing to do with Wilson either. Only Weaver. And Jepsen

[Homebrewer]

According to Skaggs, the Angels didn't even know he HAD a 2 seamer, so no.

[ten ocho recon scout]

no love for butcher?

butcher could teach a knifeball doc, we're talking about forkballs.

To be fair butcher teaches meatballs though.

[The God of Runs]

Butcher is the worst pitching coach in the history of baseball

[m0nkey]

Skaggs is a monster