Orange County Register: Angels' Wilson confident he has answers for 2014's struggles

[AngelsWin.com]

TEMPE, Ariz. – Good news, Angels fans. C.J. Wilson knows exactly what went wrong last season, and he knows how to fix it.Don’t pitch hurt. Don’t try too hard to throw strikes.While the first part seems obvious, the second needs a little more...

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[Vegas Halo Fan]

Don't try too hard to throw strikes? Honestly? Seems like there wasn't much effort put into that a year ago.

[Docwaukee]

when I first read what he said, I thought to myself - good freakin' grief.  Here we go again with this guy going off on his own and not being a team player

 

and then I read the rest of the article and checked his numbers to see if what he said plays out. 

 

And you know what?  It does.  He had his worst year in 2014 when pitching with two strikes.  He was the worst on the team.  

 

Maybe he realizes that his stuff just isn't good enough to do what they want him to do.  He's not a strike thrower.  He doesn't get deep into games.  He walks a ton of guys.  

 

So I say let the guy do his thing.  Nibble around the zone.  Work out of trouble.  Don't give in.  And we should do what I have recommended from the time he got here.  Don't watch him pitch. 

 

I'd rather have him go six innings and give up 2 runs with 120 pitches than go 8 and give up 4 runs on 110 pitches.  

 

He has 7 complete games in his career.  One with the halos.  Let him be who he is.  

[Jeff Fletcher]

The way he explained it it's clear it makes sense to him and he believes it.

Basically he thinks his stuff moves too much for him to be consistently in the zone. The only way to throw more strikes is to straighten it out, which means it gets hit more.

Id be curious to know what the correlation is between his strike percentage and his success. As he says it, he ought to be worse when he throws too many strikes.

You also can't argue with the fact that he's been a pretty effective pitcher for his entire big league career up until last year so you have to give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows what works for him.

The thing about his illness in that June game in Houston affecting him for weeks was a little difficult to understand though, especially since he pitched so well the next time out.

[Vladdylonglegs]

I don't think he'll be any better or worse than he was in 2014. At this point in his career he is a long relief/mop up guy at best.

[Docwaukee]

The way he explained it it's clear it makes sense to him and he believes it.

Basically he thinks his stuff moves too much for him to be consistently in the zone. The only way to throw more strikes is to straighten it out, which means it gets hit more.

Id be curious to know what the correlation is between his strike percentage and his success. As he says it, he ought to be worse when he throws too many strikes.

You also can't argue with the fact that he's been a pretty effective pitcher for his entire big league career up until last year so you have to give him the benefit of the doubt that he knows what works for him.

The thing about his illness in that June game in Houston affecting him for weeks was a little difficult to understand though, especially since he pitched so well the next time out.

This was the bit from the article that I had a hard time with as well.  Although, CJ strikes me as one of those holistic guys where every little fart could matter to him.  

[Broad Street]

I hope for a 2013 CJ Wilson, he's been solid every year until last.

[halomatt]

Eh, last year was last year. 

 

I say, "**** It.  Let's pitch!"

[Angelsjunky]

He deserves the benefit of the doubt, at least for a couple months. A return to 2012-13 from CJ would be very helpful and mitigate likely further decline from Weaver.

[Glen]

**** it, I hope it works.  Imagine how much better this staff is with a decent-to-good CJ Wilson.

[Angel Oracle]

And next he will say that he's in the best shape of his career.

[nate]

Dude makes so many excuses.  Can't wait til he is off the team.

[Troll Daddy]

His numbers weren't not much different than Verlander last season. It will be interesting to see how they both fair in 2015. Personally, I wouldn't be to worried about either of them. Wilson pitched a couple good games towards the end of the season.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

If it works, great. There should be a coach on the team that works with pitchers and helps them figure these things out.

 

Funny how our pitchers always seem to either work it out on their own or not at all.

[Glen]

His numbers weren't not much different than Verlander last season. It will be interesting to see how they both fair in 2015. Personally, I wouldn't be to worried about either of them. Wilson pitched a couple good games towards the end of the season.

Two decent-at-best games sandwiched between a double fistful of horrible starts is no reason for optimism.

[Angel Oracle]

His numbers weren't not much different than Verlander last season. It will be interesting to see how they both fair in 2015. Personally, I wouldn't be to worried about either of them. Wilson pitched a couple good games towards the end of the season.

Seems like you ignored ALDS game 3?

[Broad Street]

Seems like you ignored ALDS game 3?

 

In all fairness, the Angels ran into the buzz saw that was the Royals. I'm not saying he wasn't horrid, he was pretty bad, but we probably would have lost that game anyways the way they were playing and the way the Angels were batting.

[Docwaukee]

His numbers weren't not much different than Verlander last season. It will be interesting to see how they both fair in 2015. Personally, I wouldn't be to worried about either of them. Wilson pitched a couple good games towards the end of the season.

that's some serious cherry picking right there.  

[Lou]

His numbers weren't not much different than Verlander last season. It will be interesting to see how they both fair in 2015. Personally, I wouldn't be to worried about either of them. Wilson pitched a couple good games towards the end of the season.

true, Verlander sucked

[Lou]

i think he'll bounce back and have a super year

[eligrba]

i think he'll bounce back and have a super year

 

You're killin' me......