Shoemaker's Sudden Success

[Taylor]

I've been unable to watch Shoemaker's last two starts. But he's had something like 21 K's in his last two outings. What's going on? He's also cut his ERA in half.

[zenmaster]

Roids 

[ten ocho recon scout]

Hope he has a soft pillow to sit on then

[RallyPanda]

* 23 Ks in his last 2 starts

0 BB too!

[tomsred]

Magic happens when the pitches are down.

[bloodbrother]

Clearly the Lincecum signing has given Shoe new life.

[Docwaukee]

Shoe's issues were purely mechanical.  His sinker is a plus plus pitch when he's right.  Obviously.  It makes sense that a minor mechanical adjustment could make all the difference.  He was flying open and it not only elevated his pitches but took away the movement that he needs to be successful. 

It's a really good sign that he could turn things around that quickly.  To me, it means that even if he falls off a bit, he can get it back.  Another reason is that Shoe seems like a really good guy and I''d like to see him succeed 

[arch stanton]

He's able to hit spots and get ahead which makes the splitter much more dangerous as a strikeout pitch. Roger Craig would be proud. 

[Billy_Ball]

He's sending Santiago to the pen when The Freak arrives.

[Chuck]

His velo went up too. I his past two starts he's been hitting 93-95 mph early in the game. 91-93  late. 

That splitter of his reminds me of Kevin Appier's when he first came up with the Royals.

[wopphil]

I threw a splitter in high school. It did one of two things: either you got on top of the pitch, it remained low, and the bottom dropped out, making it completely unhittable; or it stayed slightly elevated and didn't drop, making it a batting practice pitch. There really wasn't much in between. 

 

Shoemaker will have starts like this followed by starts in which he gets bombed. If he could keep the terrible starts to once every six or seven starts, he could out together a solid season.

[Slegnaac]

It can be attributed to the wind resistance change that occurred when he shortened his beard. 

[totdprods]

I'm agreeing with whomever said voodoo curse reversal.

[Inside Pitch]

5 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

His velo went up too. I his past two starts he's been hitting 93-95 mph early in the game. 91-93  late. 

That splitter of his reminds me of Kevin Appier's when he first came up with the Royals.

Third year in a row where his velocity ticks up as the season wears on.   Dude needs to possibly start throwing earlier or not lose so much weight every offseason.

[Blarg]

He should talk to CC Sabathia about his off season weight goals.

[John Taylor]

My biggest concern is that he tends to get rattled when he starts to lose his mechanics. It's been almost 2 years since he was consistently good.

That is my one issue with our pitching staff is that both he and Santiago have really good stuff when they aren't overthinking, but when they mentally get rattled, they suck balls. One reason I really like Trop is that he seems to have composure under pressure that Shoe, Santiago, and even Weaver can lack at times.

[gotbeer]

It's obvious why he is succeeding.

[AngelsLakersFan]

8 hours ago, Dochalo said:

Shoe's issues were purely mechanical.  His sinker is a plus plus pitch when he's right.  Obviously.  It makes sense that a minor mechanical adjustment could make all the difference.  He was flying open and it not only elevated his pitches but took away the movement that he needs to be successful. 

It's a really good sign that he could turn things around that quickly.  To me, it means that even if he falls off a bit, he can get it back.  Another reason is that Shoe seems like a really good guy and I''d like to see him succeed 

This.

His problems have been almost entirely related to command. His fastball is average at best, but his sinker, change up and splitter are all plus pitches when he locates them. 

[totdprods]

Premature for this, but this is also a huge boost for Shoe's trade value.

Come late July we may be in a position to deal a starter for a bat and anything Shoe, Hector, Wilson, and Chacin can do until that point to look good will help.

[Chuck]

1 hour ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

This.

His problems have been almost entirely related to command. His fastball is average at best, but his sinker, change up and splitter are all plus pitches when he locates them. 

I wouldn't classify his fastball being average as it sits 91-93 MPH and touches 95 mph. For a starting pitcher that's above average I believe. 

[Brent Maguire]

As Doc pointed out, his mechanics have cleaned up big time. His vertical release point has risen start by start this year, giving him more depth on all of his pitches. As a result, his fastball velocity is 91-94 now instead of 89-92, his splitter is unhittable and he's even throwing some quality sliders. As long as his mechanics are right, the guy can be a quality starter for us. 

[tdawg87]

He's now going to give up 7 runs in his next start. 

[Troutstanding]

34 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

I wouldn't classify his fastball being average as it sits 91-93 MPH and touches 95 mph. For a starting pitcher that's above average I believe. 

I believe you are massively overstating the importance of velocity. 

[Erstad Grit]

13 hours ago, RallyPanda said:

* 23 Ks in his last 2 starts

0 BB too!

 

That's ridiculous! 

[Guest]

At this rate he'll be out for the season.