Spencer Arrighetti will be a really really good pitcher

Spencer reminds me a lot of Lance in the way that he is a nerd of the game.

Our Pitching Coaches are top notch. They have clearly gotten their culture on to these young players and its starting to pay off.

Awesome.

 

That's a really good article/interview. Obviously the Astros have the kind of data on individual hitters that Arrighetti is now using to "pitch" rather than "throw." I wonder how much of that type of scouting they are exposed to in the lower levels? Do they have individual profiles with specific pitches/locations heat charts like he describes? He mentions that at the lower levels, just having good stuff is usually enough to be successful, but it seems to me they should be prepping those guys to rely on that scouting intel even before they make the show as well. Maybe they have it and he just didn't use it because he didn't think he needed it?

 

I doubt that is common in the minors.

It's not about getting hitters out or winning in the minors.

The organization is interested in having pitchers developing their pitches.

It's about having pitchers execute the pitches they have, not trying to expose weaknesses of a hitter. Not even a little bit.

But sure individual pitchers can choose what to throw based on what they know/see/think.

But pitching coaches aren't discussing hitters' strengths and weaknesses. They are discussing how to get better not get outs.

 

In his first 12 starts, he spewed forth an ERA of 6.37, in his last 9, it's down to 3.86. Both times pitching worse than FIP would suggest.

 

Even Maddux had to learn...

https://www.mlb.com/video/greg-maddux-barry-bonds-break-down-an-epic-showdown

 

ERA sub-5.00 -- first time his career (4.94)
.

 

If he could locate that fastball then watch out….

 

Solid resume' builder against one of the better slugging teams and he dominates a mano-on-mano matchup. Very positive sign.

 

Looks to me like Arrighetti is starting to trust his stuff in the zone (especially early in counts) and that is mentally monumental. I don't see nearly as much early corner nibbling, afraid to go in the zone for fear of getting blasted. This is opening up the ability to go to the "pitcher's pitches" to put guys away early and often. Kudos!

Edit: Whomever mentioned Spencer learning to command his FB, you are spot on. The ability to dot up the edges after seeing all the ridiculous movement on his off speed pitches in the strike zone, no less, would take Spencer to #2 or #1 status, imo.

 

It was two posts up the FB command was mentioned.

But yes, agreed. Spot on.

 

Oh Yee Of Little Faith.

 

Spence needs to learn to pitch deeper into games to be a SP 1-2.

 

Hopefully increased efficiency will follow improved command.

 

I am really high on this kid, we`ll need him to pitch like this in the playoffs. The Orioles were a great test, they have a really good line up, I wish he would have gone another inning but at this point its nit picking

 

i hope this line doesn't jinx the astros. shouldn't have said it. I like the confidence though.

 

I can see Spencer becoming a fan favorite. Fans tend to like humble, hard working players.

 

On a 2.3 WAR/180IP pace this season that includes a pretty rocky start (on a 5.2WAR/180IP pace if you include only August). The Astros being able to pull guys like Blanco and Arrighetti (combined for 3.2 WAR so far - over a quarter of the pitching staff's entire WAR to date) out of their ass has to drive opposing GMs insane.