His curveball spin is still 95th percentile. He could still probably be a very effective RP if he was willing to throw his curve 60% of the time and then use his changeup and FB (which he could only throw out of the zone) to keep hitters honest. He would inevitably get hurt but at this point that’s the only way he can keep pitching in the majors. The Astros are doing their other players and all their fans a disservice in every start they give McCullers from here on out.
Adding to this, reading quotes from McCullers this season (including after last nights game), and looking at his pitch usage, he clearly thinks he can lean on his slider as his main pitch. His slider gets extremely good horizontal movement, but is 4mph below league average slider velo. I think he is correct that it could be an effective pitch because of how it moves, if he could consistently throw it for strikes without giving up that movement. Thats a tall ask, and it still doesn’t change my opinion at all that he would only really be viable in relief. The bottom line for McCullers is that regardless of how much he is able to improve his command of his breaking stuff, he does not have a viable fastball, and to me that eliminates the possibility of him being an effective starting pitcher.
He threw one pitch that hard (94.5), outside of that he was 90-93 and sat 91. With how long he was out it remains to be seen how much of his velo he can get back but I doubt he will ever sit 93 across multiple innings, which is what he was doing in the last season he was effective.
There is no way he is starting in the playoffs, so let him eat innings if there aren't any other options, and hope he can throw 93-94 for one or two innings in the playoffs. It's his command that is kind of concerning.
Yes, but that 1 pitch shows he can do it, I don't believe he is done STUFF wise, I think it is 100% mental that he is scared his arm will blow up again and is only pitching at 80 or so percent. He needs to let it fly, or his career is over. Clearly, I don't know, but it just looks like that where both Javier and Garcia are already all the way back on their fastballs and in some cases faster. DD
Mathematically, 2-6 at home instead of 0-8.....and we have 4 championships. Wow. Kind of making me not WANT homefield this year. Let's shoot for the 3rd wildcard spot!
Or maybe he knows his body now and knows that it won't stand up to the punishment. That's not mental, he physically can't stand up to that anymore. It makes me appreciate the guys like Greinke who could find a way to compete with diminished stuff. Of course, Greinke is a Hall of Famer while Lance is pretty far from that.
Lance always had the talent and stuff to be great. He just couldn’t withstand the wear and tear on his arm. When he came up at 21, he was an absolute stud.
If he could consistently throw strikes, with his stuff, he'd still be a very functional pitcher even if he tops out at 92ish Alas... eta: Very good comparison. Greinke (Maddux too) had strongass fastballs early in their career, then learned how to be a pitcher and paint the plate as they aged
For an inning he was in that range. By the 3rd, he was sitting at 91. He might be ok in the bullpen for 20-30 pitches and the bullpen has been bad as of late. That would mean less recovery time between uses though. He’s never been that efficient and it’s going to be difficult for him to be an effective starter with 90-91 on his sinker.
Supremely talented. But his stuff has always required max physical effort and he's got a little bit of a smaller frame. Not a profile built for longevity. More Lincecum than Kershaw or JV.
