<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hinch names Ken Giles the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> closer <a href="https://t.co/o51t4dquEq">pic.twitter.com/o51t4dquEq</a></p>— Jordan Ray (@JordanLRay) <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanLRay/status/760587481511264256">August 2, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Nice.
The Era begins Hinch said, "Giles will pitch the 9th, when he's not pitching other innings". Whatever that means
Yeah, maybe he meant tie-game in the 9th, Giles would be saved until a lead was gotten. Last night, the most critical situation was the 8th due to the lineup that was due up.
Huh? He had one rough month, other than that he has been a top 5 relief pitcher in baseball. More than 1.5 years of past dominance at the backend of a bullpen. People let original small sample sizes cloud their opinions so much. It is a stubborn way to approach the judgment of players.
Honestly I'm tired of how baseball is now with a different pitcher for the 7,8,9 inning. If a pitcher comes in and dominates his three batters let him pitch the next inning to its that simple
Velocity, location, movement ....nasty stuff...has stabilized and then some ...confidence in giddyup/location on that fastball.... which mixes with it's companion slider (which he's locating well too) to make him almost untouchable.... Imposing as all get out...Big psychological edge. This is the guy we traded for. Giles is a monster.
There is a massive difference. Giles produces whiffs are a crazy rate... Harris relies on weak contact. Giles can miss his spot and still get misses due to his crazy good two pitch mix.
To me closer role has always implied a pitcher with some stuff. Some heat. A breaking ball that can't be tracked....something. I don't think horrid fit that vibe whereas Giles definitely does.
