I've been traveling and haven't been able to catch any Astros games recently. What's his stuff look like now? Sounds like a velo bump in the pen, but are we talking consistent 93-95mph, ~95mph, or even better?
Tonight he was 93-94 most the night. He threw a couple cutters at 92. For the most part he has been 94 with an occasional 96 recently. He is a guy where a 2-3 mph change in velocity has made a big difference. It isn't that players swing and miss as much as it is that they don't make square contact. He also seems more confident in the pen to throw balls early in the count and still get outs. He was throwing off speed pitches in a classic fastball count. He didn't do that as a starter. Now he isn't scared of contact.
Usually 95 average with max around 97. Occassionally 97 with max 98-99. Also, he seems to have better command as fewer pitches are middle middle. Four seam also has more movement causing more pop ups/ high flys instead of being barreled up.
I agree with this. The biggest difference is the late movement, hitters are not able to square up on him. We have seen a lot of double play balls, pop ups.
Just to put a point on it... Musgrove as a reliever: 22.2 innings, 14 hits, 5 BB, 1 HR, 3 ER, 22Ks, 1.19 ERA, 0.84 WHIP. He's got a .179 BAA and a 1.54 GO/AO ratio. As a starter, he had a 1.51 WHIP, a .306 BAA, and a 1.08 GO/AO. Basically, as a reliever, he's been Devo with a slightly lower K rate, and a better ground ball percentage.
That's pretty much our opening day top 5 (I think Beltran was 5 and Reddick was 6). Bregman's ascension does make it look sexier.
Springer Bregman Altuve Correa Reddick Gurriel Gonzalez McCann Fisher/Beltran/Marisnick I just can't get over how sick our playoff lineup is going to be.
Fiers should be on a short leash, pitch Martes 4-5 innings if ya have to.Nothing like starting the game with two leadoff walks.
