Have to think he’s lost trust or command in the other pitches when the 2 pitch focus clearly looks to be a reason he’s been bad this year. Anything to suggest in the limited number of knuckle curves that he’s thrown that it’s a worse pitch than it’s been in prior years?
Kevin Acee included this quote after Cease's outing: “It definitely makes a big difference,” Cease said of varying his pitch mix over his 5⅓ scoreless innings. “I mean, I knew where the ball was going today. That was the biggest difference. If I know where the ball is going, I can mix other pitches in too.”
Suggests feeling like he did not have command over his primary offerings was leaving him gun shy about even attempting his secondaries across the first half.
I don’t get it. I mean as you said, “these are changes that the team has undoubtedly noticed.” And yet, Cease continues to ditch the knuckle curve and rely almost exclusively on FB/Slider. The saying that two pitch pitchers can’t stick as starters is almost as old as the game itself, and for Cease to do this when he’s capable of a 4 pitch mix reflects a CONSCIOUS choice. The arm angle change is concerning but like a hitter introducing bad habits into a swing can hardly be considered deliberate.
I’ll be honest, Cease grinds my gears after every outing when he invariably says something to the effect of “man, I made my pitches, they just hit them and it’s unfortunate.” He always seems to abdicate responsibility for his outing and chalk it up to the other side having good luck. Granted I say all this as an armchair quarterback who wasn’t even good enough to pitch in high school.
I hate to say it but I wouldn’t trust Cease with an exhibition game, let alone a start with playoff implications. I fear if we make it to the NLCS, Padres brass will allow the politics of baseball and the fact that Cease makes more $ than Strandy Vasquez or Ryan Bergert to give him the ball. I would think in the WC or NLDS it would be a no brainer to go King, Pivetta, and Darvish (assuming he shakes off the rust). But alas, we need Cease to stop being the sixth worst pitcher in MLB if we want to sniff October baseball. I digress…
Banger of an article btw. If you could just CC Cease and Niebla on it that would be great.
Have to think he’s lost trust or command in the other pitches when the 2 pitch focus clearly looks to be a reason he’s been bad this year. Anything to suggest in the limited number of knuckle curves that he’s thrown that it’s a worse pitch than it’s been in prior years?
Kevin Acee included this quote after Cease's outing: “It definitely makes a big difference,” Cease said of varying his pitch mix over his 5⅓ scoreless innings. “I mean, I knew where the ball was going today. That was the biggest difference. If I know where the ball is going, I can mix other pitches in too.”
Suggests feeling like he did not have command over his primary offerings was leaving him gun shy about even attempting his secondaries across the first half.
I don’t get it. I mean as you said, “these are changes that the team has undoubtedly noticed.” And yet, Cease continues to ditch the knuckle curve and rely almost exclusively on FB/Slider. The saying that two pitch pitchers can’t stick as starters is almost as old as the game itself, and for Cease to do this when he’s capable of a 4 pitch mix reflects a CONSCIOUS choice. The arm angle change is concerning but like a hitter introducing bad habits into a swing can hardly be considered deliberate.
I’ll be honest, Cease grinds my gears after every outing when he invariably says something to the effect of “man, I made my pitches, they just hit them and it’s unfortunate.” He always seems to abdicate responsibility for his outing and chalk it up to the other side having good luck. Granted I say all this as an armchair quarterback who wasn’t even good enough to pitch in high school.
I hate to say it but I wouldn’t trust Cease with an exhibition game, let alone a start with playoff implications. I fear if we make it to the NLCS, Padres brass will allow the politics of baseball and the fact that Cease makes more $ than Strandy Vasquez or Ryan Bergert to give him the ball. I would think in the WC or NLDS it would be a no brainer to go King, Pivetta, and Darvish (assuming he shakes off the rust). But alas, we need Cease to stop being the sixth worst pitcher in MLB if we want to sniff October baseball. I digress…
Great analysis and article!