Josh Winckowski has been a useful piece within the Boston bullpen this season. Pitching in a number of aid roles — he’s entered video games within the every of innings 5 by means of 9 — the 24-year-old right-hander has a 1.57 ERA to go together with a 2-0 report and one save. Acquired by the Crimson Sox from the New York Mets in February 2021 as a part of a three-team, seven-player commerce that featured Andrew Benintendi, Winckowski has tossed 23 frames over a baker’s-dozen outings.
He’d primarily been a starter previous to this season. All however six of Winckowski’s 90 minor-league appearances got here as a starter, as did all however one of many 15 he made final yr in his first style of MLB motion. That he’s thriving as a former Fifteenth-round choose whose repertoire lacks energy can also be a part of his story.
“I went by means of each stage of the minor leagues and needed to show myself in any respect of them,” mentioned Winckowski, whom the Toronto Blue Jays drafted out of Estero (FLA) Excessive Faculty in 2016 and subsequently swapped to the Mets within the January 2021 Steven Matz deal. “Someplace within the center there was a pitch-to-contact-and-miss-barrels.’ That’s the candy spot for me. Fast outs — two or three pitches for outs — is certainly my sport. It’s the place I’m at my greatest.”
Winckowski does have the flexibility to strike batters out. Whereas his Ok/9 is a modest 7.04 — final yr it was simply 5.6 — he fanned 9.2 batters per 9 in Triple-A. Furthermore, he’s not a soft-tosser. However whereas his sinker averages 95.1 mph, reaching again for extra juice isn’t how his punch-outs come about.
“The best way I miss bats is thru location, execution, and tunneling,” defined Winckowski. “It’s not from making an attempt to puff up, throw more durable, and whatnot. That doesn’t do quite a lot of good for me. The cooler, the extra calm and picked up I’m, the higher the ball comes out. When I attempt to muscle up, it comes out worse.”
A greater understanding of sequencing is enjoying an enormous position within the Toledo-born hurler’s success.
“Cutter glove-side, after which sinker glove-side, is an efficient tunneling combo that I began determining towards the top of the season,” defined Winckowski, whose repertoire includes a starter-esque 5 choices. “One factor I noticed is that my pitches, remoted, weren’t performing like I wanted them to. I don’t take a look at [pitch data] an excessive amount of, nevertheless it pops up right here and there and you’ll’t keep away from it. I used to be backside of the league in just about all the pieces.” (Winchowski’s 2022 Savant breakdown may be discovered here.)
The righty has additionally discovered himself on the underside of quite a lot of breakfast bowls. After I requested for any closing ideas, I bought a solution higher befitting a stereotypically-eccentric left-hander.
“I like cereal quite a bit,” Winckowski instructed me. “I am going to cereal an honest bit. I like Frosted Flakes.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Alfonso Soriano went 10 for 15 in opposition to Lance Cormier.
Bill Pecota went 5 for 8 in opposition to Rheal Cormier.
Bobby Valentine went 5 for 7 in opposition to Chris Short.
Ralph Houk went 5 for 9 in opposition to Stubby Overmire.
Freddie Patek went 6 for 7 in opposition to Paul Thormodsgard.
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Xzavion Curry was described as a “prospect-on-the-rise” when he led Sunday Notes on September 12, 2021. Pitching at two A-ball ranges, he’d gone 8-1 with a 2.30 ERA after starting the season unranked within the Cleveland system. He’s now understanding of the Guardians bullpen. Over seven outings comprising 19 innings, the 24-year-old right-hander has a 2.37 ERA and a 3.46 FIP.
I not too long ago requested Curry, Cleveland’s seventh-round choose in 2019 out of Georgia Tech, what’s modified since we spoke two years in the past.
“I’d say I’m the identical pitcher, I’m simply higher,” responded Curry, who made his first two MLB appearances final yr. “I’m getting extra skilled, particularly at this stage — the foremost league stage — however I’m nonetheless the identical pitcher who’s attacking guys, making an attempt to replenish the strike zone.”
Curry credit improved consistency along with his supply for “higher pitch profiles,” together with extra energy and depth to his curveball, which has jumped from 70-71 mph to 75-76 mph. As for his transfer from starter to reliever — at the least for now — he’s principally simply pleased to be within the large leagues.
“That’s my position with the group proper now,” mentioned Curry. “I’m a starter by nature, however I’m additionally a baseball participant by nature. No matter I can do to get on the sector, no matter I can do to assist the group, that’s what I want to do. To expertise this life-style daily, to return right here with an important group of fellows who’ve the identical mindset of successful video games, has been nothing wanting a blessing. Being right here is essentially the most wonderful factor ever.”
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A quiz:
“Toothpick” Sam Jones turned the primary African American pitcher to throw an MLB no-hitter when he did so with the Nationwide League’s Chicago Cubs on Might 12, 1955. Who was the primary African American pitcher to throw a no-hitter within the American League? (A touch: he hit one in every of his 35 profession house runs in that sport.)
The reply may be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
The Society for American Baseball Analysis introduced this week that Mark Armour was re-elected as President, and Dan Levitt as Treasurer. Dan Evans, Tom Shieber, and Kat Williams have been elected as SABR Administrators.
Roger Hambright, a right-handed pitcher who appeared in 18 video games for the New York Yankees in 1971, died final month at age 74. The Sunnyside, Washington native gained three of his 4 choices and logged a pair of saves.
This yr’s Sabermetrics, Scouting, and the Science of Baseball seminar (a.ok.a. Saberseminar) will probably be held in Chicago on August 12-13. FanGraphs is among the many sponsors, as are a number of MLB groups. Data may be discovered here.
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The reply to the quiz is Earl Wilson, who threw a no-hitter for the Crimson Sox on June 26, 1962. The large right-hander helped his personal trigger with a solo house run in Boston’s 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Trevor Bauer made his NPB debut on Wednesday and allowed one run over seven innings because the DeNA BayStars beat the Hiroshima Carp 4-1. The controversial former Cy Young Award winner fanned 9 batters and allowed seven hits and one stroll.
Nik Turley is 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in 14 aid appearances for the Carp. The 33-year-old former Minnesota Twin and Pittsburgh Pirates southpaw is in his second NPB season after 11 skilled seasons stateside.
Hirokazu Sawamura bought the win when the Chiba Lotte Marines beat the Rakuten Golden Eagles 2-0 in 10 innings earlier this week. The previous Boston Crimson Sox reliever is 3-1 with two saves and a 5.11 ERA in his first yr again in NPB.
Addison Russell is slashing .340/.391/.505 with the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes. The erstwhile Chicago Cubs infielder has three house runs in 105 plate appearances.
Jin-yong Seo has made 15 appearances and is 1-0 with 13 saves for the KBO’s SSG Landers. The 30-year-old right-hander has thrown 15-and-a-third scoreless innings.
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Anthony DeSclafani performed for the Cincinnati Reds earlier than signing as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants previous to the 2021 season. Earlier this spring, I requested the 33-year-old right-hander how the 2 organizations differ when it comes to pitching philosophy and instruction.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of a distinction in any respect,” replied DeSclafani. “They’re all actually good. We had guys in Cincinnati who knew what they have been doing, and right here they perhaps have slightly bit completely different approach of relaying stuff, or some completely different concepts on the way to throw sure pitches.”
One explicit pitch-usage suggestion stands out.
“After I bought right here, they emphasised throwing my slider extra,” defined
DeSclafani. “Making an attempt to get the slider again to the instances throughout my profession that it was efficient was one thing they relayed to me, and that helped me achieve success in 2021. Now I’m simply making an attempt to get that again.”
DeSclafani threw his slider a then-career excessive 35.7% of the time in 2021 whereas going 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA. After being restricted to only 19 innings final yr as a result of accidents, he’s now throwing his slider 45.2% of the time. Over six begins, DeSclafani is 3-1 with a 2.13 ERA over 38 innings.
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FARM NOTES
Luisangel Acuña is slashing .316/.362/.462 and has 14 stolen bases in as many makes an attempt with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders. The 21-year-old center infielder — the youthful brother of Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. — was signed by the Texas Rangers out of Venezuela in 2018.
Ryan Bliss is slashing .385/.407/.615 with 4 house runs in 108 plate appearances for the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles. The 23-year-old center infielder was drafted forty second general by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021 out of Auburn College.
Shane Drohan is 5-0 with a 0.62 ERA with 30 strikeouts and simply six walks
in 29 innings for the Double-A Portland Sea Canine. The 24-year-old left-hander was chosen within the fifth spherical of the 2020 draft out of Florida State College by the Boston Crimson Sox.
Cristian Mena has a 3.96 ERA to go together with 42 strikeouts and simply six walks in 25 innings for the Double-A Birmingham Barons. The 20-year-old right-hander is No. 8 on our Chicago White Sox Prime Prospects listing.
Seth Keller has allowed 9 hits and one run in 15 innings for the Low-A Augusta GreenJackets. The 18-year-old right-hander was drafted within the sixth spherical final yr out of Mechanicsville, Virginia’s Hanover Excessive Faculty by the Atlanta Braves.
The impartial Atlantic League’s Lexington Counter Clocks signed Dakota Mekkes. The 28-year-old Michigan State College product pitched within the Chicago Cubs system from 2016-2022 and spent final yr with Triple-A Iowa.
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Craig Lefferts pitched within the big-leagues from 1983-1994, showing in 696 video games and being credited with 58 wins and 101 saves. Born in Munich, Germany and raised in a number of U.S. locales — his father was a a lieutenant colonel within the Air Pressure — he had his greatest seasons with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants, serving each as a southpaw setup man and as a more in-depth.
Have been it not for a childhood birthday reward, he might need been making a residing along with his different hand. Lefferts — now a pitching coach and rehab coordinator within the Oakland Athletics group — instructed me the story previous to an Arizona Fall League sport final October.
“I used to be a left-handed pitcher, so my nickname is clearly Lefty,” Lefferts mentioned. “However the reality is, I’m not left-handed. I’m actually right-handed. After I was a teenager, I beloved baseball, however I used to be asthmatic and didn’t play any sports activities. It was my eighth birthday. My grandmother, who lived in San Diego, flew out to Kansas and gave me this outdated Spalding mitt, which she’d purchased for a nickel at a Salvation Military. It was the very best birthday current I might ever ask for.
“I put it on, and heard my dad’s voice: ’Oh, mother. You bought him the fallacious glove.’ It was for the fallacious hand, however I didn’t care. I beloved it. I took it to mattress with me. I wore it daily, and I realized the way to throw left-handed due to that glove.”
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
At CBS Sports activities, R.J. Anderson wrote about how baseball’s subsequent unionization effort might come from MLB entrance workplaces.
At The Chicago Tribune, Shakeia Taylor wrote about how White Sox pitcher Keynan Middleton all the time felt ‘completely different’ in baseball.
Erstwhile MLB pitcher Casey Kelly — now in his fifth season with the KBO’s LG Twins — stays levelheaded with the assistance of his father, former big-league catcher, and present Louisville Bats supervisor, Pat Kelly. Jee-ho Yu has the story at Yonhap Information Company.
At Fish Stripes, Alex Krutchik wrote about how Miami Marlins outfielder Peyton Burdick may be able to reap the benefits of his second yr within the large leagues.
Xander Bogaerts had his 30-game on-base streak finish earlier this week regardless of hitting a line drive that one-hopped into an outfielder’s glove. Ben Fadden explained how at Gaslamp Ball.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Xander Bogaerts turned the primary participant in MLB historical past to homer in 4 completely different international locations when he went deep in final weekend’s Mexico Metropolis Sequence. The Aruba native homered within the London Sequence in 2019, and has additionally left the yard in each the united statesand Canada.
Eduardo Rodriguez has allowed two runs in 34-and-two-thirds innings over his final 5 begins. The Detroit Tigers southpaw had allowed seven runs in 10 innings over his first two begins.
Longtime Detroit Tigers left-hander Mickey Lolich batted .110 with no house runs in 1,107 regular-season plate appearances. He went 3-for-12 with a house run within the 1968 World Sequence versus the St. Louis Cardinals.
Nolan Ryan walked 204 batters in 1977. The second highest complete within the junior circuit that yr was 99, by Jim Palmer.
Babe Ruth had a pair of hits, together with a house run, whereas enjoying first base for the Boston Crimson Sox on Might 6, 1918. The sport marked the primary time Ruth, then in his fifth big-league season, was within the beginning lineup as a place participant.
On in the present day’s date in 1996, Eric Anthony and Eric Davis hit back-to-back house runs within the backside of the twelfth inning to provide the Cincinnati Reds a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Todd Worrell surrendered the gophers.
On in the present day’s date in 1941, Reds shortstop Eddie Joost dealt with a modern-era report 19 probabilities in Cincinnati’s 1-0 win over the New York Giants. Joost had 10 assists and 9 putouts.
On Might 8, 2010, Jody Gerut hit for the cycle because the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 17-3. Eighty years earlier, on Might 8, 1930, Freddie Lindstrom hit for the cycle to assist lead the New York Giants to a 13-10, 10-inning win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Gamers born on in the present day’s date embrace Claude Raymond, a right-handed reliever who logged 46 wins and 82 saves whereas showing in 449 video games for 4 completely different groups from 1959-1971. The primary Québec native to play for the Montreal Expos — he was born in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu — Raymond later served as a French-language analyst on Expos broadcasts from 1972 to 2001.
Additionally born on in the present day’s date was Art Doll, whose big-league profession comprised seven video games — 4 as a catcher and three as a pitcher — with the Boston Braves/Bees from 1935-1938. Doll went 2 for 13 on the dish, and 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA over 12 innings on the mound.
