Undoubtedly, there were few positives to eliminate from the Cubs very bad weekend with the Makers, but I like to be optimistic on a Monday, so lets talk about one of them: Craig Kimbrel.
Kimbrel threw a scoreless 9th last night with both Ks coming on heating systems. pic.twitter.com/S4GqkDeBOW
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 15, 2020
Four Ks over his last two getaways.
Craig Kimbrel is trending in the right instructions: https://t.co/iuLckdwh9f pic.twitter.com/mXeh8D51FB
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) August 17, 2020
On Friday, Kimbrels fastball was averaging 97 MPH, his greatest of the season, while his knuckle curve, which hadnt netted a swing all season, generated not one, not two, but three swings prior to his outing was through. And in spite of the included velocity and as soon as again helpful curveball on Friday, Kimbrel perhaps looked even better on Sunday, when he sat the Brewers down for a 1-2-3 inning with 2 strikeouts and an infield pop-up.
Therefore as not to lose this in the shuffle: these were not mop-up duty getaways. Far from it. On Friday, Kimbrel entered a one-run game in the 9th, and on Sunday he was in on a one-run game in the 8th inning. Neither appearance was precisely the closers role he was brought into Chicago to perform, however they were high-leverage, important innings and for now, that may be where Kimbrel sticks.
After an actually rough start to the 2020 season (7 made runs in 2.2 IP) that saw him successfully, if not absolutely, lose his job as the Cubs closer for the time being, Kimbrel tossed back-to-back scoreless outings against the Brewers, with 4 strikeouts, no hits, and just one walk.
When asked if Kimbrel was ready to take control of as closer once again after the other days outing, what David Ross didnt say stated a terrible lot:
Whatever his role, the results have actually started to get better, and– more interestingly– so has the underlying efficiency.
Batter 2: Justin Smoak, Strikeout.
– Called Strike (FB) – Called Strike (KC) – Called Strike (KC).
In possibly the most motivating plate appearance of Kimbrels season, he dropped 2 hammers on Smoak, who simply enjoyed them pass with definitely no strategy to attack. Three pitches, total confusion, three strikes, sit down.
Batter 3: Manny Piña, Pop out.
– Called Strike (FB) – Ball 1 (FB) – Ball 2 (FB) – Swinging Strike (FB) – Foul (FB) – Ball 3 (FB) – Foul (FB) – Pop-out (FB).
Kimbrel threw absolutely nothing but fastballs to Manny Piña throughout both at-bats, which mustve just been the book on him.
However these exchanges werent just a mix of best of luck and excellent results. Yes, Kimbrel had much better command and velocity, but it sure looks like he had both of those because of substantial mechanical changes, evident in his vertical and horizontal release points:.
Although Kimbrel strolled the 2nd batter he faced on Friday, he tossed his knuckle curve for a called strike on the 2nd pitch of the at-bat, which caused a whiff on his knuckle curve right away after. The fight was lost afterwards, but thats a good indication for the on-going war.
Batter 3: Ben Gamel, Line out.
– Ball (FB) – Foul ball (FB) – Swinging Strike (FB) – Ball (FB) – In play, out (KC).
Kimbrel got his 3rd knuckle curve swing of the season versus Ben Gamel, and although it was a pretty hard hit liner (102 MPH), it was directed right toward Nico Hoerner for the 2nd out.
Batter 4: Manny Piña, Strikeout.
– Swinging strike (FB) – Ball (FB) – Swinging Strike (FB) – Ball (FB) – Swinging strike (FB).
For the last out of the day, Kimbrel started Manny Pina with four straight fastballs, simply like Gamel, however rather of going to the curve (which may be what Pina was searching for, offered the previous at-bat), Kimbrel provided some high heat for the third strike.
Saturday was even better– and a lot more remarkable considering it was versus the three very same hitters. They actually simply saw both of Kimbrels pitches and how he attacks men in specific counts, and yet they produced even less, looked even more unpleasant, made less and even worse contact, and saw more strikes pass.
Sunday.
Batter 1: Avisail Garcia, Strikeout.
– Ball (FB) – Called Strike (FB) – Swinging Strike (FB) – Called Strike (FB).
Kimbrel went up in the zone just as soon as in this at-bat, the one whiff, and otherwise placed his fastball absolutely PERFECTLY:.
On Friday, Kimbrel came into a one-run game in the 9th, and on Sunday he was in on a one-run game in the 8th inning. Neither look was exactly the closers function he was brought into Chicago to carry out, however they were high-leverage, crucial innings and for now, that may be where Kimbrel sticks.
Friday
Batter 1: Avisail Garcia, Strikeout
– Called strike (FB) – Foul ball (FB) – Foul ball (KC) – Swinging strike (FB).
After getting ahead early in the count against Garcia, Kimbrel went to his knuckle curve, which got his very first swing of the season. And after flashing that pitch simply when, Kimbrel was able to strike Garcia out on a 97.6 MPH heating system at the top of the zone.
Batter 2: Justin Smoak, Walk.
– Ball (FB) – Called Strike (KC) – Swinging Strike (KC) – Ball (FB) – Ball (FB) – Ball (KC).
” Yeah, Craigs tossing the ball well,” Ross said. “It looks like the things that hes succeeded over his profession.”
Is Kimbrel back to being your closer moving forward?
” I believe Craigs tossing the ball real well,” Ross stated. “I truly do.”
… no comment?
” I try to set each man as much as prosper,” Ross stated. “Craig at the back end of our bullpen is certainly an alternative.”
Before digging into the data, I just want to point out generally how much better Kimbrel has looked on the mound. Obviously, being able to throw that knuckle curve for a strike is a massive advancement. And the more aggressive they are, the more whiffs were going to see as Kimbrel likewise hides his pitches better.
Before digging into the data, I just desire to mention usually how much better Kimbrel has looked on the mound. At the broadest level, he seems to be staying taller and more centered, preventing getting too rotational (which yields that huge fall off the mound to the first base side). It appears to me, when he remains upright after his delivery he ends up having enhanced command, which is crucial to keeping hitters truthful with his fastball– they cant just sit on one spot if hes moving it up and down, in and out.
Clearly, being able to toss that knuckle curve for a strike is a massive development. And the more aggressive they are, the more whiffs were going to see as Kimbrel likewise hides his pitches better.
In these previous two games, the Brewers looked truly uncertain at the plate, swinging at balls out of the zone while likewise enjoying strikes fall in.
Both release points are still down from the peak of his career, however if they continue to move in the best instructions, I believe were going to see much better pitches, more unbalanced players, and a lot more batters thinking overall. From there, we could have a little a multiplier impact, where Kimbrels ability to get batters out improves significantly.
Its been only 2 outings and like David Ross implied, were not rather out of the woods yet, however these were two motivating getaways in high utilize moments with all the right peripherals underneath. For now, I select to be positive.
