Penn Murfee was talked about within the interview with Trent Clean that ran right here at FanGraphs on Friday. Discussing pitch profiles, Seattle’s director of pitching technique recalled the erstwhile Mariners reliever being “a man who had cut-ride” on his four-seam fastball.
Murfee is now with the White Sox, and Chicago’s South Facet membership is in Boston for a weekend collection, so I took the chance to get his personal perspective on the providing. What I realized speaking to him at my residence base of Fenway Park is that the motion he will get on his heater is circumstantial. Furthermore, it’s authorized.
“Again in 2021, in [Triple-A] Sacramento, my pitch profile modified from a working arm-side fastball,” defined Murfee, who was within the Seattle system from 2018-2023, the final year-plus of that span within the majors. “For no matter motive, I began choking the ball slightly tight, and started throwing what was labeled as a cutter. It went to zero inches of horizontal motion. My pitching coach on the time stated, ‘No matter you modified, don’t change it again.’ He stated that I went from having a really common fastball to one thing distinctive.”
The explanation behind the motion change? He stopped utilizing sticky.
“That’s what it was, to be trustworthy with you,” Murfee claimed. “I used to make use of Pelican Grip. Once they began cracking down on it, I didn’t need to get suspended, so I stop utilizing sticky. In a single day, my shapes acquired slightly higher. I haven’t used it since.
“I used to throw my fastball fairly usually,” the low-slot hurler elaborated. “As soon as I couldn’t get sticky I felt like, ‘Oh crap. I’m going to throw this ball into the third base dugout.’ I began choking it actually arduous, and that’s after I started chopping the ball.”
One factor he doesn’t do is throw arduous. Per Baseball Savant, Murfee’s cut-ride four-seamer ranks within the second percentile at a humble 88.2 mph. My citing that reality elicited a little bit of pushback.
“It’s truly larger than it was in 2022,” replied Murfee, who had Tommy John surgical procedure in July 2023 and didn’t return to the majors till this season. “I imply, I’m not throwing 102, however I don’t assume it’s a must to try this in at this time’s recreation. I can get hitters out.”
That was actually true in his 2022 rookie season. Murfee made 64 appearances that yr and logged a 2.99 ERA and a 3.10 FIP over 69-and-a-third innings. As for my agreeing with him that it isn’t obligatory to succeed in triple digits with the intention to retire big-league hitters, let’s simply say that the previous Thirty third-round draft choose has a wry humorousness.
“It clearly helps to have excessive velo,” acknowledged Murfee, who depends closely on a sweeper that he prefers to name a slider. “Possibly I’m simply mad that I don’t throw 100. All people needs they threw 100.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Luke Easter went 16 for 45 in opposition to Vic Raschi.
Bris Lord went 3 for 7 in opposition to Jim Baskette.
Bunny Transient went 2 for 3 in opposition to Lee Meadows.
Dave Concepcion went 10 for 19 in opposition to Jamie Easterly.
Paul Easterling went 1 for 10 in opposition to Lefty Grove.
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Joe Musgrove received’t pitch this season. The 32-year-old right-hander had Tommy John Surgical procedure final October and received’t be again on the mound for the San Diego Padres till 2026. As soon as he returns, he’ll be seeking to construct upon a profession that moved in the proper course after he headed west. A mixed 29-38 with a 4.33 ERA between Houston and Pittsburgh from 2016-2020, he’s since gone 37-24 with a 3.32 ERA.
Musgrove’s additional building could have a shelf life, after all. Time waits for no man, and persevering with to toe a rubber — even with a sound elbow — ultimately turns into implausible. What occurs then? Would possibly Musgrove transfer from the mound into a training function?
“I don’t know, man,” he replied to that query. “I’ve by no means desired to be a pitching coach. As soon as I’m achieved as a participant it is perhaps arduous to stroll away fully, so it may develop into extra of a sensible thought. However that’s sooner or later.”
The veteran of 9 big-league seasons possesses each the experience and communication abilities that the job requires, and if he does go that route, a mixture of old-school and new-school approaches would accompany him on the journey.
“I’ve all the time been somebody who pitches off of really feel,” Musgrove stated. “I hardly ever get on TrackMan — I don’t base my recreation on metrics — however I do use it as a benchmark. By having that basis of realizing the way to pitch, and realizing your self rather well, you’ll be able to develop into higher by including within the information. It provides you that further edge.
“You be taught the kind of pitcher you might be,” elaborated Musgrove. “How your hand performs — supinator or pronator — utilizing the Edgertronic to learn how the ball is definitely coming off your fingers. Typically the way in which it comes off doesn’t line up with the motion of the ball, so you then begin taking a look at seam-shifted pitches. You learn to do issues like make a cut-changeup play in your favor with comparable motion, versus attempting to power your self contained in the ball and do one thing that’s unnatural. I have a tendency to chop the ball with every little thing, however now I can keep in a minimize place and use the kick-change model pitch, or a seam-shifted changeup, to get the identical motion. I don’t have an precise kick-change, however the grip is analogous and it really works like one. It kicks the axis.”
Which brings us again to his happening to assist make pitchers higher. Musgrove owns Symbiotic Coaching Heart, in San Diego, so it’s not truly a matter of if. Quite, it’s a matter of the place, and for whom.
“I’ve the coaching facility already,” he defined. “So I’ll be capable of run classes out of there on the tempo I like, with the verbiage I like, and never have to adapt to anyone else’s construction. Not so say I received’t ever do it, however proper now it’s not one thing I’m wanting.”
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A quiz:
The Chicago White Sox received the World Sequence in 2005. Who led the group in residence runs that season, and which pitcher was credited with probably the most wins?
The reply could be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
Tommy Helms, a second baseman who performed for 4 groups — primarily the Cincinnati Reds — from 1964-1977, died final Sunday at age 83. A member of the membership’s Corridor of Fame, Helms received two Gold Gloves, made a pair of All-Star groups, and received 1965 Rookie-of-the-12 months honors with the Reds.
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The reply to the quiz is Paul Konerko with 40 residence runs, and Jon Garland with 18 wins.
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Final Sunday’s column led with Nick Sandlin and included Tyler Heineman opining on what makes his Toronto teammate so arduous to hit. Left on the cutting-room flooring was what the backstop stated about one other member of the Blue Jays bullpen.
“Lots of people have one thing distinctive about them; it’s a part of why they’re within the huge leagues,” Heineman advised me. “However Yimi García’s fastball stands out. There’s something about it. Tremendous low launch. Hides the ball nicely. Hitters simply don’t appear to sq. it up typically.”
García has made 10 reduction appearances and thrown 10-and-a-third scoreless innings thus far this season. He has a 35.9% strikeout price.
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Myles Straw is an underappreciated function participant off to a very good begin. Now in his eighth big-league season, and his first with the Blue Jays, the 30-year-old outfielder is slashing .333/.389/.485 over 38 plate appearances. Befitting his fame, he’s been an asset with the glove.
What the erstwhile Astro and Guardian isn’t recognized for is his bat. His profession slash line is .246/.318/.312, and the house run he hit earlier this week was simply his seventh within the bigs. A lot of his offensive worth has come on the bottom paths, the place he’s swiped 91 baggage in 117 makes an attempt.
His expectations when Houston took him within the twelfth spherical of the 2015 draft out of Division II St. Johns River State Faculty?
“I don’t actually know,” Straw stated to that query. “I’ve simply all the time tried to reside within the current second. I’ve been blessed to be on some actually good groups, and have nice teammates and coaches. so I really feel that every little thing has labored out. Clearly, you all the time need to play Main League Baseball and I’ve gotten to try this for slightly little bit of time now.”
Straw’s 2019 FanGraphs scouting report cited “70-grade pace” and “full lack of energy,” and went on to venture him as “both a low-end common in middle or good fourth outfielder.” By and huge, he’s develop into what was anticipated of him.
“You possibly can say that,” stated Straw, who counts taking part in for a number of postseason groups amongst his profession highlights. “All I do know is that I’ve had a blast thus far. I believe now we have an important group right here in Toronto, too. However once more, I strive to not look too far into the long run. I simply take it a day at a time.”
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Kazuma Okamoto took Trevor Bauer deep twice on Wednesday because the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants beat the Yokohama BayStars 5-0. The 28-year-old slugger has six residence runs and a 281 wRC+ on the season. The essentially-exiled-from-MLB hurler is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA over two begins.
Iori Yamasaki has made three begins for Yomiuri and is 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 23 innings. The 26-year-old right-hander went 10-6 with a 2.81 ERA a yr in the past.
Hyun Jin Ryu is 2-0 with a 2.54 ERA over 5 begins comprising 28-and-a-third innings for the KBO’s Hanwha Eagles. The 38-year-old left-hander went 10-8 with the Eagles final season after pitching stateside from 2013-2023 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.
Adam Oller is 3-1 with a 4.34 ERA over 5 begins comprising 29 innings for the Kia Tigers. The 30-year-old right-hander is in his first KBO season after pitching for the Oakland Athletics in 2022-2023, and for the Miami Marlins in 2024.
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Chad Epperson is in his tenth season as a minor-league supervisor within the Purple Sox group, so he’s seen numerous spectacular younger expertise transfer up the ranks. Over the previous two years alone, the likes of Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, Chase Meidroth, and Ceddanne Rafaela have performed underneath his watch with the Double-A Portland Sea Canine.
Serving to flip prospects into main leaguers is a part of Epperson’s job, and he’s additionally concerned within the analysis course of. Managers down on the farm write numerous experiences. Furthermore, they play a job in when, or if, gamers get promoted. How does the 53-year-old skipper view that blend?
“The vast majority of the job might be improvement,” replied Epperson, whose baseball résumé additionally contains catching coordinator. “Growing these guys and making them absolutely conscious, individually, of what they should residence in on. It’s our job as a employees to be sure that we’re focusing in on these areas, and ensuring that they’re trending in the proper areas. We do evaluations, however these evaluations are much more [spread out], whereas the event is on daily basis.”
“Contained in the group, you’re all the time requested about gamers,” continued Epperson. “Say such-and-such is engaged on swing selections. Is he progressing or not? I’ll consider that. I would say, ‘Sure, and the numbers again it up. That is how he’s trending.’ Or there is perhaps between two gamers who’re in line for a promotion to [Triple-A] Worcester. I’ll give my private opinion. That doesn’t imply they’re all the time going to take the man you picked.”
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FARM NOTES
Vaughn Grissom is slashing .333/.387/.565 with three residence runs and a 155 wRC+ in 75 plate appearances for the Worcester Purple Sox. The 24-year-old second baseman was acquired by Boston from Atlanta in trade for Chris Sale previous to final season.
Tommy Hawke has 15 stolen bases in as many makes an attempt with the Low-A Lynchburg Hillcats. A sixth-round choose in 2023 out of Wake Forest College, the 22-year-old outfielder within the Cleveland Guardians system is 13-for-41 (.317) with a .440 OBP.
Ryan Galanie is slashing .339/.388/.627 with three residence runs in 67 plate appearances for the Excessive-A Winston-Salem Sprint. A Thirteenth-round choose in 2023 out of Wofford Faculty, the 24-year-old first baseman/outfielder within the Chicago White Sox system has a 175 wRC+.
Jesús Made is 11-for-39 (.282) with a house run and a 144 wRC+ in 47 plate appearances for the Low-A Carolina Mudcats. A 17-year-old shortstop from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, Made is the highest position-player prospect within the Milwaukee Brewers system, and no. 38 on our High 100.
Wei-En Lin has a 60% strikeout price over a dozen innings with the Low-A Stockton Ports. A 19-year-old southpaw who was signed out of Taiwan final summer season by the [don’t name us the Sacramento) Athletics, Wei-En has fanned 24 batters, walked none, and allowed six hits.
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A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Carl East had a considerably odd profession. On August 24, 1915, he began for the St. Louis Browns and acquired a no-decision whereas permitting six runs over three-and-two-thirds innings. It was his lone pitching look within the majors. In 1924, East returned to MLB as an outfielder with the Washington Senators. He appeared in simply two video games, going 2-for-6 and drawing a pair of walks. 9 years aside, he’d had cups of espresso on all sides of the ball.
His time down on the farm included boffo seasons, each with the bat and on the mound. Pitching for the Western League’s Lincoln Hyperlinks/Tigers, East had back-to-back 300-plus-innings seasons the place he went 24-14 and 20-17. Taking part in for the Wichita Witches/Jobbers (identify adjustments weren’t unusual on the time), he later had back-to-back seasons the place he stroked a mixed 525 hits with a .388 batting common. Transferring from the Western League to the American Affiliation, he proceeded to log 223 hits and a .375 batting common for the Minneapolis Millers.
Which brings us again to the second cup of espresso, which he had at age 30. Following his pair of video games with the Senators — in opposition to Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees no much less — he left the group to hitch his spouse, who was unwell, in Chicago. As an alternative of then rejoining the Washington membership, he opted to play in Wisconsin for the Beloit Fairies. East helped lead the economic league group to a championship, however he missed out on a fair larger one. The 1924 Senators received the World Sequence.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
At The Guardian, Lynda Lin Grigsby wrote about Jackie Robinson’s deep bond with Los Angeles’s Japanese Individuals.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spoke about racism and injustice on Jackie Robinson Day. Fabian Ardaya has the story at The Athletic (subscription required).
Pittsburgh Pirates followers are more and more of the opinion that proprietor Bob Nutting ought to promote the group. Travis Sawchik has the story at The Rating.
The Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes scored three runs on a bases-loaded stroll earlier this week. Patrick Andres defined how at SI.com.
Joe Rabbitt’s main league profession was fleeting — simply two video games with the Cleveland Indians in 1922 — however that was solely a small slice of the speed-burning outfielder/actor/singer/pugilist/pool corridor operator’s life. Darren Gibson profiled Rabbitt for SABR’s BioProject.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
The Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks mixed to attain 16 runs within the eighth inning on Friday. The final time they performed (March 30), the 2 groups mixed to attain 11 runs within the eighth inning.
Chicago Cubs catchers are slashing .325/.423/.700 with seven residence runs and a 204 wRC+ thus far this season. San Francisco Giants catchers are slashing .149/.222/.230 with no residence runs and a 32 wRC+.
Robbie Ray was credited with the win regardless of beginning and dealing simply 4 innings when the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-4 on April 11. The Giants performed simply 5 innings on protection within the rain-shortened contest, making Ray eligible for the win. As Tyler Kepner identified in The Athletic, it was the tenth prevalence within the division-play period. The five-inning-minimum rule was launched in 1950.
The New York Yankees have received 117 of their final 162 video games versus the Kansas Metropolis Royals, a stretch by which the Royals haven’t received back-to-back video games in opposition to them in anyone season (per the Texas Rangers radio broadcast).
Jason Conti went 100-for-420 with 152 whole bases and 124 strikeouts.
Jerry Sands went 100-for-420 with 154 whole bases and 126 strikeouts.
On at this time’s date in 1937, Dizzy Dean scattered 13 hits whereas going the gap because the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 in 10 innings. Johnny Mize drove in Ducky Medwick with what proved to be the deciding run.
On at this time’s date in 2007, Jon Coutlangus was credited with the primary of his 4 big-league wins because the Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1. Scott Hatteberg knotted the competition with a two-out residence run within the backside of the ninth, and Brandon Phillips plated the profitable run with a single within the tenth.
Gamers born on at this time’s date embody Doug Clarey, whose lone big-league hit was a Sixteenth-inning residence run that gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park on April 28, 1976. An infielder, Clarey appeared in 9 video games for the Cardinals however got here to the plate simply 4 occasions.
Additionally born on at this time’s date was Harry Agganis, a multi-sport star who died of a pulmonary embolism at age 26 halfway by means of the 1955 season. A primary baseman with the Boston Purple Sox, “The Golden Greek” had excelled as a quarterback at Boston College and is a member of the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Farmer Vaughn performed for 2 American Affiliation groups in 1891. A catcher who additionally noticed time at different positions, the Ruraldale, Ohio native suited up for the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Kelly’s Killers.
