With the acquisition of Johan Santana, the Mets added the best pitcher in baseball, and the hurler who sports the best lefthanded changeup ever thrown. (If anyone can think of a lefty with a better changeup, please post in the comments section. Cole Hamels' change isn't far behind.) Santana's change is one of, if not the best out pitch in the game, a dastardly circle-variety that floats down-and-away from righthanders in the mid-to-upper 70s, providing a stark contrast from his fastball (low-to-mid 90s) and nasty slider (80s).
The best righthanded changeup ever? That's right--with apologies to Trevor Hoffman, that pitch belongs to Pedro Martinez, who was bumped to the number two slot in the Mets rotation by the arrival of Santana. If Santana's changeup is a great pitch, than Pedro's is legendary. He throws the same circle variety as Santana, which moves down-and-in to lefthanders thanks to the pronation (counterclockwise twisting motion of the right hand upon delivery of the pitch--think of turning a doorknob to the left--which imparts a reverse, screwball spin on the ball, and wicked sinking movement due to Pedro's long fingers). Pedro's pitch has even more movement on it than Santana's, and is a truly untouchable offering when the righty has his best stuff.
Shea Stadium this year, then, will be the exhibition grounds for two of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, one future Hall-of-Famer in the twilight of his career and one moving through the peak. It will also be the place to go to see perhaps the two greatest changeups in baseball history, one thrown from the left side, and one from the right. And while you're there watching Santana and Martinez, don't be surprised to see dozens of National League hitters out on their front foot, made to look foolish by lunging at an offspeed offering from the Mets twin aces.
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2 comments:
Rod Darling is gonna have a blast this summer on SNY as he analyzes the many strikeouts amassed by Martinez and Santana.
While it is always fun to watch hitters looking foolish as they are out in front and flailing hopelessly at the changeup. It is even more enjoyable to watch them take awkward-half swings at a fastball. Not many pitchers can baffle hitters with a fastball, but since Santana throws his changeup and slider as often as his fastball, many times hitters are looking for an off-speed pitch and he blows the fastball by them. The end result is watching a fully capable Major League hitter look like Al Leiter at the plate, as the ball is already in the catcher’s glove as they begin their pathetic attempt at a swing.
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