Pat Neshek.

by Justin & Joe on Jun 12, 2007 11:32 PM EDT

Last season he put up great numbers, but got hit around a bit by left-handed hitters.
This year, however, he's been ever better against left-handed then right-handed hitters. Is there any reason to believe that he can't be a dominate RP for the next decade?

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neshek

I'm a devil rays fan from MN,
so I don't pay a great amount of attention to the twins, but I believe he added a changeup and it's been helping him out against lefties.

by god allah star on Jun 12, 2007 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

Doesn't have great velocity

but he has very good command, closer mentality, a couple good pitches, great movement, and an arm angle that is very hard to pick up. I think he'll be in line for a closer role after Nathan or if he moves somewhere else along the way.

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by was385 on Jun 12, 2007 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

What?

Did he lose velocity this season?? Because the 5 times I saw him pitch last season his fastball sat at 93-95.

by Tyler on Jun 13, 2007 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

He may

have been throwing just changeups and breaking stuff or the gun may have been off but tonight he was working in the 87-89 mph range, which seems too high for either a change or breaking pitch. I'm not a Twins fan so if his velocity is usually higher, I won't argue.

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by was385 on Jun 13, 2007 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Ive seen him....

... throw pretty consistant 92-94 against the Tigers and others. I think I saw him touch 95 once even though I dont know about that. I do know Ive seen him sit 92-94 though.

by grozzy on Jun 13, 2007 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Pat Neshek Is God

Puts up possibly the best numbers of any reliever in the game.

He is nasty, nearly unhittable.

Mike Zagurski Fan Club

by Grrranderson on Jun 13, 2007 12:16 AM EDT reply actions

The sample size

is starting to get large enough to be meaningful. In a few different ways.

by siddfynch on Jun 13, 2007 2:56 AM EDT reply actions

And...

And he's got a cool website - www.patneshek.com

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." -Red Barber

by e 6 on Jun 13, 2007 8:25 AM EDT reply actions

Last year

I saw him against the Jays last year, he didn't throw that hard 87-91, but the Jays couldn't make contact with anything. Some of the fastballs didn't even look like they were moving and they made the hitters look bad.

Rios is the next Juan Gonzales, thats right, I said it.

by KaoticKlown on Jun 13, 2007 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

i heart pat neshek

but usually the league eventually catches up to these trick-delivery guys. just saying.

by jpahk on Jun 13, 2007 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

Like who?

nm.

by Sulla on Jun 13, 2007 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

hmm

lefties hit neshek decent last year...

this year they are hitting like .105 off him...i think he's doing the catching up, not the batters.

by hotshotschamp on Jun 13, 2007 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

let's not get carried away

lefties have 40 AB against him this year. obviously it's great that he's held them to 4 hits, but drawing any kind of conclusion based on 40 AB is pretty foolish.

by jpahk on Jun 13, 2007 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Change-up

He's developed a change-up that lefties can't sniff, which is why righties are actually hitting better than lefties against him. When you have an OBA of .110, it doesn't make much difference who you're facing.

cmathewson

by cmathewson on Jun 13, 2007 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions

like chad bradford

to name an example off the top of my head.

by jpahk on Jun 13, 2007 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Like Bying-Hyun Kim

He was "unhittible" for a year or so.

by strums on Jun 13, 2007 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Another one

Dontrelle Willis

Vice-Chairman of the Sonnanstine Underground Railroad

by Brickhaus on Jun 13, 2007 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Dan Quisenberry

and Kent Tekulve

cmathewson

by cmathewson on Jun 13, 2007 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

You wouldn't know them

Since the league caught up to them. As people see more of his delivery its going to easier for them to pick up his pitches. That is true for everyone. Buty its not clear how much Neshek's delivery is the key to his success. Neshek throws harder than the typical submarine guy. He is not a junk baller.

by TT @ Minor League Ball on Jun 15, 2007 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

neshek

ive seen him throw 93-94 quite a few times this year.

He's a dominant pitcher, and it's very hard for batters to get a good look at the ball, as his release is so dang funky....some of his pitches really dance.