View Full Version : Will Randy Use The Change Up More This Year?
Posada_20
01-20-06, 11:19 AM
With Randy Johnson approaching age 43, and his fastball sitting at 93-94 now instead of 96-97, do you think he would be smart to use his chang-up more this year to mix in with his slider? It could be a very effective weapon for him as hitters would not exactly be able to sit on his fastball or adjust to the slider which he hung more last year than any other year I can remember.
Thoughts?
He doesn't have a change, but he has been known to throw a splitter and a 2-seamer. The issue may be that, though he has lost something off the top end of his fastball, he may not have lost as much off the splitter, and if the separation isn't there, it may be less effective, not more effective.
Yankeeah
01-20-06, 11:29 AM
His change up is his splitter, similar to Pavano.
YankClipper5
01-20-06, 11:31 AM
He doesn't have a change, but he has been known to throw a splitter and a 2-seamer. The issue may be that, though he has lost something off the top end of his fastball, he may not have lost as much off the splitter, and if the separation isn't there, it may be less effective, not more effective.
This is right on especially given that his splitter's effectiveness seems to come because of the seperation in velocity moreso than the break on it or anything.
ryanthe13th
01-20-06, 11:32 AM
Johnson just needs to hone his slider. He was fantastic when he had it working last year, and awful when he didn't have it working.
puckmaster87
01-20-06, 11:45 AM
His fastball did occassionally sit around 96 on some nights last year. It seems that he has to get his mechanics right first, because no matter how hard you throw, unless you're throwing 99-101, you can't always blow the ball by people. The pitch Johnson needs to get right is his slider, because when he has a good slider, it's going to be almost impossible to hit.
So long as he can throw his slider 4-5mph slower than his fastball, he'll be ok.
TEPLimey
01-20-06, 03:11 PM
When Johnson's slider was on, it was money. I think he should spend a little time perfecting that pitch to make up for his loss in velocity.
That said, assuming he stays healthy, I think Johnson will have a good, if not great year with the Yankees in 2006.
JeterRodriguezSheff
01-20-06, 03:14 PM
He should get his mechanics fixed out, that is the main thing that hurt hum last year.
aeromac76
01-20-06, 03:42 PM
I agree with everyone here stating the pitch is the slider.
When Randy got hit last year, it was mostly on bad hanging sliders, not his fastball.
His fastball, even in games where he was getting banged around, creeped into the mid 90s'. It did accelerate when he got his mechanics got worked out, but he only gained a 2-3 MPH. Th real difference was the slider did not just tumble, it BROKE and hard. You can tell because people are swinging and missing at pitches that almost hit them in their feet (RH batters). When that happens, he is on.
He brings his A+ slider and he has no hit stuff even with a 93-94 MPH fastball.
ryanm1058123
01-20-06, 04:40 PM
RJ didn't lose any velocity. When his mechanics were right he was sitting at 96-98 constantly. He needs a good pitching coach (still at his advanced age) to correct his mechanics. Mel did not do that.
MattUNC2003
01-20-06, 04:51 PM
RJ didn't lose any velocity. When his mechanics were right he was sitting at 96-98 constantly. He needs a good pitching coach (still at his advanced age) to correct his mechanics. Mel did not do that.
I agree. It seemed that whenever he talked to Kerrigan last season, the next game he threw was amazing. Thus pointing to me that he had mechanical problems that slipped everytime Kerrigan wasn't there.
Now, it can only be that much better considering that Kerrigan (not to mention Guidry) will likely be standing in the BP next to him during pre-game warm ups.
I'm hoping Randy goes for 20 W's this year....
Stupid Flanders
01-20-06, 07:08 PM
I think if anything he might want to pick up the cutter
161 and River Ave.
01-20-06, 09:38 PM
He's been pitching for 15+ years. He's not gonna change all of a sudden and use his change-up.
I'm pretty sure Mel will help him out with his mechanical problems this year.
27IsNext
01-20-06, 11:48 PM
As mentioned, when he was on, he was still hitting 96-97 consistantly. With Kerrigan around, I fully expect him to have a RJ-type season, assuming he stays healthy. (Big assumption.) Randy admitted that the first-year jitters of playing in New York got to even him, and I don't think that will be a problem at all this year.
161 and River Ave.
01-21-06, 12:40 AM
I have no expectations for Johnson this year at all. Frankly, I would be happy if he made it the whole year without getting injured. The guy is 42 years old, I don't think he's going to get any better. He will be 43 late in the season. The Yankees acquired Johnson as a knee-jerk reaction to the collapse of the 2004 ALCS. In a sense, the plan was, RJ win the World Series for us in 2005, and we can suck it up the next 2 years if your garbage. So far that plan hasn't worked. There were only a few starts in which Johnson was hitting 96-97 consistently. That sounds more like an injury than it does jitters. 32 HR's allowed last year. I really think this guy is done. But hopefully i'll be eating crow in October.
27IsNext
01-21-06, 01:01 AM
He certainly isn't what he was at a younger age, but he's hardly done, IMO. If it weren't for Randy, we wouldn't have even been in the playoffs.
161 and River Ave.
01-21-06, 10:49 AM
He certainly isn't what he was at a younger age, but he's hardly done, IMO. If it weren't for Randy, we wouldn't have even been in the playoffs.
That's true. But you can also argue we don't even sniff the playoffs if not for Mariano. We also don't make the playoffs if we don't catch the magic of Small, Wang, and Chacon.
BronxBombers2005
01-23-06, 02:57 PM
He's been pitching for 15+ years. He's not gonna change all of a sudden and use his change-up.
Very good point
noneckwilliams
01-23-06, 09:30 PM
I agree. It seemed that whenever he talked to Kerrigan last season, the next game he threw was amazing. Thus pointing to me that he had mechanical problems that slipped everytime Kerrigan wasn't there.
Now, it can only be that much better considering that Kerrigan (not to mention Guidry) will likely be standing in the BP next to him during pre-game warm ups.
I'm hoping Randy goes for 20 W's this year....
I don't think it's too "pie in sky, fanboy, rose colored glasses" to believe that RJ is likely to be more consistent in his second year with the Yankees/back in the AL. 20 wins isn't out of the question. At 43 ya just never know what you're gonna get.
YANKfan47
01-24-06, 12:39 AM
i hope he uses somethin different! he got rocked last year...he needs to learn that he cant just gas people away anymore...the harder he pitches the faster the balls go out of the ball park...i think him and posada will learn that next month in pictures and cathers in the spring
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