One Quick Fix For Red Sox New Addition
Jorge Alcala might just need one tweak to find his footing
Finding value where others can’t is a valuable trait for major league organizations. Look at the Los Angeles Dodgers. They sign players who are cast off as misfits, make small changes, and reap the rewards.
Relief pitchers, in particular, can be very finicky. Their outings are short, and one bad appearance can make their entire season stat line look ugly. At the same time, because of the sample size, small changes can unlock huge potential.
Take Greg Weissert, for example. He was sent down to Triple-A Worcester after a tough stretch last season, slid over on the rubber, and has been excellent ever since. That’s all it takes sometimes. Change an approach angle, arm slot, or pitch mix, and suddenly you have a valuable pitcher that costs absolutely nothing.
The Boston Red Sox’s latest reclamation project is right-handed reliever Jorge Alcala. Alcala was brought in in exchange for a low-level prospect with the hope of reviving his career. While it’s not a guarantee, there are a few things pitching coach Andrew Bailey can try that might just do the trick.
In the first three months of 2024, Alcala had a 1.88 ERA over 28 2/3 innings. In July and August, his ERA was 5.40. One difference? He moved towards the middle of the rubber.
This season, Alcala has crept more towards the middle of the mound. While it may not be the only culprit for his performance, the swinging strike rate on his slider dropped dramatically. Against right-handed hitters, the number fell from 17.7% all the way to 3.2%.
Alcala’s slider command has also generally been worse. Far too many pitches have caught the heart of the plate, leading to some big hits. Sliding over on the rubber isn’t necessarily a fix for that problem.
Who knows, though? Maybe scooting over a tad towards third base is all he needs. It’s a game of inches, after all.
