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Garrett Cleavinger’s Five-Pitch Mix Shines on Sunday

Garrett Cleavinger’s Five-Pitch Mix Shines on Sunday

The Tampa Bay Rays have consistently demonstrated their ability to maximize the potential of pitchers who have been overlooked by other teams, and Garrett Cleavinger is a stellar representation of this trend. Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2022 in exchange for German Tapia, this talented 30-year-old left-handed pitcher faced challenges in 2023, participating in only 12 games due to a knee injury. However, his previous year showed promise with a career-high of 68 appearances, achieving a commendable 3.75 ERA and an impressive 26.7% strikeout rate across 60 relief innings. This performance included securing seven wins and six saves, solidifying his position as a reliable arm in the bullpen.

One of Cleavinger’s standout attributes is his ability to throw a high-velocity fastball, with his four-seamer averaging 96.3 mph, placing him in the 84th percentile for velocity among all pitchers. Recognizing this strength, I inquired of the Lawrence, Kansas native about his identity as a power pitcher. His response provided insight into his pitching philosophy.

“It’s definitely a component of my game,” Cleavinger shared at the conclusion of the 2024 season. “I wouldn’t categorize myself as a precision command pitcher like some of my peers—though I do wish I was a bit sharper in that area—but utilizing power stuff from the bullpen aligns well with how I pitch.” His perspective highlights the balance between power and precision that many relief pitchers strive to achieve.

Cleavinger’s arsenal is another significant facet of his pitching profile, showcasing his development as a versatile pitcher. Once a closer at the University of Oregon, he now employs a five-pitch repertoire, with even his least-utilized pitch being thrown more than 10% of the time. According to Baseball Savant, the composition of his pitches includes: cutter (26.3%), four-seamer (24.8%), slider (22.0%), sweeper (17.4%), and two-seamer (9.5%). Notably, two of these pitches were introduced only recently, enhancing his effectiveness on the mound.

“The addition of the cutter and sweeper occurred this season,” Cleavinger elaborated. “I developed the sweeper during the offseason and the cutter during spring training. Last year, I relied solely on a slider, which was a blend of the two pitches. By separating them, I was able to create distinct offerings, providing me with more options and looks against hitters.” This evolution in his pitching strategy is a testament to his commitment to improvement and adaptability.

His clarification about whether he truly has a five-pitch arsenal or merely four distinct pitches prompted further inquiry. I sought to understand the nuances of his pitching repertoire.

“It’s fundamentally four pitches: four-seam, two-seam, sweeper, and cutter,” Cleavinger confirmed. “I phased out the old slider, as it has transformed into the two new pitches. What often happens is when my cutter gains depth, it can sometimes be mistaken for a slider. So, while I recognize my repertoire consists of four pitches, I understand why it might be recorded as five.” His insight into the complexities of pitch classification underscores the evolving nature of pitching strategies in modern baseball.

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UNIQUE HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Roberto Clemente delivered a remarkable performance against Johnny Podres, going 47 for 117 in their encounters.

Tony Gwynn had a stellar batting average of 39 for 91 when facing Greg Maddux, showcasing his prowess against elite pitching.

Dave Winfield excelled with a 23 for 52 showing against John Montefusco, highlighting his ability to capitalize on pitching matchups.

Chase Headley found success with a 13 for 30 record against Rick Porcello, demonstrating his effectiveness against this right-handed pitcher.

Luis Arraez made an impressive 10 for 16 against Brandon Pfaadt, illustrating his strong offensive capabilities.

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Brennan Bernardino has proven to be a late bloomer in the world of baseball. The Boston reliever spent nearly a decade in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2022 at the age of 30. After being waived by the Mariners, he was acquired by the Red Sox, who recognized his potential. Bernardino has since put together two statistically comparable seasons. In 2023, he made 55 appearances, giving up 48 hits and 18 walks while striking out 58 batters over 50 and two-thirds innings. This past year, he appeared in 57 games, allowing 50 hits and 22 walks, with 56 strikeouts across 51 innings.

While the numbers are remarkably similar, his ERA tells a different story, rising from 3.20 to 4.06 (4.37 if you exclude his three starts as an opener). Interestingly, his expected ERA (xERA) was lower at 3.88 compared to his actual 4.06 in his 2023 rookie season, yet this statistic offers little comfort to the left-hander.

“I’m not particularly fond of expected metrics,” Bernardino stated on the final day of the season. “To me, expected numbers seem like a different realm of fantasy. The real question is whether you got the job done or not. Sometimes, luck plays a significant role. I feel I didn’t perform to my highest potential this year.”

Specifically, Bernardino struggled during the latter half of the season. In the first half, he held opponents to a .219/.308/.281 slash line, a remarkable feat. In contrast, those figures ballooned to .309/.400/.580 in the second half, indicating a significant drop in performance. In many ways, he experienced two distinct seasons within one year.

“I was more consistent [in 2023],” Bernardino reflected. “I was very satisfied with my first half, but the second half was disappointing. Regardless of the overall stats, I didn’t do enough to support the team. I need to improve my performance next year.”

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In a compelling debate, which pitcher will have the more successful MLB career: Jackson Jobe or Roki Sasaki? Both are highly regarded as Baseball America’s top-ranked pitching prospects, and recent results from a Twitter poll suggest a tight race. Jobe narrowly edged Sasaki with 50.4% of the votes compared to 49.6% for Sasaki.

Personally, I lean towards Jobe as the player with the edge for a successful career in the majors.

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Here’s a trivia question:

Which pitcher holds the record for the most wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched in the history of the Florida/Miami Marlins franchise? (Hint: He was originally part of the Chicago Cubs organization before being traded to the Marlins.)

The answer is located below.

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LATEST MLB NEWS AND UPDATES

The Colorado Rockies have appointed Charlie Blackmon as a special assistant to the general manager. The 38-year-old veteran, who spent 14 seasons in the majors exclusively with Colorado, announced his retirement in September. Blackmon ranks second in franchise history across multiple categories, including games played, hits, and total bases.

Jeff Torborg, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1964-1970 and the California Angels from 1971-1973, passed away last Sunday at the age of 93. Torborg later managed five major league teams and was behind the plate for no-hitters thrown by legends such as Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan, and Bill Singer.

Bobby Cuellar, a right-handed pitcher who made four appearances for the Texas Rangers in 1977, passed away earlier this week at age 72. The Alice, Texas native allowed only one run in six and two-thirds MLB innings, with the only blemish coming from a home run by Dave Kingman.

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The answer to the trivia question is Ricky Nolasco, who won 81 games with the Marlins after being acquired from the Cubs in December 2005. If you guessed Dontrelle Willis, he ranks second in wins and innings pitched and fourth in strikeouts. Like Nolasco, he also joined Miami through a trade from the Cubs, though that was in March 2002.

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Termarr Johnson was highlighted in a recent FanGraphs article, where the 20-year-old prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates discussed his left-handed hitting approach. Drafted fourth overall by the NL Central team in 2022, Johnson is ranked among the top talents in the Pirates’ system.

During November’s GM Meetings in San Antonio, I inquired about Johnson’s potential with Pirates general manager Ben Cherington.

“He brings evident strengths to the table,” Cherington remarked. “He possesses a keen understanding of the strike zone, impressive bat speed, and the ability to hit the ball hard. However, there are areas where we need to enhance his contact rate. He is confident and aware of the paths forward, and he is actively working on them, which lays a solid foundation for his future.”

Following up, I asked Cherington to elaborate on what he meant by “enhancing the contact rate.”

“There are several aspects to consider,” Cherington explained. “He is exceptionally skilled at recognizing balls and strikes, but occasionally he might see a strike and attempt to swing when it’s not the best pitch for him. He ends up swinging at strikes that don’t align with his strengths.

“We are collaborating with him on timing and mechanical adjustments to position himself to consistently make contact within the strike zone,” Cherington continued. “There’s some swing-and-miss that we believe can be improved. He has a strong starting point with his ability to read the strike zone, bat speed, and exit velocity for his age, which suggests that he is on an upward trajectory.”

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Andruw Jones compiled an impressive career with 67.0 fWAR (62.7 bWAR), including 1,933 hits, 434 home runs, and 3,690 total bases, alongside a 111 wRC+. A five-time All-Star, he earned 10 Gold Gloves during his time in the league.

Jim Edmonds recorded 64.5 fWAR (60.4 bWAR), amassing 1,949 hits, 393 home runs, and 3,615 total bases, with a 132 wRC+. A four-time All-Star, he also received eight Gold Gloves for his defensive prowess.

This year, Jones appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for the eighth time, garnering 66.2% support from the BBWAA electorate. With two years remaining and momentum building, his chances for induction into Cooperstown appear promising.

In contrast, Edmonds received a mere 2.5% of the vote in 2016, his only year on the ballot. Several factors contributed to this, primarily the presence of a dozen players who have since been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including legends like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jeff Kent, Mark McGwire, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, and Sammy Sosa. This overwhelming competition likely left few voters room for Edmonds on their ballots.

It’s unfortunate, as a compelling argument can be made for Edmonds being at least as deserving as Jones. Hopefully, he will receive the recognition he deserves from a future committee.

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INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL DEVELOPMENTS

The Caribbean Series is set to commence on Friday, January 31, with all games available in English on MLB Network. The championship game is scheduled for February 7.

Willians Astudillo posted a slashing line of .281/.361/.381 with three home runs over 185 plate appearances while playing for the Venezuelan Winter League’s Caribes de Anzoategui. The 32-year-old former catcher-infielder for the Minnesota Twins and Miami Marlins last appeared in the majors in 2022 and spent part of 2023 with the NPB’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

Morgan McCullough has reportedly signed with Regensburg Legionäre in the German Bundesliga. A Seattle native, the 27-year-old infielder was released by the Mariners last summer after five seasons in affiliated baseball across three organizations. Earlier this winter, McCullough participated in the Australian Baseball League with the Melbourne Aces.

Jaylin Rae, an infielder/outfielder for the Sydney Blue Sox, was awarded ABL Rookie of the Year honors. The 23-year-old from Sydney played collegiately at Charleston Southern and Western Kentucky.

The Canberra Cavalry will take on the Perth Heat in a best-of-three championship series starting this Friday. Perth advanced by defeating the two-time defending champion Adelaide Giants, while Canberra triumphed over the Sydney Blue Sox in the other semifinal.

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Among Albert Belle, Dwight Evans, Kenny Lofton, and Dale Murphy, who is the most deserving of Hall of Fame recognition? With the 2026 Contemporary Era ballot in sight, I conducted a poll earlier this week to gather opinions on this intriguing question. While these former outfielders may not represent the best candidates available, they offer a compelling mix for discussion.

Instead of detailing each player’s full accomplishments, here are their WAR totals, arranged from lowest to highest:

Belle: 41.0 fWAR, 40.1 bWAR.
Murphy: 44.3 fWAR, 46.5 bWAR.
Lofton: 62.4 fWAR, 68.4 bWAR.
Evans: 65.1 fWAR, 67.2 bWAR.

In my view, Evans and Lofton are neck-and-neck for Hall of Fame consideration. However, the poll results tell a different story. Lofton emerged as the favorite, garnering 44.1% of the votes, while Evans received 23.4%. Interestingly, Murphy placed second with 24.1%. Belle’s 8.3% finish was as expected. The reasons for Murphy’s higher preference over Evans may stem from his seven All-Star selections and two MVP awards, adding an intriguing layer to the Hall of Fame debate.

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A snapshot of a lesser-known former player:

Ray Fisher served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 1921-1958 while being banned from professional baseball. A native of Middlebury, Vermont, Fisher secured 76 wins with the New York Highlanders/Yankees from 1910-1917. After missing the 1918 season due to military service, he returned to the mound and went 14-5 with the Cincinnati Reds in 1919, culminating in the team’s World Series victory over the Chicago “Black Sox.”

Fisher ended the following season with a 10-11 record and faced a pay cut in his contract, leading to a salary dispute. Ultimately, he chose to accept the coaching position at Michigan instead of remaining with the Reds. Following a tumultuous situation—a detailed account of which can be found here—Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis imposed the ban.

Decades later, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn reinstated Fisher, who by then was a nonagenarian and had led Michigan to an impressive 636-295-8 record, 15 Big Ten Conference titles, and the school’s first College World Series championship. Since 1970, the University of Michigan baseball team has called Ray Fisher Stadium home.

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MLB LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Matt Snyder examined active players who are on track for Hall of Fame induction.

Bill Shaikin reported on the Dodgers and their approach to deferred contracts for The Los Angeles Times.

At Bless You Boys, Brandon Day shared insights on 21-year-old Detroit Tigers infield prospect Hao-Yu Lee, a Taiwanese player who posted an impressive 141 wRC+ while playing at Double-A Erie during an injury-shortened season.

Recent disclosures from federal prosecutors have revealed an audio recording that further implicates former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara in defrauding Shohei Ohtani. Evan Drelich and Sam Blum collaborated on this story for The Athletic (subscription required).

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INTERESTING FACTS AND STATISTICS

Ichiro Suzuki recorded a .207/.276/.253 batting line in 100 plate appearances against the San Francisco Giants, while he excelled with a .419/.443/.500 line against the Houston Astros.

Ty Cobb, Ichiro, and Tris Speaker rank second, fifth, and seventh, respectively, on the all-time singles list, each finishing their careers with 117 home runs.

Ichiro achieved the remarkable feat of recording 10 seasons with 200 or more hits, reaching base 3,791 times. In contrast, Ted Williams had no seasons with 200 or more hits but reached base 4,714 times throughout his career.

Between 2010-2013, Ryan Braun hit 118 home runs, drove in 364 RBIs, and was successful on 81 of 102 stolen base attempts. During the same timeframe, Carlos González matched Braun with 118 home runs and 364 RBIs, while going 87 for 108 in stolen bases.

Kenley Jansen boasts a record of 7-1 with 58 saves and a 2.50 ERA over 100 appearances against the Arizona Diamondbacks. These statistics represent his highest totals against any single team.

CC Sabathia achieved a 15-6 record with a 2.67 ERA in 30 starts against the Seattle Mariners, while he had an 11-12 record with a 4.63 ERA in 33 starts against the Oakland Athletics.

On this date in 2010, the Minnesota Twins signed Jim Thome as a free agent. The Hall of Fame slugger subsequently hit 37 of his 612 career home runs while playing for the AL Central team.

On this date in 2012, the Detroit Tigers signed Prince Fielder as a free agent. The powerful first baseman played two seasons in Detroit, hitting 55 home runs and achieving a 139 wRC+.

Notable players born on this date include Brandon Medders, who recorded a 16-7 record with a 3.61 ERA over 210 relief appearances for the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants from 2005-2010. His only career save came against the D-Backs.

Another player born on this date, Cesar Gutierrez, is known for going 7-for-7 for the Detroit Tigers in a 12-inning victory against the Cleveland Indians on June 21, 1970. Throughout his career, the light-hitting shortstop logged 128 hits, none of which were home runs, while playing for the Tigers and San Francisco Giants from 1967-1971.

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