BBTF's Bullpen Mechanics Discussion :: Edwar Ramirez: Selling the Changeup

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Edwar Ramirez: Selling the Changeup

I don’t care who you are, what your mechanics look like and what pitches you throw. Check out Edwar Ramirez’s stats this year in the minors. Here’s the link to his stats for his minor league career.

Let me give you a brief rundown of his statistical performance:

2007: 56 2/3 IP, 26 H, 22 BB, 102 K’s, 0.79 ERA…over 16 K’s/9 between AA and AAA
2006: 56 IP, 93 K’s, ridiculous numbers (indy ball and High-A)

After a successful debut where he struck out the side, he got lit up (after a long time between appearances) in the appearance before he got sent down last time. Now that he’s back up in the bigs, I thought the timing was right for this piece.

Ordinarily, you would expect someone who puts up strikeout numbers like this to have an overpowering fastball and some nasty slider/splitter kinda pitch. Well, Edwar Ramirez doesn’t have an overpowering fastball or a killer slider. What he does throw is one of the best changeups in all of baseball. Not only does it have good movement and speed differential from his fastball, but what he does best is that he “sells” his changeup.

I have done a voice/video analysis of Ramirez that explains how he “sells” his changeup: Listen here to the analysis

I hope you enjoy and one more thing—-the “s” word is not a swear word in my vocabulary..LOL

ChadBradfordWannabe Posted: August 16, 2007 at 05:44 AM | 22 comment(s)
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1. Nick Warino Posted: August 16, 2007 at 06:49 AM (#2487190)

So, as a Red Sox fan, I should be terrified of Ramirez/Joba/Hughes + $200 MIL?

2. Athletic Supporter leads the nation in drifters Posted: August 16, 2007 at 09:24 AM (#2487207)

This is super cool as always, Carlos. I was wondering if you could do a video analysis of someone who is particularly bad at this, if such an animal existed -- or even a typical pitcher. It'd be interesting to see the difference.

3. Phil Coorey. Posted: August 16, 2007 at 09:30 AM (#2487209)

This article sux, CBW.

Only cause I am a Red Sox fan(boy)

4. We don't have dahlians at the Palace of Wisdom Posted: August 16, 2007 at 10:56 AM (#2487218)

CBW, I know that pitcher breakdowns are your specialty, but I really like the hitter breakdowns that you did for the draft this year. On that note, I think it would be awesome if you did a mini-breakdown for Justin Upton to see what exactly it is that has all of the scouts fawning over his swing.

5. a bebop a rebop Posted: August 16, 2007 at 11:18 AM (#2487221)

Really good stuff, CBW. Interesting, informative, and put together well.

(I think we need to see some more Yankees pitchers, though. The world is crying out for Kei Igawa and Brian Bruney.)

6. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: August 16, 2007 at 11:26 AM (#2487224)

(I think we need to see some more Yankees pitchers, though. The world is crying out for Kei Igawa and Brian Bruney.)

Well, Igawa is easy. He's just like Ramirez, except instead of his change-up being a diving, devastating out pitch, it's a floater that comes in letter-high and leaves as though propelled by a rocket engine.

7. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: August 16, 2007 at 12:06 PM (#2487232)

Well, Igawa is easy. He's just like Ramirez, except...his change-up being...a floater that comes...propelled by a rocket engine.

Wow, sounds awesome.

8. TVerik Posted: August 16, 2007 at 12:51 PM (#2487254)

I can imagine the problem with it right away, but I'd still like to see Carlos break down the throwing mechanics of outfielders. Matching video on those will be a big problem because they don't start from a set position too much, but a glance or two at the two or three best and the two or three worst throwers in MLB would be illustrative. For instance, my massage therapist told me that Johnny Damon's throwing motion betrays that he doesn't have normal athlete-type flexibility in his hips.

9. ChadBradfordWannabe Posted: August 16, 2007 at 01:46 PM (#2487285)

Couple of things--

1)Thanks
2)I think I'm done with Yankee pitchers for a while, although (TV E will love this) I've thought of writing one on Johnny Damon. I mentioned it one time and I got video and everything, but, just haven't gotten around to it. What's a good title for that one?
"..... Jesus....Judas....Throws like Mary" (I thought that sign was one of the most clever things ever)
3)Every time I hear the video, I realize more and more that I;m not ready for Baseball Tonight (ahs and ums all over the place...####### why can't I just speak like a regular human being...LOL)

Carlos

10. scareduck Posted: August 16, 2007 at 02:30 PM (#2487324)

Carlos -- work on that some but it's a great presentation. And yeah, I'm sick of the Yankees + $200M and an effective your pitching staff, too, not to mention the possibility of them getting off the hook for luxury taxes thanks to Yankee Stadium III. Can't they just suck for a decade or so and let the somebody else win the AL East for a change?

11. Loren F. Posted: August 16, 2007 at 02:38 PM (#2487333)

Really interesting analysis (especially for a NYY fan), and may I say this is the kind of stuff for which video and audio on the Web were invented.

12. joker24 Posted: August 16, 2007 at 09:11 PM (#2487932)

I;m not ready for Baseball Tonight (ahs and ums all over the place...####### why can't I just speak like a regular human being...LOL)

Dude, that means you're MORE than ready for Baseball Tonight.

Changeup breaks like a splitter...I'd really like to see how he grips that thing.

Requesting again for Lidge. From god-like, to Pujolsitis. Somethin's gotta be goin on...

13. jimmybob Posted: August 16, 2007 at 09:42 PM (#2487999)

With his fingers wrapped around the ball like tha on the change ups, its seems like that would be something hitters would pick up. He certainly didn't fool Dioner Navarro.

14. Long Time Reader, First time Poster Posted: August 16, 2007 at 10:12 PM (#2488032)

Carlos,

With Ramirez's arm slot and lack of deception (he is a bit of a slinger) do you have any concern that he will be hit hard by lefties? Also is his arm slot conducive to good fastball command? The times I saw him in person this year in the minors, he really struggled with his fastball command (but was able to get hitters out since he does throw hard enough (92-93 when I saw him) and his changeup is absolutely unhittable).
(Note: I'm not a Yankee fan)

15. ChadBradfordWannabe Posted: August 17, 2007 at 02:48 AM (#2488457)

With Ramirez's arm slot and lack of deception (he is a bit of a slinger) do you have any concern that he will be hit hard by lefties?

Not really. Regardless of whether the hitter is lefty or right or stand right on top of the plate and hacks down a la Captain Caveman, Ramirez's biggest issue to me will be getting strike 1. Because his changeup moves away from lefties significantly, he profiles as a guy who'll have reverse splits...but.... One of the great things he does is that he id not shy about throwing changeups to both righties and lefties. He has a sucky slider/slurve thing. Ramirez's success will be getting to 0-1, and then just throwing that changeup over and over and over.

Also is his arm slot conducive to good fastball command?

IMO, fastball command is more than just arm slot. His mechanics will make it a little harder to command. He falls off, moves the head out of the way a bit. That said, I wouldn't necessarily mess with his mechanics too much and just get him to repeat the same mechanics over and over.

Like I said in the Hughes articles, I may not be a big fan of Hughes mechanics, but he repeats his motion VERY well and that has to be a major driver of his excellent command.

16. Sloislonelyfortheorange Posted: August 20, 2007 at 07:29 AM (#2492022)

Hey, I feel like a bit of a nerd, but have you been watching any of the Little League World Series?

There's this kid from Curacao, ____ _____, who pitched pretty well today against Saudi Arabia. Since all the other kids have relatively awful mechancics, his really stood out from the lefty side.

17. Sloislonelyfortheorange Posted: August 20, 2007 at 08:30 AM (#2492026)

that would be Vincent Anthonia. I forgot to replace his name.

18. ChadBradfordWannabe Posted: August 20, 2007 at 12:12 PM (#2492041)

I've watched very little of it. I catch a couple of innings here and there. I know there was at least one kid throwing mid 70's though.

19. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: August 20, 2007 at 12:29 PM (#2492042)

Terrific stuff, Chad. Watching those last three innings yesterday had to be one of the highlights of the year, along with that Friday night game in Cleveland a couple of weeks ago when Hughes and Chamberlain paired up. Even to the yokels who were whining that the Yanks didn't go after Gagne (ha!), Cashman doesn't look so dumb anymore.

20. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: August 20, 2007 at 12:32 PM (#2492044)

Can't [America's Team] just suck for a decade or so and let the somebody else win the AL East for a change?

The Boss says he might consider that once every Red Sox fan apologizes to him personally for that "Evil Empire" slander.

21. Rough Carrigan

Posted: August 21, 2007 at 02:41 AM (#2493033)

Sure. You got it. We'll just switch to another derogatory term.

22. Chip Posted: August 21, 2007 at 02:49 AM (#2493038)

Rich Bastards?

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Edwar Ramirez: Selling the Changeup

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