Wainwright is a bit better example than the earlier mentioned ones, because he did scuffle some at AAA although it was the PCL.

 

I will note that there was a LOT more data to formulate a plan for Wainwright -- he was a HS draftee with more than twice the number of career minor league innings as Meyer to date.  (By their respective 24th birthdays, Wainwright had almost four times as many career innings as Meyer.)

But still, a team change from Atlanta. And the height/mechanics issues. And his first year spent in the Cards pen. And the Twins surely had data and film on Meyer and his control/mechanics issues for his 3 years at Kentucky (BB/9 was over 6.0), or why make the trade for Span, if they didn't have a plan?

Edited June 10, 201511 yr by jokin

 

I still think it's a form issue. They're trying to get Meyer to refine his balance point by forcing him to pitch from the set. They may also be working on abbreviating his delivery from the windup, so he can fix his control issues. If that means serving as a bullpen guy for half a season, so be it. Some pitchers end up eliminating their wind up deliver completely. Maybe Meyer is one of those guys.

 

Or is that spinning their intention to keep him in the pen?  Many relief pitchers abandon the wind-up because they often come in with guys already on base...