One Pitch Might Turn This Pitcher Into the Twins Future Closer

You left out Aggie as a converted SP who turned in to  an outstanding RP.

I am pleased the staff is tossing Alcala out tbere in high leverage situations. I mean, really, at this point what do You have to do other than develop and get ready for next year? 

Rogers is looking better. Duffey is looking like his "old self". Robles is either a trade candidate for a marginal prospect or someone you would bring back because of stuff and career numbers. Alcala's velocity and slider look REAL! But YES, he needs something else despite IP and experience. We forget sometimes what a "change" is. Does he need a straight '"change up" or a split pitch or a cutter or a "slurve" variation, Maybe he needs to talk with Duffey more. Maybe this is where Johnson starts to re-earn his reputation . Let's get Alcala ramped up for the future even if there are some growing pains.

Great year for him to work on the change so he is a ninth inning option in 2022.  Excellent article, thanks.

Another pitch would make a lot of RPs more effective.  Not being able to throw another pitch is why they are RPs instead of SPs.  That said, I hope he is able to develop a change-up.

44 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Another pitch would make a lot of RPs more effective.  Not being able to throw another pitch is why they are RPs instead of SPs.  That said, I hope he is able to develop a change-up.

Well said Captain Obvious!  If I lost 80 pounds, I wouldn't be fat.  If Arraez were two feet taller, he could play for the Timberwolves.

I would not mention Rogers in the same sentence as Nathan or Perkins or Aggie. He has never had that "Killer" instinct. You never get the feeling the inning or game is over like you do with a real closer!

I believe location and changing of speed are the two most important part of pitching.  Sliders can be good mixed with a good fastball, but fastball changeup has always been a great combo.  If you can locate the changeup and have it truly look like a fastball.  I think every hitter will say change in velo is hardest to adjust to.  I think every pitcher needs to work on changeups, or at least learn to change speeds of pitches they throw. 

Actually you can go back to Worthington and Mike Marshall!  

Let's hope Alcala can develop into that great RP - so far his results do not warrant it, but in a lost year an experiment is worth while since Rogers still is not the dominant reliever that he once was and neither is Robles. 

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

Well said Captain Obvious!  If I lost 80 pounds, I wouldn't be fat.  If Arraez were two feet taller, he could play for the Timberwolves.

Would you feel better if I had suggested it is easier said than done or it would be great if all our pitchers developed another effect pitch.  I guess I could have responded the same way to the OP but I thought it was fair to suggest developing a change-up would make Alcala a great RP just as I thought it was fair to point out this is relatively true for all pitchers.  Lighten up Francis! 

Alcala needs to be the 7th or 8th option out of the pen next year.  The bullpen was a major failure, and a good pen makes up for just about everything.

3 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Actually you can go back to Worthington and Mike Marshall!  

In ‘79, Marshall appeared in 90 games...and finished 84, while pitching 143 innings...as a reliever...with 81 K’s.

Game hasn’t changed much, has it? ?

In my opinion, a pitcher should NEVER throw a pitch he has less than perfect control of, when  a man is on 3b.  NEVER!

1 hour ago, jkcarew said:

In ‘79, Marshall appeared in 90 games...and finished 84, while pitching 143 innings...as a reliever...with 81 K’s.

Game hasn’t changed much, has it? ?

Mike Marshall was one of my favorite players and who recently passed away. Iron Mike was a great security blanket for a pitching staff knowing he could throw 1-3 innings at any time really. His own knowledge of the human body and movement (earned a Doctor of Philosophy in exercise physiology) allowed him to develop himself into one the greatest workhorse pitchers ever. If you have never checked out his career and stats, do it, pretty amazing numbers. Can you believe he pitched 208.3 innings in relief in 1974? Makes my elbow hurt just thinking about it. And if you ever needed a brainiac to figure out the logistics of anything, Mike was your man.

I'm a big fan of Alcala, but he's a guy who is still learning how to pitch (not unusual, really). He's got a great fastball and the slider plays very nicely too but he's still learning how to set up hitters to get the K. He's got the stuff to get it done and I think he has the mentality as well. If he can develop the change as the off-speed offering to throw at lefties to play off his excellent fastball, then I think he'll be a terrific weapon in the late innings.