The Detroit Tigers are in a dogfight with simply six video games remaining on the schedule. Not solely is their lead within the American League Central down to 1 recreation over the Cleveland Guardians — their opponent the subsequent three nights — a Wild Card berth is not any certain factor in the event that they don’t cling on to win the division. As my colleague Kiri Oler identified simply yesterday, whereas their chances are high promising on paper, “the error bars on these odds are enormous.” So as to stave off what may fairly be deemed a collapse, a Tigers workforce that has misplaced 9 out of their final 10 is badly in want of wins down the stretch.
A trio of pitchers who will assist decide Detroit’s destiny had been the topic of a current dialog I had with Dan Hubbs. Now the bullpen coach for the Athletics, Hubbs was the Tigers’ director of pitching growth in 2019 and 2020, a time through which Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, and Will Vest had been all on the doorstep of the majors. Skubal (who made his main league debut in 2020) is slated to begin tonight, whereas Mize (additionally 2020) will probably be on the mound over the weekend, and Vest (2021) has a team-leading 21 saves.
Heading into the 2020 season, Skubal was no. 4 on our Tigers prospect rankings with a 50 FV, Mize was ranked no. 2 with a 60 FV, and Vest was no. 36 with a 35+ FV. How did Hubbs view them then, and what does he see from them — albeit from a distance — 5 years later? That was what I wished to know.
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Hubbs on Tarik Skubal:
“With Tarik, it was getting him to command the arm facet just a little bit extra. He was at all times form of cross physique and ran balls in on guys, and he would pitch up. He’s at all times had the mindset. I imply, he’s an animal on the mound, and at all times attacking the strike zone. So, one of many greatest issues now could be that he instructions the arm facet. However what has actually modified is that he by no means had the changeup that he has now. That’s taken him to a complete completely different stratosphere. He throws 100 [mph], then he has this changeup that he can throw in opposition to [righties or lefties], interchangeably along with his fastball.
“He was once primarily fastball/slider, and now he’s fastball/changeup with the occasional slider. Having a pitch that comes straight out of the hand identical to a heater that he can throw 12 mph [slower] makes it actually exhausting for a hitter. And it’s acquired good motion, too. I believe that’s the greatest factor that has taken him from being an excellent pitcher to being the perfect of the perfect.
“The changeup wasn’t one thing I labored with him on. He actually developed it after he got here again from the forearm pressure a few years in the past, in order that was as a result of guys who’re there now. With me, it was primarily engaged on path to the plate and maintaining him within the strike zone. He was excellent on the alt website, after which he clearly acquired known as up in August of that 12 months. He hasn’t appeared again.”
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On Casey Mize:
“With Casey, it was extra about simply refining his… he’s at all times been massive into the numbers — he is aware of how his ball strikes — so it was virtually taking a step again from that and simply attacking along with his stuff. One of many belongings you’re seeing now could be that he’s throwing his splitter more durable once more. That pitch has come again and been an enormous weapon for him. I believe he misplaced that his first couple years within the massive leagues. It virtually appeared like he was making an attempt to put it fairly than assault with it. Now he’s on the assault. You see the distinction.
“[Not missing enough bats] wasn’t a priority for me. I believed he had good command, and he had a great cutter and a great break up, so it was extra about, ‘How do you utilize your stuff to maximise what you do?’ Not all people goes to overlook bats with their fastball, so how do you make your fastball helpful? There wasn’t an elite motion profile; he simply threw actually exhausting.
“Might he throw up within the zone in addition to another guys, primarily based on his arm slot and his motion profile? Possibly not as a lot, however he can throw 97 on the high if he’s acquired the hitter off of it with different issues. He simply can’t dwell up there with it. It was a matter of, ‘How does he transfer the fastball round and use all his stuff to change into the entire pitcher?’ I believe that’s what you’re seeing now.”
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On Will Vest:
“He’s had a helluva 12 months. One factor about Will is that he may at all times spin the ball higher than anyone within the group. His spin charges had been at all times off the charts, whether or not you’re trying on the slider or the curveball. He additionally threw exhausting when he got here again from the Covid [summer]. He went to tutorial league and was touching 98-99, persistently attacking the strike zone. When his velo took the leap, and along with his skill to throw these pitches, together with having a great change… I imply, he had good motion profiles on every little thing he threw.
“It was only a matter of him getting snug competing within the strike zone and never making an attempt to be too fantastic. It seems to be like he’s snug now. He assaults first pitch. He has a four-seamer that has good hop to it. He can throw each down and up. The changeup is an element, after which he has two breaking balls that may go along with it.
“I at all times felt like he was a man. I bear in mind when [manager] A.J. [Hinch] got here in. Will had simply gotten [taken in the Rule-5 draft] by the Mariners. A.J. mentioned, ‘We don’t have a ton of fellows who can actually spin the ball.’ I mentioned, ‘Properly, the Mariners took our man who may.’ So, [the Tigers] stored on observe with him, after which acquired him again. Now he’s carving out a extremely good profession for himself.”