Moderatoren » Can he keep it going?

Through two starts Felipe Vazquez Jersey , Zimmermann is one of the best pitchers in baseball. WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Detroit Tigers AnalysisDetroit Tigers Prospect NotebookDetroit Tigers Game ThreadsDetroit Tigers NewsDetroit Tigers PodcastsDetroit Tigers PreviewsTigers vs. Indians Preview: How long will this Jordan Zimmermann stick around?New,1commentThrough two starts, Zimmermann is one of the best pitchers in baseball. Can he keep it going?EDTShareTweetShareShareTigers vs. Indians Preview: How long will this Jordan Zimmermann stick around?Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY SportsWe have seen this from Jordan Zimmermann before. The 32-year-old righthander didn’t allow a run in his first three starts in a Tigers uniform back in 2016, and took a 1.50 ERA into mid-May. He was 8-2 with a 2.58 ERA in early June that year. But, as we all know, things fell apart after that. Zimmermann only made nine appearances after that and finished the season with a 4.87 ERA.We saw it again in 2018, albeit in a smaller sample. Zimmermann struck out 11 in a dominant performance in early July, capping off a three-start stretch as impressive as any he has had since he arrived in Detroit. But even with strikeout and walk rates that rival anything else he has done in his career, he still allowed a 4.52 ERA in 25 starts.Zimmermann’s numbers through two starts in 2019 are unsustainable, but this season feels different. If nothing else, we are seeing a very different Zimmermann than in previous years.The easy answer here is that Zimmermann is utilizing a more unpredictable three-pitch mix than before. He is throwing his low-90s fastball at a career low rate (37.2 percent), with career-high slider (38.4 percent) and curveball (23.2 percent) rates. He has all but abandoned the changeup, by far his worst offering on a per-pitch basis according to FanGraphs’ pitch values.There don’t seem to be any major changes to Zimmermann’s repertoire beyond that. He hasn’t fundamentally changed any of his pitches, a la Matthew Boyd’s revamped slider, and his fastball velocity is still on the decline (as expected for his age). But assuming he stays healthy and continues to hit his spots, hitters could have a much tougher time squaring him up than they have in his three previous seasons in a Tigers uniform.Cleveland Indians (6-3) at Detroit Tigers (7-3)Time/Place: 1:10 p.m., Comerica ParkSB Nation site: Let’s Go TribeMedia: Fox Sports Detroit, MLB.TV http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-bell-jersey , Tigers Radio NetworkPitching Matchup: RHP Corey Kluber (0-2, 5.23 ERA) vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 0.66 ERA)Game 11 Pitching MatchupPitcherIPK%BB%FIPfWARPitcherIPK%BB%FIPfWARThroughout the offseason, the main question surrounding Corey Kluber was whether he would be wearing a Cleveland uniform at the start of the season. The Indians listened in on offers for their ace, but ultimately did not receive any to their liking. The thought was that by trading Kluber for talented prospects — you know, instead of just signing good free agents — the Indians could extend their competitive window for a few more years.That Cleveland didn’t strike a deal over the winter opens up a new box of questions — why wasn’t Kluber dealt? Were teams spooked by his slight regression from 2017, his declining fastball velocity, or relative lack of bite on his slider? Is Kluber, nearing age 33 (his birthday is on Wednesday), starting to decline? Some may look at his early struggles in 2019 and say yes, but, like, c’mon now. Kluber is projected for another 5.3 fWAR by ZiPS this year, and a 3.29 ERA in 2021, his age-35 season and the final one on his current contract.If we are to take anything from Kluber’s first two starts, it’s that he is reintroducing a fourth pitch. He has thrown his changeup 13.6 percent of the time so far this season, his highest rate since 2012. One of them got a lot of the blame for Kluber’s Opening Day loss, but that Marwin Gonzalez double is the only hit he has allowed on the change so far this year. The changeup seems to be a focus for Kluber in 2019 Willie Stargell Jersey , presumably as a counter to allowing 16 home runs to left-handed hitters last season (he hasn’t thrown one to a righty yet). It could also be a way to help him adapt to age-related velocity decline, giving him another weapon on days where the heater isn’t working.Key matchup: April Kluber vs. Klubot engagedRegardless of how Kluber’s ERA ended up at 5.23 following his two starts — he was very good on Opening Day before getting knocked around last time out, if we’re keeping score — this continues a longstanding trend of Kluber taking a little while to get going at the start of the year. He posted a 2.18 ERA last March and April, but gave up ERAs in the 4s in each of the previous four Aprils (including both of his Cy Young seasons).This is where the smart analysis ends, though. Does Kluber continue to struggle (and in turn, can the Tigers take advantage)? Or does he find his footing, return to the dominant force we are all too familiar with, and deliver his 12th career win against Detroit?PredictionThe Tigers take the lead in the middle innings against Kluber and hold on for the win. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Making another move to keep their core of players together, the New York Yankees agreed to a $70 million, seven-year contract with outfielder Aaron Hicks.Hicks’ agreement adds $64 million in guaranteed money over six seasons and club option for 2026 that could make it worth $81.5 million over eight seasons.“This is the organization I want to stay with,” Hicks said during a news conference Monday. “The team here is a team that I want to be with. I think it has a bright future.”A 29-year-old switch-hitter, Hicks took over as the Yankees primary center fielder last year and set career highs with 137 games, 27 homers and 79 RBIs. He agreed on Jan. 11 to a $6 million, one-year contract and would have been eligible for free agency after this season.“I’m thrilled,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s just really an elite level player.”His new, superseding deal calls for a $2 million signing bonus and keeps the $6 million salary this year. He gets $10.5 million annually from 2020-23 and $9.5 million in each of the following two seasons. The Yankees have a $12.5 million option for 2026 with a $1 million buyout.Hicks would get a $1 million assignment bonus the first time he is traded. He receives a hotel suite on road trips.“There was a lot of people questioning if he’d ever cross into being the player that his draft card said he was capable of being,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “He was hungry to prove otherwise and we were hungry to work with him on it.”Acquired from Minnesota in November 2015 http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-josh-bell-jersey , Hicks has been on the disabled list in all six of his big league seasons, nine trips in all for hamstring strains (three times), oblique strains (twice), shoulder, forearm and intercostal strains, and a concussion.With a $4 million increase in Hicks’ average annual value this year, New York’s raised its projected luxury tax payroll to about $229 million, well above the $206 million threshold and past the first surtax level. The Yankees would pay a 20 percent tax on the first $20 million above the threshold and at a 32 percent rate on the next $20 million.“Those are real dollars that have taxable consequences because we’re already in a tax threshold, but it’s an example of an owner trying to walk that line of the present and the future,” Cashman said. “We’re lucky that ownership is directing their blessings on a lot of things.”New York didn’t pay luxury tax in 2018, the first time the Yankees were under the threshold since the tax started in 2003. By falling under, the Yankees reset their tax rates, which had been 50 percent on the first $20 million over and 62 percent on the next $20 million.“The last few years because of our efforts to get under the luxury tax and reset that clock prevented us from having any conversions like this with anybody because it was prohibitive,” Cashman said. “Since we reset the clock, now we’re in a position to be opened minded and try to work through opportunities that may exist.”New York has not given many multiyear contracts to players under its control in recent years, but the Yankees gave right-hander Luis Severino a $40 million, four-year deal on Feb. 15.Shortstop Didi Gregorius and reliever Dellin Betances remain eligible for free agency after this season. In addition, right fielder Aaron Judge and catcher Gary Sanchez become eligible for salary arbitration next winter.Hicks received just the fourth multiyear contract this offseason among more than 175 players eligible for arbitration after Severino Roberto Clemente Jersey , Philadelphia pitcher Aaron Nola ($45 million for four years) and Minnesota right fielder Max Kepler ($35 million for five years).DIAPER DANDYHicks said his son born last month had a lot to do with his decision. “Definitely, now I don’t have to worry about buying diapers,” a smiling Hicks said. “I’m extremely excited about that.”MENTORINGHicks acknowledged the role his former teammate with the Minnesota Twins, Torii Hunter, played in his career. “One of my mentors for believing in me and getting me started on the right track to becoming a better player,” Hicks said. “I owe a lot to him.”STAYING PUTFormer Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte has been hired as a special adviser to Cashman. Pettitte, 46, said he did talk recently with former teammate and Miami CEO Derek Jeter about a similar role with Marlins. “Nothing really went that far,” Pettitte said. Pettitte was a five-time World Series champion and three-time All-Star with New York. He pitched for the Yankees from 1995-03, spent three years with his home-state Houston Astros, then pitched for the Yankees from 2007-13. Former Yankees’ catcher Jorge Posada is at spring training as a special adviser to Jeter.MORE MOUNDPettitte watched reliever Adam Ottavino sailed through his second simulated game by getting a strikeout and three grounders. The right-hander has struck out five of eight batters over two sim games. Closer Aroldis Chapman, slowed by knee problems last season, threw 20 pitches during his first batting practice session.