Jesse Crain

by Sev on Jun 26, 2008 7:24 PM EDT Comment 9 comments

One earned run (home run) for Jessie Crain in 13 and a third innings this month. He has struck out 14 and walked 3. He had a 5.4 ERA in May, and it's down to 2.76 now.

Unlike some here, I don't listen to the game commentators much, so maybe it has been discussed there. But with the attention on the starting pitching, Morneau, Harris, Mauer, and Buscher, it seems his performance in this month and this winning streak is passing quietly.

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That happens sometimes, going under the radar.

But you’re right, he’s been reliable and effective and everything we’ve needed him to be so far. He’s coming back nicely from his off year, his fastball is back where it needed to be, and a couple of his sliders were filthy.

I’m happy to see him have this kind of success.

by Jesse on Jun 26, 2008 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, and on the win streak thing, I remember back in ‘06 when they were tearing up the league and it took them until they were like 24 of the last 27 in order to get big reference in sports center or BBTN, so far when watching all they do is get a mention here or a mention there, the respect isn’t totally coming yet on this (I know it’s been the Nats, D’Backs, and Padres, but still 3 consec sweeps is pretty good)

by CARXRiedmann on Jun 26, 2008 11:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A compliment for Gardy

I’ve noticed a trend… in games which Livan Hernandez starts, Jesse is usually the next guy out of the bullpen. Every time it happens, I chuckle at the poor hitters who have been trying to time 84 mph fastballs all day, and suddenly have to rachet it up to hit 95. If Gardy ever giggles in the dugout, I’m sure it’s during those moments.

by Neil on Jun 27, 2008 12:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

The bullpen has been doing a great job. They had to play a lot of innings during the starters rough patch, and they did admirably. Since then, the starters are going deeper, and the bullpen has looked great.

The other guy who is quietly making strides (though getting noticed on this site), is Kubel. Very solid over the last 6 weeks or so.

by snolls on Jun 27, 2008 12:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

4 seamer/2 seamer

I see he’s mixing both of these pitches up which I think is really helping him. The 4 seamer that he has still scares me though. It comes in at 94 while the 2 seamer is around 91-92. But the 4 seamer has next to no movement on it. If a hitters looking for it and gets it, it’s usually up and can very easily be extra bases.

by TMW on Jun 27, 2008 3:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

96

The most encouraging thing is he has his velocity back. Recall when he first came up in August 2004, he had a nasty mix of a 96 MPH four seamer, a 90 MPH slider and a 75 MPH curve ball. And he dominated through the 2005 season. Then Anderson taught him the sinker, and all of the sudden his velocity went down to 92 on the four seamer, 89 on the sinker and 86 on the slider, and he became much more hittable.

At the time, I attributed his loss in velocity to learning the sinker. But now it sees more likely it was his shoulder injuries, which he pitched through in much of 2006 and part of 2007. When they finally did surgery on him, they said the injuries had been there for “quite some time”. So apparently he had been pitching with them for a while.

The most amazing thing is the speed with which he returned to his old velocity. Nathan had similar surgery in 2000 and he didn’t make it back to the majors for good until 2003. In the interim, he couldn’t break glass with his fastball. Nathan’s recovery is more typical than Crain’s, that’s for sure.

One thing I’ve noticed, though. He’s not all the way back. Some days, he’s just touching 93, other days he hits 96, on the same guns. So he probably won’t hit 96 consistently until next year. Until then, he’ll be second in line behind Guerrier to set up Nathan.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jun 27, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

100 mph

didn’t Crain boast triple digits and upper 90’s consistently in the minors or did I imagine that up?

Gardenhire's major league career: Banjo hitting, futility infielder who couldn't lick it.
Rick Anderson's major league career: Strikethrower who never made it happen with his sub 90's fastball.
Really gives a new definition to living vicariously through other people, don't it?

by caseintheface on Jun 27, 2008 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fast guns

I read those reports. But a lot of those guns are fast. The Metrodome gun is often cited as the most accurate stadium gun in baseball, but the scouts anyways. He was hitting 96 consistently when he came up and touching 98. He touched 98 on a fast gun earlier this year, can’t remember where though.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Jun 27, 2008 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs