Philadelphia Phillies: Three players that need to disappear
By Rick Soisson
Three Philadelphia Phillies Players That Need to Disappear
Nick Pivetta
It might initially seem a difficult task to decide whether starter-reliever Nick Pivetta or starter-reliever-starter Vince Velasquez should be jettisoned first. Both have left 26 years of age in the rearview mirror, both have lifetime losing records, and neither has a lifetime nor yearly WHIP below 1.300 in the last three years.
Both pitchers suffer from pitch location issues. For those watching every day, it seems as though this translates often to Velasquez throwing too many pitches, but “surviving,” whereas Pivetta’s mistakes seem to end up in the seats. With a similar number of career innings thrown, allowing for the minor difference in MLB career length to date, the number that may well be a scale-tipper is home runs surrendered. Pivetta is giving up 23 per season, Velasquez 16.6 (in 166 and 161 innings on average, respectively).
Both pitchers throw peak fastballs over 96 mph, but another deciding factor may be that Velasquez shows flashes of what might be called ultra-brilliance. Early in his career he struck out 16 Padres in a game, and in June of 2018, he held the potent Rockies hitless for 6.1 innings.
If the “CHANGE OF SCENERY” jersey goes to Herrera, the one Pivetta truly seems to need should read “NEW PITCHING COACH.” Now, of course, it could be argued that the right-hander will be getting that in Philadelphia, but can that new Philadelphia Phillies hire guarantee he will teach Pivetta location focus?
In other words, when Pivetta misses, he misses by more than Velasquez does. In the modern game, “right down the middle” translates to a 19-degree launch angle and 430 feet.
Pivetta isn’t arbitration-eligible until 2021 but is not yet signed for 2020. Replace him with a left-handed pitcher, either a starter or reliever.