Laffey is actually okay against LH hitters. Not great, but okay. 2:1 control with a few Ks...he can survive there by anyone's estimation.
What I can't understand is how he can pitch for several years - including an injured season where his FB is Jamie-Moyer level minus or WORSE - and not get clubbed out of the park by RH hitters.
He's not fooling them. 226 innings vs. righties: 10.3 hits, 3.5 K, 3.9 BB/9...and his HR per 9 is just 0.63? Less than 28% extra-base hits all told?
To pull a random good year for a soft-tosser, Jamie Moyer in 2002 had a 3.32 ERA (4.03 FIP) and a changeup with enormous value. That weapon was still working at peak efficiency. He gave up 35% XBHs and .91 HR/9 to righties (which are his STRONGER side since he's a changeup pitcher).
A pitcher with better pure stuff? Felix had 3 plus weapons last year and was fairly unhittable. His HR/9 for that season matches the VERY hittable Laffey, as does his XBH percentage - exactly.
So Laffey gives up far more hits, but no more hard hits (percentage-wise) than a Cy young winner brimming with weapons, and is far better at those stats than one of the greatest deception-pitchers in history.
What in the world is Laffey doing out there to keep his head above water against righties? Is it all random luck and a house of cards about to fall down around his ears, or something else?
I'm not impressed at all with the addition - and I have to say, the dozens of NRIs we added must be making a huge negative impression for us to need to make a trade to add another #5 arm to the mix - but what is Jack seeing that makes him want this guy?
Maybe it is a shot at Luke French 2.0...but what did he expect Luke French 1.0 to do that he is not doing?
~G
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