Motte Looks for Second Pitch

[jimmcg]

Jason Motte wants to settle on an effective second pitch--slider, cutter or changeup--to go with his fastball. Although he can throw in the upper 90s, major league hitters can hit the big heater if they are sitting on it, there is no doubt about that. I hope he and Dave Duncan, perhaps with help from Yadier Molina and Marty Mason, are successful in identifying the pitch of choice.

If the Indians were willing to choose between Chris Perez and Motte in the DeRosa trade, not a foregone conclusion, I'm not yet convinced the Cardinals sent the right pitcher.

Jason Motte knows he can throw the ball really hard. The only problem is, so does the rest of the National League.

After enjoying success in the minor leagues by just overpowering hitters with his high 90’s fastball, Motte quickly found out after arriving in St. Louis that a similar strategy wouldn’t work in the big leagues.

“Up here, it’s just keeping guys off balance, trying to locate your pitches,” Motte said. “It’s location more than just going out there and rearing back and throwing. I learned a lot last year from these guys. You can’t just go out there and throw the crap out of it every time and expect it to go where you want it to. You really have to focus on where you want to throw it. It’s really location more than it is the pitch.”.............

One of the reasons for Motte’s struggles was his inability to develop a second pitch. The powerful heater was all he needed in the minor leagues, no more obvious than his 110 strikeouts in just 66 2/3 innings for Triple-A Memphis in 2008. .....

But big league hitters can hit a 100-plus mile-per-hour fastball when they know it’s coming.

Motte tried to develop a complimentary pitch during the season but couldn’t decide which one fit him best.

“I started out not knowing what I wanted to do,” Motte said. “We were kind of mixing around with a lot of stuff, whether it was a cutter or slider or changeup or this or that, trying to mess around with things.............

[Dwain]

Normally a young pitcher gets to work on those kind of things as they move through the system, but catcher turned pitcher Motte didn't have that kind of time. Now he learns on the run.

[CardsFanInCanada]

I really doubt the Indians gave the Cards the choice, that would be a strange negotiation.

I'm fairly certain both teams would preder Perez. He's more advanced and isn't looking for a second pick.

Motte might never be anything other than a 5-6 inning guy unless he finds consistency of a second pitch.

[jimmcg]

It was reported at the time of the trade that the Cardinals preferred to keep Motte over Perez. I thought then, and still do, that that was rhetoric, perhaps designed at least partly to build Motte's confidence.

[CardsFanInCanada]

Originally Posted by jimmcg

It was reported at the time of the trade that the Cardinals preferred to keep Motte over Perez. I thought then, and still do, that that was rhetoric, perhaps designed at least partly to build Motte's confidence.

I expect the Cards would say that, for the very reason you evision.

As they should, I might add.

[jimmcg]

Originally Posted by CardsFanInCanada

I expect the Cards would say that, for the very reason you evision.

As they should, I might add.

Yeah, I don't have any quarrel with it.