Juan Nieves

[Julian]

A former pitcher, not a stellar career, but once threw a no hitter.

 

Is he the reason the RS pitching staff is doing so well?

 

Who found this guy? What is the connection to Farrell?

 

Could a pitching coach make this much difference?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/pitching

Edited July 5, 2013 by Julian

[redsoxfan3]

A former pitcher, once threw a no hitter.

 

Is he the reason the RS pitching staff is doing so well?

 

Who found this guy? What is the connection to Farrell?

 

Could a pitching coach make this much difference?

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/pitching

 

To be honest, I think it is a matter of team chemistry and playing with better team chemistry. I know that team chemistry will not allow a pitcher to go out there and pitch a good baseball game, but the environment in the clubhouse and having fun does a lot psychologically in the minds of the players. With playing under Farrell and the other coaches, you can see how different it is than last year.

 

In terms of Nieves himself being the reason that the pitchers are having success, it is hard to say that he is the sole reason for it. I think he is a reason why, but it is a combination of new management and him working with John Farrell.

 

Buchholz has always had potential to be a great pitcher. Lackey has proven that he is finally healthy, which is obviously when anyone performs their best. Lester, Doubront, and Dempster have all been starting to get on the right track. Webster is a top prospect with a lot of potential. It is hard to say anyone is the reason for the success that our pitchers are having. It has to be a combination of a better playing environment, better management, and the pitchers all reaching their potential at the same time.

 

I don't know much about his connection with Farrell. I do know that Farrell chose Nieves over Rick Peterson. I think it was just a matter of Farrell knowing something about Nieves that he thought would work well under his management and with the players. I do know that Nieves has ties to New England as well. It was probably just a matter of Farrell felt that Nieves was the right guy for the job.

 

I think it is hard to say that Nieves is making that much of a difference by himself, although he does deserve some of the credit. The knowledge and the experience that both Nieves and Farrell have is a plus for this team. It also helps that Farrell already knew some of the pitchers from his time as a pitching coach in Boston. This is probably just pure speculation, but I think that it is probably a plus for Nieves that Farrell was once in his position in Boston and can always get some help from him.

[Palodios]

He is probably part of solution, but the pitching staff is probably doing better because of the improved communication within the team. It seems like every time a pitcher on the staff has shown a flaw in his mechanics or his demeanor, someone from the coaching staff has stepped in and helped him correct it. We've heard talk about changes in the mechanics of Lester and Dempster, which seem to have helped both. We've heard about how Pedro stepped in to help fat-Doubront get his head back into the game. Lackey's antics on the mound have mostly gone away. I also think that Salty has finally gotten in a groove with the staff, and it seems like they are much more comfortable throwing to him than in years past.

[Thunder]

I think Farrell is the reason to the pitching staff's success. Buchholz, Lester, and Doubront worked with him in the past when Farrell was PC. Lackey had great coaches during his good LA years, so that must be all he needs to succeed. I think that Farrell easily wins AL Manager of the Year, the only competition being Tito, but only if the Guardians finish first by 5+ games in the Central.

[RedSoxNC84]

I think Nieves has some contributions to their success. The tandem of Farrell and Nieves has saw almost the entire starting staff make changes to their mechanics, the most notable improvements in performance coming from Buchholz and Lackey. All of the starting 5 have fooled around with different release points, moving closer to first base on the rubber, etc. This at first made a very obvious impact.

[Julian]

I think Nieves has some contributions to their success. The tandem of Farrell and Nieves has saw almost the entire starting staff make changes to their mechanics, the most notable improvements in performance coming from Buchholz and Lackey. All of the starting 5 have fooled around with different release points, moving closer to first base on the rubber, etc. This at first made a very obvious impact.

 

It seems to me the pitching coach came out of nowhere. I think Farrell identifies good people and that is a plus.

 

Lets hope they can fix Bailey.

 

BTW, I love the Japanese duo. That is what baseball is all about!

[Behindenemylines]

You haven't heard anything about Nieves so he has to be doing something right. Between Farrell and Nieves the pitchers are doing better then any of us could have imagined. They still have to solve Bailey's problem and get Lester to be more consistent. Sox only go as far as their pitching.