The Newbie Chronicles XVIII: Matt Barnes

[Sprowl]

Kelly, De la Rosa, Webster, Workman, Ranaudo, Wright and now Matt Barnes are the latest to audition for the also-ran 2014 Red Sox. Barnes exceeded expectations in his first major-league appearance, showing 95 velocity over three innings, a very effective changeup with strong horizontal movement, and a meh curve. The changeup is the most important component. Barnes had stagnated in the minors because he couldn't come up with a secondary pitch -- plus command of a plus fastball will only get you so far -- but the Barnes who took the mound in Fenway had a changeup worthy of James Shields: 13 changeups, 12 strikes, 9 swings, 5 whiffs. Velocity separation from the fastball was 7-10 mph, and the changeup had an additional ~4" of horizontal fade. Barnes was a bright spot in a fading season.
 

 
 

 

[LondonSox]

Very interesting, the fastball is legit, if the change is too then he's a third pitch development from really exciting.
As it is, I think you have him in AAA and try to get him to develop.
 
The nice part is, he's probably a (no injured) worst case of an elite (closer type) bullpen arm who can go more than 3 outs. That's the two pitch variation.

 

[Quintanariffic]

It's interesting that his change was working so well last night, as by all accounts, that's the worst of his three pitches.  the book on him as been plus fastball, ML average curve that flashes plus, and fringe/avg change.  If he can make the change a weapon (as opposed to a show me pitch) and the book on him is correct re the curve (the FB is a no doubter), that's a pretty exciting arm.

 

[Plympton91]

It's interesting that his change was working so well last night, as by all accounts, that's the worst of his three pitches.  the book on him as been plus fastball, ML average curve that flashes plus, and fringe/avg change.  If he can make the change a weapon (as opposed to a show me pitch) and the book on him is correct re the curve (the FB is a no doubter), that's a pretty exciting arm.

Something seemed to click for him around the beginning of August: 41.2 IP, 10 ER, 38 K, 8 BB. I remember a tweet in one of the minor league game threads from a reporter who was talking about one of his secondary pitches being unhittable. Not sure if that was his curve or changeup.

 

[Detts]

Something seemed to click for him around the beginning of August. I remember a tweet in one of the minor league game threads from a reporter who was talking about one of his secondary pitches being unhittable. Not sure if that was his curve or changeup.

 
He had to change the grip on his change-up in 2012:
 
http://salemsox.mlblogs.com/2012/06/06/matt-barnes-changing-up-his-changeup/
 
It may have just taken this long to get it right.  It was dominant in Greenville, but the hitters there didn't pick up his flaw.

 

[brandonchristensen]

It sure would be nice if he could get back to where he was. Glad his first taste was a success.

 

[Gash Prex]

The interesting part is that curveball (based on reading soxprospects) has been a better pitch than the changeup at the minor league level, that showed good action, but was inconsistent.  If he can master the change with his plus fastball and have a servicable curve, that's very exciting for the Sox. 
 
I thought he seemed in much better control than a lot of the other sox prospect starters and had the "stuff" to face a very good offensive team.  

 

[bellowthecat]

Granted it was only 3 innings out of the bullpen in a meaningless game, color me impressed.  Looked like he was hitting his spots with the fastball and putting together some good sequences.  His change-up was much better than I expected based on the reports I've read and he was able to keep it down.  Would love to see him get a start over Ranaudo or Workman from here out.  Probably the most impressive performance I've seen from one of the Pawtucket guys all year since RDLR's first outing against the Rays.