Off-Speed Unlocks Alek Manoahs Ceiling

Postado 2022-11-04 07:49:28

The gold chains shook around his neck as Alek Manoah brushed off his left shoulder and strutted behind the mound.The rookie starter had just struck out the reigning American League MVP Jose Abreu one of his four strikeouts on Connor Hellebuyck Jersey the night.Manoah throws 60% fastballs, but in the fourth inning he tied up Abreu with a slider. Not just any slider, but a diving dagger that started at the bottom of the zone and plummeted below the black with no warning. In college, Manoah's fastball was his only pitch, and in the minor leagues he leaned on the 95 MPH weapon. But in the big leagues, and on nights like Wednesday, Manoah's secondary offerings determine his ceiling.The variance in Manoah's off-speed pitches was on full display against the White Sox. After powering through four innings and allowing the leadoff runner on in the fifth, Manoah hung a slider to Chicago's Nick Madrigal. Seconds later, Randal Grichuk pulled the ball off the warning track and Madrigal slid into second with an RBI double.When he was off, Manoah paid for it. But when Manoah located his slider and change, he commanded innings and overwhelmed some of the AL's best hitters.Thats Mark Scheifele Jersey a really tough lineup, one of the best," Shortstop Bo Bichette said. "To see him go out there and compete thats what he does every time he goes out there, its fun to play behind.Scroll to ContinueAfter falling down 2-0 to catcher Yasmani Grandal, Manoah painted two straight changeups at the bottom of the zone and then cocked back for some extra on a fastball to sit him down.Manoah pounded fastballs early his pacing four-seamer and heavy Bryan Little Jersey two-seamer but often turned off-speed late, even when he was behind in the count.When Manoah lost control of his fastball in the fifth inning, he refocused with the off-speed, dropping a changeup on the black to Jake Lamb before returning to the fastball for a much-needed strikeout."That third time to the order, late second third time to the order, that's when we try to throw a little bit more off-speed," Manoah said. "Keep them off the heater a little bit more. And I was able to make some good ones there."When Toronto's starter was most effective with his secondary offerings, he drew the attention briefly off his heater. In the bottom of the second, Manoah worked to two strikes with three straight fastballs to Leury Garcia, setting up an off-speed count. Manoah looked in and nodded at McGuire's first sign before delivering a high inside fastball. Garcia Dustin Byfuglien Jersey leaned to reach what he thought would be off-speed before awkwardly swinging at 95 MPH and walking back to the White Sox dugout.The fastball will always be Manoah's signature pitch. It gets the awkward swings, freezes opponents, and sets up everything else in his arsenal. But three starts into his Major League career, it's clear Manoah Mark Stuart Jersey 's future will come down to the off-speed.Even when all his pitches aren't working, Alek Manoah can be an important arm in this Blue Jays rotation. But if he can locate the change up and break off his slider consistently, Manoah has a the ceiling to be much more.He can pitch in the big leagues," Manager Charlie Montoyo said. "That was a good team he was facing tonight, but he gave us a chance.