Lott: Happ's success owed in part to Kratz (his personal catcher)

[G-Snarls]

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/sports/blog.html?b=sports.nationalpost.com/2014/05/25/toronto-blue-jays-pitcher-j-a-happ-getting-back-on-track-with-help-from-personal-catcher-erik-kratz&pubdate=2014-05-25

 

TORONTO – Throughout his star-crossed career with the Toronto Blue Jays, J.A. Happ faced doubters at every turn. Maybe that is beginning to change.

 

A career starter when he was traded from Houston to Toronto in 2012, he was promptly shunted to the bullpen. When he got to start, injuries kept stalling his progress. He had a terrible spring training this year, then landed on the disabled list again, and when he returned, the Jays put him back in the bullpen.

 

“He wasn’t happy about that,” manager John Gibbons said. “He put his money where his mouth is. You’ve got to tip your hat to guys that do that.”

 

Fresh in Gibbons’ mind was Happ’s latest start, a gritty seven innings of shutout in the Jays’ 3-1 win over the Oakland A’s. Happ, whose high pitch counts often have sabotaged his starts, retired eight of the final 10 batters he faced and finished at 110 pitches.

 

Happ’s record is 3-1, his ERA 3.34 after five starts. Both Gibbons and Happ said catcher Erik Kratz has been instrumental in the tall left-hander’s success.

 

Kratz has become Happ’s personal catcher. Their game plan is to attack batters aggressively with the fastball.

 

In his first start, Happ’s heater averaged just over 92 miles an hour. Against Oakland, he hit 96 and averaged 93.5, according to BrooksBaseball.net.

 

“I definitely wanted to pitch off the fastball today, and Kratz did a great job behind the plate,” Happ said. “We were on the same page.”

 

Kratz has become Happ’s personal catcher. Their game plan is to attack batters aggressively with the fastball. Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

 

Early in their partnership, Kratz and Happ sat down for a chat between starts and concluded that Happ needed to show greater trust in his fastball and to “attack” hitters with it. That worked against Oakland. Happ went seven innings for the first time this year.

 

“If he doesn’t go six innings, it’s not a successful start for a pitcher like him,” Kratz said. “He doesn’t need to nitpick. He needs to go after guys, be aggressive and be out there in the seventh. That’s the difference between a good pitcher that does well, and a good pitcher that does well and helps the team. Because [of] him going seven, now look what that does for our bullpen.”

 

Kratz said the success of their pitcher-catcher relationship depends on taking a hard-nosed approach.

 

“It’s not tough to call pitches for him when he’s being aggressive,” Kratz said. “It’s more that we keep that mentality between the two of us.”

 

Early in their partnership, Kratz and Happ sat down for a chat between starts and concluded that Happ needed to show greater trust in his fastball and to “attack” hitters with it. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

 

Publicly, Happ has never been aggressive in his complaints about the way the Jays have treated him. But often, he has found it hard to hide his grievances, especially during the past two spring trainings when management made it clear his starting assignment was insecure.

 

Someone asked him Sunday whether he is pitching with a chip on his shoulder. On the mound, he said, that doesn’t enter his mind.

 

“I [am] just trying to hit the glove when I go out there,” he said. “I’ve got plenty of time in between starts to have a chip on my shoulder.”

[G-Snarls]

We should have 5 catchers, that way no one feels left out!

[jays4life19]

We should have 5 catchers, that way no one feels left out!

 

lol. we're more then halfway there.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Trade for Kratz somewhat makes up for giving away Gomes.

 

Thanks RAJ

[havok24]

Erik Kratz was a great pickup.

[NorthOf49]

Pitch framing seems to be the one thing that stats and traditional guys agree on. Everyone loves Kratz.

[Bunchedundies]

we should have 5 catchers, that way no one feels left out!

 

lol.

[Chappy]

We should have 5 catchers, that way no one feels left out!

 

That's why AA traded for another catcher.

[Caper]

People go nuts over the Happ trade.... Jesus... I just looked up all those guys we dealt... What a scrub pile.

[Chappy]

Gotta admit, Happ has surprised me with the added velocity. I always thought he topped out at 92, but hitting 95 and 96 is quite impressive. Ride this out while we can I guess.

[GeorgiaPeach]

People go nuts over the Happ trade.... Jesus... I just looked up all those guys we dealt... What a scrub pile.

 

There's a couple of useful pieces we sent away, but nothing of significance.

[GeorgiaPeach]

Gotta admit, Happ has surprised me with the added velocity. I always thought he topped out at 92, but hitting 95 and 96 is quite impressive. Ride this out while we can I guess.

 

TJS inevitable

[Chappy]

TJS inevitable

 

Probably. Hopefully it happens before AA picks up that option.

[Caper]

Gotta admit, Happ has surprised me with the added velocity. I always thought he topped out at 92, but hitting 95 and 96 is quite impressive. Ride this out while we can I guess.

 

I wanted to give him away a month ago. They couldn't. It's a pleasent suprise being wrong.

[GD]

Guys, he has a 5.14 FIP and a 4.58 xFIP. He's walking 5.16/9. It's 29.2 innings of ERA luck. It's nice that he looks like he's doing well, but it's not going to last.

[flafson]

Gotta admit, Happ has surprised me with the added velocity. I always thought he topped out at 92, but hitting 95 and 96 is quite impressive. Ride this out while we can I guess.

 

There was an article about it on MLBTR a few days ago, he's almost top of the list for pitchers who gained velocity this year compared with pitchers who lost it. It said he gained an average of 2 mph on his fastball and that was before today where he hit 95 and 96.

My guess is the weighted ball program but who knows, nobody mentioned that before.

[Caper]

Guys, he has a 5.14 FIP and a 4.58 xFIP. He's walking 5.16/9. It's 29.2 innings of ERA luck. It's nice that he looks like he's doing well, but it's not going to last.

 

What? He is not going to pitch 7 innings of shut out ball every time he steps on the mound? Really?

[Chappy]

Guys, he has a 5.14 FIP and a 4.58 xFIP. He's walking 5.16/9. It's 29.2 innings of ERA luck. It's nice that he looks like he's doing well, but it's not going to last.

 

He has some glaring deficiencies but the velocity increase is still impressive. I don't expect much from him, but I will take what I can get until he is upgraded.

[BlueJaysGirl]

He has some glaring deficiencies but the velocity increase is still impressive. I don't expect much from him, but I will take what I can get until he is upgraded.

 

10-11 wins out of that 5th slot would be nice.

[Anemic0ffense]

10-11 wins out of that 5th slot would be nice.

 

Uh oh... You said "wins". Prepare to be assaulted by the virgins of the message board.

[ElNik2013]

He's the 5th starter so 5-6 inning outings giving up 3 runs is about right.

[Deadpool]

Uh oh... You said "wins". Prepare to be assaulted by the virgins of the message board.

 

Pfft, she's a girl, all the virgins on the board want to have sex with her... get your goddamn stereotypes straight.

[Spoonovic]

10-11 wins out of that 5th slot would be nice.

 

Don't mention wins and pitching stats together again.

[GD]

Uh oh... You said "wins". Prepare to be assaulted by the virgins of the message board.

 

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