Why D-Backs ace Bumgarner feels need for more speed
In life or baseball, losing a little bit off the fastball is never funny, especially when it’s happening to you.
So little wonder that Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner is perplexed, and maybe a bit worried, that fastballs out of his left hand traveled an average of 88 mph or so in two starts, down from a career average of 91.4.
“Hopefully, things start picking up,” he said Wednesday.
Bumgarner has been neither bad nor dominant in his two starts this season. He was a pitch away from six scoreless innings in the season opener against the Padres. And Wednesday, Bumgarner allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Rangers.
The Diamondbacks lost both games, mainly because they played poorly in so many other areas of the game.
When the Diamondbacks signed Bumgarner to a five-year, $85 million contract last December, they knew he would have to eventually make adjustments to remain effective. That’s expected for a 30-year-old pitcher who arrived with 1,800 innings on his resume.
That demographic tends to lose a little bit off their fastballs as time passes, just not in year one of a long-term contract.
The Diamondbacks aren’t convinced that’s happening, however. Manager Torey Lovullo pointed out that it’s early in the season, and that this season — delayed by a pandemic — is unique.
“I feel like we’re going to see that velocity climb,” Lovullo said, “and when it does, he’s going to use it. It’s a minimal concern for me. I know he can go out and get outs.”
Before Bumgarner’s second start, pitching coach Matt Herges said Bumgarner’s velocity is tracking about where it would be in his first couple of spring training starts. “This quick ramp up, we’ve been diligent in the ways to keep them healthy and do it smart, but it’s still expedited,” Herges said. “I’m not worried about Bum’s velo, I’m really not. He probably is more than anybody else.”
Yes, Bumgarner is. At least it seems that way. He isn’t the type to reveal his innermost thoughts. Wednesday was the first time since he talked to reporters since early July, and it was Bumgarner who first mentioned his decline in velocity. “I know the velocity is down a good bit,” he said. “I’ve had it fluctuate throughout my career, but this is certainly a big drop right now. That’s been frustrating for me, but at the same time I’ve got to go out there and pitch with what I’ve got.”
What he’s got can be effective. Despite being 6-feet-4-inches and 255 pounds, Bumgarner has never been a power pitcher. With an effective crossbody delivery and a cutter and curve ball, Bumgarner doesn’t need a fastball in the mid 90’s to be successful.
But one in the 91-93 mph range would be helpful. It would mean more vertical rise for Bumgarner’s fastball, according to Herges. And it would expand his margin for error, according to Bumgarner.
“Neither of the first two games have been super sharp,” Bumgarner said, “but I haven’t been able to tell a big difference with what I’ve got out there. Everything is moving the right way and spinning good. We’ll take that and go, but hopefully things start picking up.”
The Diamondbacks enter their home opener Thursday against the Dodgers with myriad problems, including playing the Dodgers and Astros the next seven games.
The Diamondbacks have hit fewer home runs (1) and walked more batters (34) than any other team. Opponents have scored at least three runs in an inning five times.
It’s no mystery why the Diamondbacks are 2-4.
What is a mystery, at least to Bumgarner, is the 3.5 mph or so missing off his fastball. Maybe that additional velocity isn’t necessary for him to be successful, but it would be best not to test that in his first year with the Diamondbacks.