FTW

Not-So-Fast Hitter: Aaron Harang

Aaron Harang just put up a masterful, complete game, shut-out of the Bucos: 9 IP, 9K, 3H, 0 BB. That, my friends, is a fantasy-ace.  Harang was amongst everyone’s break-out candidates in 2009 after he posted ridiculously awful statistics in 2008.

After posting 3 seasons of sub-4.00 ERA in Cincinnati’s Great American Band Box, Harang fell face-first and posted a 4.78 ERA on route to a 6 Win, 17 Loss, season in 2008.

Fantasy owners expected Harang to return to his dominant ways, and thus was a popular high-risk/high-reward sleeper.  Harang hasn’t dissapointed, now having pitched 2 games his line is:

14 IP, 1 ER, 11 K’s, 10 H and 3BB.

Not…So…Fast:

Harang is essentially a two-pitch pitcher:

90mph fastball which he throws 70% of the time & 80mph slider which he throws about 20% of the time. Harang has also mixed in a change-up (we’ll get to this later), that prior to this year he was only throwing about 3-6 percent of the time. Harang’s experimented with a curve in the past as well.

Essentially without his change-up in 2008, Harang paid the price.  Harang’s back to using again, and it’s obviously paid dividends.  He’ll need to use it because…

Harang is tipping his pitches, not just a little, but a lot.  A lot of the time a release point will vary because a young pitcher is having issues replicating his delivery — not the case with Harang.  Harang has a consistent release point for both his Fastball and Slider, unfortunately for Harang, they’re nowhere near each other.

Batters should have no problem deciphering what pitch is coming, based solely on Harang’s exaggerated release point. Harang has solid above-average action on his pitches, so he may be able to get away with this for a while, but the book’s going to be out on him very shortly, and it’ll probably resemble the book that was out on him last year.

Thankfully, Harang has his change-up. Harang’s going to have to establish this pitch to have any chance at remaining a viable option in your rotation. The Change and the Fastball have the same release point, and it’s increased use should keep batters guessing.  If Harang reverts to his old ways, this could get ugly.

On that note, if I could get value from Harang now — I’d shop him.

Harang’s always had a whacky delivery, but I cannot see him succeeding with such a noticeable difference in release points.  If he keeps using his change-up, he’ll be serviceable or better — but this is one of those things I’d keep an eye out for.

If Harang can tighten up his delivery and release points, he’ll be devastating.  The addition of the change, which he’s throwing and throwing for strikes, could make Harang a fantasy ace.

We’re almost right back where we started, Harang’s still high-risk/high-reward.

Any comments pertaining to Harang’s 2007 & 2008 release points would be appreciated.

Photo Courtesy of Erik Eckle - Flickr

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