With the Blue Jays chopping salary and calling up MVP-caliber journeymen, the Skydome has reverted to the typical sea of empty blue seats. Even with season tickets and no more than a 10 minute street car ride to the ballpark, I barely make it down to catch a game per series.
There are very few bright spots on the club, unless you appreciate Marco Scutaro’s staggering plate discipline statistics (12% O-Swing, 97% Z-Contact.) Roy Halladay’s talents have gone to waste on this awful squad. Of course they’re not in a Playoff race, but barely 20K people are making it to the park to even watch him pitch. It’s pitiful considering the only games that average fans even go to are the Roy Halladay games.
Then, there’s Jason Frasor. Frasor’s been handed the closers role on a couple occasions, generally due to circumstances rather than talent. He’s proved to be a nominal piece of the bullpen throughout his career, but hasn’t shown anything more than your typical 4.00 ERA with serious control issues. This year’s been different, and it’s amazing what adding an extra offering will do to improve your entire arsenal.
Coming into the season, Frasor finally polished his splitter-change hybrid to the point where he could reliably throw it. The pitch itself isn’t a splitter, and it certainly isn’t a change, but it acts in a similar fashion to both:
With this particular pitch, Frasor doesn’t use a traditional grip for a split-finger fastball, though — it is a splitter-changeup hybrid. The right-hander holds the ball with his index and middle finger spread across the baseball, wrapping his ring and pinkie fingers around the side.
When the pitch is working properly, it breaks down and in sharply to left-handed hitters. — mlb.com
The pitch has provided an extra out-pitch for the hard throwing Frasor. Frasor’s induced a career-high swings on balls outside of the zone. He’s seen his O-Swing go from a well below average 20% all the way up to 25%. Batters are making almost 2% less contact and Frasor’s increased his first-strike percentage to a career-high 65%.
All of this has lead to Frasor throwing a career low percentage of fastballs, and posting career-highs in many other categories. Batters are hitting under-.200 off of Frasor, who’s also posting a 3.36 K/BB rate. As a result, Frasor’s posting an eye-popping sub-1.00 WHIP and 1.96 ERA. By all accounts, this is a career year for Mr. Jason Frasor. With Scottie “Too Hottie” Downs on the DL, Frasor’s also stepped in to fill the closers’ role admirably.
Frasor is getting super-fucking-lucky with an 80% LOB and a .260 BABIP, but those numbers aren’t completely unexpected. Batters just aren’t hitting him as hard and Toronto’s defense has always been above-average. What worries me the most about Jason Frasor is the 2% HR/FB, especially considering he’s giving up 46% fly-balls.
If you’re looking for some late season relief help, Frasor’s a good route. With Downs still owned in many leagues, Frasor’s probably a cheap source of late season saves.
If you’re in Toronto, go check out Jason Frasor’s splitter. You might have to wait a couple days before the Jays are ahead after 8, but it’s definitely worth it.
