Pitcher Checklist Conversations are transcripts of interviews with skilled baseball gamers — and typically, they focus on subjects aside from baseball. This has been frivolously edited for readability.
★ ★ ★
What a 12 months it was from Michael Kopech.
He started 2024 with the Chicago White Sox as he transitioned from the rotation to the bullpen, a transfer that suited him — he struck out 59 batters over 43.3 innings on a staff that was already dangerous and would solely worsen, as in traditionally worse.
It had already been a troublesome season for Los Angeles Dodgers pitching, they usually certain preferred his fastball velocity (99th percentile) and his whiff proportion (86th percentile).
The transfer for him was a straightforward one, going from MLB’s cellar to one of many most-dynamic groups within the sport.
When the Dodgers performed the Colorado Rockies in the course of the remaining weekend of the MLB season, I spoke with Kopech about quite a lot of subjects, together with adjusting to his new staff,
Plus, ending this Pitcher Checklist collection by speaking with a more in-depth simply appeared like the best factor to do.
★ ★ ★
Renee Dechert: You’re not with Chicago anymore. What has the change been like for you?
Michael Kopech: It’s form of exhausting to place into phrases to be trustworthy. I labored exhausting over there. I loved my time with the White Sox, however since I’ve come over right here, all the things in regards to the ambiance, the acceptance of everybody, it’s simply been uplifting. To be trustworthy with you, I really feel like I’m blessed to be right here. So the transition has been fairly seamless. I don’t know if I might inform you a selected factor that occurred so far as pitching stuff goes, however the mentality modified after I obtained right here.
RD: Clearly, the Dodgers and the White Sox have very totally different approaches. How have the Dodgers employed you in a different way than you have been earlier than?
MK: They only reiterated that they consider in what I’ve. And so after I first obtained right here, they have been identical to, we simply need you to go do what you do. We modified some issues. We talked about tightening up the slider. And for many half, it was simply telling me to go on the market and pitch with what I’ve, and I’ve been inspired to do this.
RD: I’m glad that you simply introduced up your slider as a result of I needed to ask about that. It’s modified a bit in Los Angeles in comparison with what you had in Chicago. You’re throwing it tougher, however it additionally appears to have a unique form, together with a cutter. What’s up along with your slider?
MK: To be trustworthy, it modifications recreation to recreation.
RD: Inform me about that.
MK: So after I first obtained over right here, it was the identical grip I’ve been utilizing. I simply was throwing it with a bit extra intent, altering my mindset about it, staying behind it longer. Principally, the time period I exploit is making an attempt to make it go straight for so long as doable as a result of I do know it’s going to catch and break sooner or later.
Over the course of time, it ended up getting a bit bit slower. And it was beginning to be seen properly out of hand it felt like.
So I’ve simply since then, performed round with totally different areas of grips, my hand place on the ball. What could make tougher? What could make it late break? It’s been up and down, although. So there’s not a set grip proper now. They name it a cutter, however it’s actually extra of a slider, however I’m simply making an attempt to throw it exhausting.
RD: I’m going to ask to take a photograph of your slider grip.
MK: Like I mentioned, I don’t actually have a set one, so I don’t know if I might provide you with one. I could make one up for you.
Michael Kopech Fastball Grip
Michael Kopech Slider Grip
RD: Adam Ottavino advised me that pitchers change grips on a regular basis.
MK: Yeah, for certain.
For me, it’s primarily the identical grip I’ve had all the way in which again to the top of final 12 months.
But it surely’s simply seam orientation. So it’s how deep I get the ball in my hand, how a lot I need to seize, like, hook over the ball, fingertip strain. Am I rolling off my index and my center finger? Am I rolling off simply my center finger? Stuff like that.
So if I confirmed you the grip, it would look fairly plain Jane, however it’s the refined variations that make the large distinction.
RD: You’ve transitioned to aid. What was that like for you? Have been you resistant at first?
MK: Not essentially.
I had executed it earlier than. In ‘21, I pitched out of aid. I did a bit little bit of all the things in ‘21. After which I needed to have success as a starter with the White Sox and simply by no means actually got here by way of.
After which after they moved me to the bullpen, it was only a matter of what I can do to have essentially the most success I might down there. And it took a bit bit, however I spotted that if I might match into the function, I want to be a more in-depth, after which I shortly transitioned in that place however then nonetheless wasn’t having numerous success.
And so since I’ve been over right here, having a bunch of fellows that may do the identical job, primarily, and form of slot in wherever Dave Roberts desires us to go, it’s made the transition quite a bit simpler.
RD: What it like to shut? What does that really feel like?
MK: I don’t know if I might actually put into phrases the power.
There’s two large emotions as a pitcher to me. And one is throwing the primary pitch of the sport, and one throwing the final pitch of the sport. They usually’re very totally different, however they’re each one-of-a-kind kind of power.
And I feel throwing the final pitch has numerous pleasure behind it — the stadium roar, the dugout popping out to satisfy you on the sector. It’s only a actually cool expertise.
And the aim is to have that feeling for the final out of the World Sequence — not essentially for me, though that may be superior — however simply anyone on this clubhouse closing out the final pitch of the World Sequence.
RD: So simply three extra from me. What’s your favourite pitch you’ve thrown this season?
MK: There’s one which involves thoughts. So towards Pittsburgh. I used to be throwing my fastball the identical approach I all the time do — up within the zone, up within the zone — after which I threw a pair down within the zone, which helped arrange a slider within the filth.
And I threw most likely the most important exhausting slider I’ve thrown within the season to Oneil Cruz. So it was 93, began on the backside of the zone and simply went proper within the filth. For my part, simply optically, it was one of the best pitch I’ve thrown this 12 months. I don’t know if that may observe so far as metrics goes, so I don’t need to, like —
RD: That’s not what the query requested.
MK: Yeah, that’s the one I felt most assured in.
RD: In the event you might steal a pitch from every other pitcher, what would you’re taking and why?
MK: There’s numerous guys on this clubhouse that I might most likely go and take from.
Let’s see.
So I assume I’ll simply persist with a right-handed pitcher as a result of I might decide from the Mount Rushmore of pitches and go Chris Sale’s slider or one thing. However I’m not left handed,
I feel Blake Treinen has an unbelievable slider, and I don’t know something in regards to the metrics of it, however watching that pitch, it appears to be like prefer it breaks twice, and the way in which it pulls hitters is fairly unbelievable. So I’d most likely say his slider.
RD: What’s it like, being on a staff with Shohei Ohtani?
MK: It’s unbelievable. It’s exhausting to even describe how good he’s and the way particular what he’s doing actually is. However for the previous, I don’t know, months, he’s making historical past each time it touches the sector, so it’s been actually cool to observe and be part of and for us to all get to rejoice collectively.
There’s numerous particular guys in there however he one way or the other nonetheless finds a approach to stand alone.
