Max Fried threw sinkers last night!

[Enscheff]

I didn't want to say anything earlier in the season because I wasn't sure if the data was reliable, but last night Max Fried was definitely throwing SIs. Over the last week or so I have been making comments about being hesitant to trade Fried to upgrade 3B/BP, and this is why. Now that I'm almost positive he is fine tuning a SI, I don't think I would be comfortable trading him under almost any realistic scenario at the deadline.

The SI in question:

92.6 mph (Grade 55), 7.8" H-Mov (Grade 45), 5.2" VMov (Grade 50+)

This is a legit Grade 55 SI...an above average MLB pitch!

This was the break down of Fried's previous arsenal:

Fried: 40 FA, 60 CU, 55 CH

Fried's FA verges on unusable due to a very low spin rate that results in a horribly flat pitch. I would like to see him switch to a SI instead, which I think could be an above average pitch. As is, he is a junk-baller #5 or swing-man if his control stays below average. If he picks up a grade 55 SI and refines his command to average, he can be a legit #3.

Fried pairs average velocity with poor movement. His FA is very straight, and is not a good pitch overall. He generates the least rise of all FAs on the team, and he should really abandon that pitch in favor of a two-seamer or sinker.

What pitchers don't want to do is fall in that range 7-8 inches of rise. That is a "straight" fastball, and is precisely where Fried falls. I think if Fried changed to a SI the low spin would give him 4-5" of rise, which would be plus movement for a SI. If I were a rival team, I would be trying to buy low on him the moment the Braves demote him to the BP, then have him make that change.

It looks like the new AA FO may have seen the data and are attempting to salvage Fried. There is some weirdness with the data (different pitch tracking data confuses some of his FAs with SIs right now) as Fried transitions from FA to SI, but Fried with a 55 SI, 60 CU, and 55 CH could be a successful SP if he gets the control figured out...and the poor control might be due in part to learning the SI on the job.