Hot Stove Update: Nick Vincent 2.0

The Giants signed Nick Vincent to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.  You may recall Vincent from last season.  He is a soft tossing RHP and since last impressions often are what you remember, you may recall he pitched pretty awful before being released in late May.  The full story is more complicated.  From Opening Day through May 10, Vincent made 14 appearances and pitched 24 innning with a 2.25 ERA.  Those are valuable innings!  Unfortunately over his next 4 appearances he was torched for 13 ER in 6.2 IP and was released.  He hooked on with the Phillies late in the season pitching 14 innings in 14 appearances with a 1.93 ERA.  My theory is the multi-inning role in SF wore him out.  BTW, note that his manager in Philly was Gabe Kapler.

Digging into Fangraphs data, it looks like Vincent basically throws just 2 pitches, a fastball and a cut fastball.  Both pitches average a bit over 89 MPH.  Those two combine for 90% of his pitches while a curveball and change up comprise the other 10%.  Now, how he misses bats with that repertoire is beyond me, but he sports an excellent K/BB of 9.47/2/42.   He does generate above average spin rates, so may have some extra late movement which may be where he gets the swings and misses.

Looking over the relievers on the Giants current 40-man roster, you've got to think Vincent has a better than 50% chance of making the Opening Day active roster.  Maybe if he's used in shorter relief stints, he can pitch more like his first 14 appearances and his stint in Philly and less like the 4 disastrous outings that punched his ticket out of SF last year.