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Yusmeiro Petit has controlled his career by controlling his pitches Yusmeiro Petit has controlled his career by controlling his pitches
(about 4 hours later)
VIERA, Fla. — Of the 7,366 pitches Yusmeiro Petit has thrown in his major league career, the hardest was 92.52 miles per hour. He has approached that speed in only seven of his 161 career games. The hardest he has ever thrown in his life? VIERA, Fla. — Of the 7,366 pitches Yusmeiro Petit has thrown in his major league career, the hardest was 92.52 mph. He has approached that speed in only seven of his 161 career games. The hardest he has ever thrown in his life?
“Ninety-three,” he said, pausing for a moment to be sure, while sitting at his locker at Space Coast Stadium. “Maybe.”“Ninety-three,” he said, pausing for a moment to be sure, while sitting at his locker at Space Coast Stadium. “Maybe.”
Although average fastball velocity has increased every season since 2008, Petit thrives on command, a rubber arm and a deadly curveball. Last season, the Venezuelan’s fastball averaged 88.5 mph yet he was still effective as a multi-purpose reliever. The year before, with a fastball only decimal points faster, Petit was a vital starter/reliever for the San Francisco Giants en route to a World Series title. Although average fastball velocity has increased every season since 2008, Petit thrives on command, a rubber arm and a deadly curveball. Last season, the Venezuelan’s fastball averaged 88.5 mph, yet he was still effective as a multipurpose reliever. The year before, with a fastball only decimal points faster, Petit was a vital starter and reliever for the San Francisco Giants en route to a World Series title.
“I hate to think where we’d be without him the last two or three years,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said.“I hate to think where we’d be without him the last two or three years,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said.
[Yusmeiro Petit picked the Nats because they’re ‘always in contention’][Yusmeiro Petit picked the Nats because they’re ‘always in contention’]
Quality middle relievers are rarely noticed unless they stumble. They pitch the innings few others want — in blowouts or replacing starters who couldn’t go five innings. Petit can do all of that and start on occasion when needed. Between his job description and the manner in which he does it, Petit is solidly unflashy.Quality middle relievers are rarely noticed unless they stumble. They pitch the innings few others want — in blowouts or replacing starters who couldn’t go five innings. Petit can do all of that and start on occasion when needed. Between his job description and the manner in which he does it, Petit is solidly unflashy.
“It’s like there is a hole and I’m the plumber,” Petit said in Spanish. “I have to fill that hole. I know my skills and I know what my job is.”“It’s like there is a hole and I’m the plumber,” Petit said in Spanish. “I have to fill that hole. I know my skills and I know what my job is.”
As part of their offseason bullpen overhaul, the Nationals signed Petit, 31, to a one-year deal with a $3 million guarantee to replace Craig Stammen. To prepare for just about any situation, Petit plays long toss daily. He runs on a starter’s schedule but lifts weights every two days like a reliever.As part of their offseason bullpen overhaul, the Nationals signed Petit, 31, to a one-year deal with a $3 million guarantee to replace Craig Stammen. To prepare for just about any situation, Petit plays long toss daily. He runs on a starter’s schedule but lifts weights every two days like a reliever.
“You have to be ready for both and be ready for 162 games,” he said. “In my position, I don’t know how long I’ll be needed. Two innings? Five innings? More?” “You have to be ready for both and be ready for 162 games,” he said. “In my position, I don’t know how long I’ll be needed. Two innings? Five innings? More?”
Petit took a circuitous route to becoming a soft-throwing jack-of-all-trades. He begged his parents to forgo college so he could play professional baseball. He signed in 2001 with the New York Mets at 17 for $20,000 — a relatively small bonus and a year later than most prospects.Petit took a circuitous route to becoming a soft-throwing jack-of-all-trades. He begged his parents to forgo college so he could play professional baseball. He signed in 2001 with the New York Mets at 17 for $20,000 — a relatively small bonus and a year later than most prospects.
“Not throwing hard kinda slowed things down for me,” Petit said. “In Venezuela, velocity is key. It gets you noticed. When you want to sign, the control doesn’t matter.”“Not throwing hard kinda slowed things down for me,” Petit said. “In Venezuela, velocity is key. It gets you noticed. When you want to sign, the control doesn’t matter.”
Despite an average fastball, Petit shot through the Mets’ system, became a top starting prospect and reached the majors with the Florida Marlins at 21 in 2006. He also was traded twice, claimed off waivers once, suffered injuries and pitched a season in the Mexican League. He had a career 5.57 ERA by 2009. Despite an average fastball, Petit shot through the Mets’ system, became a top starting prospect and reached the majors with the Florida Marlins at 21 in 2006. He also was traded twice, claimed off waivers once, suffered injuries and pitched a season in the Mexican League. He had a career 5.57 ERA through 2009.
A 2012 minor league deal with the Giants jump-started his career. An injury replacement in the rotation, Petit came within one out of a perfect game on Sept. 6, 2013.A 2012 minor league deal with the Giants jump-started his career. An injury replacement in the rotation, Petit came within one out of a perfect game on Sept. 6, 2013.
He proved invaluable to the Giants in 2014, plugging rotation injury leaks for stretches then pitching out of the bullpen when needed. In August, he set an MLB record with 46 consecutive batters. He tossed six shutout relief innings against the Nationals in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. He has always wanted to be a starter, but Bochy said Petit never complained about his role. He proved invaluable to the Giants in 2014, plugging rotation injury leaks for stretches and pitching out of the bullpen when needed. In August, he set a major league record by retiring his 46th consecutive batter. He tossed six scoreless innings of relief against the Nationals in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. He has always wanted to be a starter, but Bochy said Petit never complained about his role.
“He’s one of those guys, he can go seven days without pitching, 10 days and go out there and locate his fastball,” Bochy said. “He’s just a true professional, class guy.” “He’s one of those guys, he can go seven days without pitching, 10 days, and go out there and locate his fastball,” Bochy said. “He’s just a true professional, class guy.”
[Nationals agree to terms with Yusmeiro Petit][Nationals agree to terms with Yusmeiro Petit]
Petit, with his stout 6-foot-1 frame, learned to maximize his skills. He kept his arm in shape by playing long toss daily. He threw bullpen sessions on flat ground, focusing heavily on his command, if he went four days without appearing in a game. Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti urged Petit to tweak the shape of his curveball and use it more, and it became a secret to his success.Petit, with his stout 6-foot-1 frame, learned to maximize his skills. He kept his arm in shape by playing long toss daily. He threw bullpen sessions on flat ground, focusing heavily on his command, if he went four days without appearing in a game. Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti urged Petit to tweak the shape of his curveball and use it more, and it became a secret to his success.
“I took off velocity to make it bigger so that it falls in as a strike and batters see it,” Petit said. “But then the next time, I’ll throw it harder and it’ll break more.”“I took off velocity to make it bigger so that it falls in as a strike and batters see it,” Petit said. “But then the next time, I’ll throw it harder and it’ll break more.”
Petit’s curveball was one of the three toughest pitches to let go by last season, according to FanGraphs.com. They found that 42 percent of Petit’s curveballs were outside the strike zone and swung at. The pitch produced similar swing-and-miss rates as Stephen Strasburg, who has a standout curveball. It also induced the highest rate of pop-ups in baseball. The way his arm whips when he throws makes it hard for batters to see. Petit’s curveball was one of the three toughest pitches for batters to let go by last season, according to FanGraphs.com. The website found that 42 percent of Petit’s curveballs were outside the strike zone and swung at. The pitch produced similar swing-and-miss rates as Stephen Strasburg, who has a standout curveball. It also induced the highest rate of popups in baseball. The way his arm whips when he throws makes it hard for batters to see.
“I’ve faced him several times and I’ve done nothing against him,” said catcher Wilson Ramos, a fellow Venezuelan who is 0 for 6 against Petit. “It’s better to have to him on my team. He’s going to help us a lot in the bullpen.”“I’ve faced him several times and I’ve done nothing against him,” said catcher Wilson Ramos, a fellow Venezuelan who is 0 for 6 against Petit. “It’s better to have to him on my team. He’s going to help us a lot in the bullpen.”
If Petit helps, he will be largely unnoticed. His fastballs won’t draw attention. He won’t strike out many. He will get by with location and movement.If Petit helps, he will be largely unnoticed. His fastballs won’t draw attention. He won’t strike out many. He will get by with location and movement.
“I never worried about throwing harder,” he said. “I can throw a little bit harder but I lose control. And I don’t want to. I need to control my pitches. I’ve focused so much in my life on localizing pitches and pitching.” “I never worried about throwing harder,” he said. “I can throw a little bit harder, but I lose control. And I don’t want to. I need to control my pitches. I’ve focused so much in my life on localizing pitches and pitching.”
Barry Svrluga contributed to this report from Phoenix.Barry Svrluga contributed to this report from Phoenix.