Former Dodgers Pitcher Lance Lynn Offers a Harsh Critique of His 2023 Season
Lance Lynn let it all hang out.
During an appearance on “Foul Territory” Thursday, the former Dodgers pitcher was asked if he had any advice for Alek Manoah, the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher who was an All-Star in 2022 and spent time in Triple-A during a poor 2023 season.
Lynn, 36, said he has spoken with Manoah, 26, and can relate to his situation.
“I don’t know what he was trying to accomplish,” Lynn said. “I know what got myself in trouble: trying to chase certain pitches, certain pitch shapes, breaks or stuff like that, that aren’t natural with the way that your throw goes.”
Lynn’s pitch mix changed after he was traded to the Dodgers in August. It isn’t hard to see how:
(Source: Statcast)
Lynn’s four-seam fastball usage jumped dramatically after the trade, while his cutter usage fell. His sweeper, his most-used breaking ball from April to July with the Chicago White Sox, became his fourth-most used pitch. His curveball and slider usage increased.
You can’t blame the Dodgers for trying something new. Lynn had a 6.47 ERA and 5.19 FIP at the time of the trade, which also brought Joe Kelly to Los Angeles for a pair of prospects. Although he had a 3.57 ERA in August, Lynn’s propensity for allowing home runs translated to a 5.80 FIP.
Clearly Lynn felt a re-adjustment was in order. His cutter and sweeper usage bounced back in September, while his four-seamer, curveball and slider usage dropped. He seemed to allude to this in the same interview.
“By failing,” Lynn said, “you’re able to use those things you failed (at) and then figure out how to incorporate them into your game to be complimentary pieces instead of a focal piece.”
The Dodgers declined Lynn’s $18 million option for 2024, paying him a $1 million buyout instead. The St. Louis Cardinals signed Lynn to a guaranteed $11 million contract later in November.
In answering a question about Manoah, Lynn channeled a sentiment shared by Dodger fans during many of his own starts – including his season-ending loss in Game 3 of the National League Division Series – following his arrival in Los Angeles.
“You have a good year, then all of a sudden you feel like … nothing works and everything that worked the year before just seems to go away,” Lynn said. “You get the old kick in the dick and don’t have a good year, and you have to reassess.”
Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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