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…as i mentioned earlier, i did not travel with the team to Jupiter to watch today’s game…instead, i stayed back at Tradition Field to watch the rest of the team work out…
…the locker room was quiet…a tired Carlos Beltran sat at his locker…Duaner Sanchez and a few other relief pitchers were privately talking in a group…
every one was being quiet, except Pedro Martinez, who after being interviewed by a reporter, started talking about his love for ice cream, and other types of food…he is very entertaining…and he talks a lot…
…also, sitting quietly at his locker, very unassuming, just messing with his cell phone, was Johan Santana…i had a baseball in my hand, so i introduced myself and asked him how he holds his circle change-up, which is a pitch i used to try and throw when i played baseball in high school…so, i sat on the stool next to him, and he spent the next 10 minutes explaining it to me, positioning my fingers on the ball and essentially breaking it all down for me…
…i love the art of pitching, so this was very exciting to me…especially since he has the best change-up in baseball…
…duaner left, beltran left and pedro left, as did others…but johan stayed, and continued to talk with me about the circle change…he didn’t have to do it, either…he could have easily just gotten up and gone home, which was clearly his next step in the day…but, he didn’t…instead, he sat there with me and walked me through the whole process…
…basically, you make an okay sign with your hands and grip the ball with your middle finger, ring finger and pinky, leaving your thumb and pointer just off to the side…the ball is thrown like a fastball, but because of the deep yet delicate grip, the ball puffs out of the hand at a lesser speed…however, the key, he explained, is to hold it just like the four-seam fastball, which i was not doing…according to santana, most pitchers just focus on the grip, and are not concerned with the seams…in fact, some prefer to not be touching any seams… unlike the standard two-seam change-up, which he used to throw, in this case, most all of his fingers are on a seam…he made me try to pull the ball from his hand while he was holding it, to demonstrate how strong of a grip he can get…so, the way he does it, the seams rotate in the same direction as his fastball, deceiving the batters even more, because, as he put, “These hitters are not stupid.”…the funny thing is, i think that grip is fairly standard…it’s just, he is so disciplined in his delivery, that when coupled with the consistent rotation, it’s just impossible to pick up which pitch he is throwing because initially they all look exactly the same…
“This is why I focus so much on my release point, because that’s what makes my change-up better,” he explained to me. “I want to make sure all of my pitches look the same, and so I get the same release point and same arm speed every pitch. And that takes time. That’s what I work on. Not just the grip, but everything from head to toe so that everything can look the same. We worked on all of that until we got it right. That’s how I approach my games, my batting practices, my bullpen sessions. I am very serious when I throw my bullpen. I’m not just throwing. I want to make sure that everything is in place, from location to mechanics to delivery to release point. Everything. It’s not just the grip. There are a lot of things involved in throwing a change-up.”
…also, i was under the impression he pulled his hand inward upon releasing the ball, to give it that diving action…he said no…he just throws it like a fastball…
…in fact, the reason he likes the pitch so much is because it does not involve any twisting of his elbow, saying, “It does not put any pressure on the elbow, and it keeps it loose.”…
…lastly, i asked if Rick Peterson has brought anything new to his attention…he said peterson told him to just be himself…be comfortable…and i agree…
…by the way, after i shook johan’s hand and said ‘Thank you for the lesson,’ i was sure to take the ball back from him…i wanted to keep it…it has no autograph on it…it looks like any other ball…except, i will always be able to point to it and say, “This is the ball Johan Santana used to teach me his circle change-up,” which i am pretty excited about…
if the mets get santana then we are in business.
I’m just using gipper’s comment to make sure my comment is up near the top …
Matt, I am so jealous right now that I may actually burn Rick Cerrone baseball cards simply because you share his last name.
right now you have the second best job in the world behind the actual players themselves. that was a really cool story, and it seems like santana really is a good guy like pedro had been saying when they first got him.
give it up matt…we know you are in your basement right now
Did he “muss” up your hair and buy you an ice cream?
I think you mean “tussle”, and yes, he did. No ice cream though . . .
Gee wiz Mister Santana, thanks for the lesson!
turns out we got santana. we would be in business if we had a healthy gotay.
Hey CERRONE; Stop pestering all the players….
You sound like a giddy little kid in a candy store. I love it.
what did u just say?
Anyone else find it funny how John Maine didn’t cry about the money the Mets re-upped his contract for while Prince Fielder and Cole Hamels wouldn’t shut up about it?
This sentence structure is all wrong…haha. Not quite sure I understand?
I know it’s not the best grammar, but clearly you can deduce my point…
That’s because Prince Fielder is fat, Cole Hamels is a sweaty punk, and John Maine is intelligent and classy.
Met fan, are you? I could hardly tell :-)
I think it has less to do with intelligence or class and more to do with the fact that John Maine is too metal to care about such trivial nonsense like money. His entrance music is Seek & Destroy off Metallica’s first album. From what I’ve read about Maine, it would seem his personality evokes a little Bill “Spaceman” Lee and that can only be a good thing.
i also read like a week ago that he had just used the internet for hte first time haha…seems like he’s just happy he’s playing the game for a living.
Yeah, but John Maine isn’t Prince Fielder (talent wise). He could be, but he’s not.
Prince Fielder wants to be paid by the pound.
haha. that made me giggle.
well if johan misses any time, it sounds like cerrone can step right in
Matt Cerrone = demigod.
im going to have to strongly disagree
BRAGGART!
I don’t get it. If the grip is the same as his fastball and his arm speed is the same, what gives it the different movement?
The seams my young padawan, the SEAMS!!!
hahahaha i rarely ever actually start laughing when I read something online… but i must admit, i just laughed
the grip is different – there was a great graphic either in the SI article last week or in the NY Times (I don’t remember which) that showed exactly how Johann does it.
you know, I think I missed half of that paragraph. I have no idea why, I am not doing anything at work. All I had to do today was grab a pepsi and read this post. And I am sitting here with a Root Beer and misread the post. I’m 0-2.
in the Times
The diagram was in the NYT and it was an excellent article as well.
My yankees fan co-worker gave me the times article. Great info. Really breaks it down. Must read.
search “Santana’s Changeup: Hitters Never See It Coming”
or email me at keith[dot]suth [at] gmail [.dot. ] com and i will email you the link.
NY Times on 3/3/08
The grip is different – the thumb and index finger form a circle, which makes his hold on the ball less firm than when holding the ball for a fastball (index and middle forming a V over the seams). So, with all other things being equal – arm delivery and angle and speed of arm – the less firm grip causes the ball to lose some velocity on it.
As an aside – Matt, were you able to pull the ball from his grip? I’d be a bit nervous for fear of ripping a finger nail or something like that, leading to a stay on the DL for Johan.
haha yea seriously, i wouldve refused to touch his pitching hand in fear that id like dislocate his middle finger.
the grip isn’t the same at all…the grip is what makes it slower…”…basically, you make an okay sign with your hands and grip the ball with your middle finger, ring finger and pinky, leaving your thumb and pointer just off to the side…the ball is thrown like a fastball, but because of the deep yet delicate grip, the ball puffs out of the hand at a lesser speed…”
Matt…that is so awesome! That’s a great story for your grandkids one day.
I would have intimidated by Santana and nt had the cajones to chat himup. That’
WOW Matt, as a long-time reader of this site, this post more than any other shows that you have really hit the big time. Hope you take some time to sit poolside tonight, sip on an adult beverage, and realize how far you’ve come. Meanwhile, I’ll just continue to live vicariously through you.
Well put koosman… Congrats Cerrone….
People I’d rather be right now….
David Wright, Derek Jeter, Tom Brady, Matthew Cerrone, Hugh Hephner
Cerrone for 5th Starter!
Seriously though, you should have gotten that on film, that would have been such an awesome segment for SNY. lol
Matt, that is the coolest thing I have ever read on the baseball internet. ::swoon::
bold
Matt your becoming big time and you dont even know it yet….
THE BUZZ IS OUT THERE!!!!!
DONT FORGET THE LITTLE PEOPLE
Matt, you just made the trip a huge success. Wow! I would give my right arm to sit there and chat with the best pitcher on the planet.
Too cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matt, i hate you… you son of a *$#% … how do u get so lucky!
He got so lucky by hours and hours of hard work.
He had a great idea and he worked and worked to make it a success.
jealous are we? just do what i do and live vicariously through matt.
God bless capitalism, the entrepreneurial spirit and hard work. This is the one and only place I come for baseball news and commentary because of stuff like this.
Great job Matt!! Love this piece. To keep praising it would still not do it any justice. Fan-tastic!!
Matt, you must be having the time of your life!
They’re going to have to put you in a straight-jacket to get you back on the plane.
rawr
UNFREAKING REAL!!
I don’t know what else to say……….
I just shed a tear.
I just peed my pants.
backinbusiness said it. That was the best thing I have read in a blog. Inside firsthand walkthrough of Santana’s change…it doesn’t get any better than that…..you lucky Mother******!
Matt should win an Emmy or something for that.
hardcore!
whens the first metsblog drinkup viewing party?
wow Matt, you are truly one of a kind :o
That’s an OK changeup, not a circle change (thumb and pinky). No one throws that anymore though so the OK change apparently is now also known as a circle change.
Matt give some of your luck over to F-Mart….0-5 and dropped his ST average almost 70 points…
You are seriously the luckiest guy on the planet. Good thing you run a heckuva website or I would be mad at you.
From time to time you say this is a site for fans written by fans. Here’s hoping you hold onto that ideal for a long, long time. You are going to be pressured to be more sophisticated, more professional or more sympathetic to the owners of SNY and their other employees. Sometimes the pressure will be overwhelming. Sometimes it will be subtle.
For our sake, please resist.
And when you finally decide to cash out, I hope you make a bundle.
(The Santana post is just awesome, just what a fan would do.)
ditto! keep this up, these posts are always the best.
In other news, the Mets just won their 4th straight to break the .500 mark…and Pagan had another RBI hit..
Wow
I’ll admit – I was a little shook when Matt asked me to show him how I grip my balls, but theres a first time for everything right fellas? Just kidding, see you in October.
Hysterical Johan!
Cerrone must translate to “luckiest mo’fo on this gd planet”
good work Matt
strikestrong
That kicks so much ass, it’s beyond words.
Beautiful work Matt…love this..and love hearing how accommodating the Met players are. Makes me even more proud to be a Met fan.
UNBELIEVABLE! MATT – CONGRATULATIONS! Something to tell your grandkids about!
It must be surreal for you, Matt. The thousands of words written over the fall and winter regarding bringing this player to our team… including the roller coaster of the weeks leading up to the actual trade.
And now… sitting next to him and chatting, not unlike one of us might do with someone interesting on a plane, train or subway.
These are great stories– maybe too uninteresting for regular print journalism– but we true Mets and Metsblog fans really appreciate the insights.
Keep up the great work!
well put
Excatly!
What did Santana do when he noticed you were pitching a tent?
HAHA I just spit my Snapple all over my comupter!
Jerk.
LOL!!!!!!!!
I was excited about the Met’s prospects this season before, but if Cerrone gets his circle change working – we will be unbeatable!
I humbly bow in the general direction of south (nearest Florida). I also raise my glass of 3 Blind Moose Merlot to you, Matt.
As a Mets fan, well, look at my userid (that was 1969, people), I am sitting here in silent admiration. Now, if my copy (factory) of MLB 08: The Show would only have Johan on the Mets . . .
Matt, and the whole crew here, keep kicking ass!
for PS3, he’s a Met in the first roster update, which is already available
There ya go . . . I’ve got the PS2 version.
Written like a professional.
With the enthusiasm of an 8-year old.
Great job, Matt.
I think metsblog has finally trumped firejoemorgan.
I love it. Cerrone, you’ve got it made.
Just make sure you keep your fan’s perspective, and you’ll be golden.
I don’t know what you guys are all freaking out over.
I was just on yankeesblog.com and their YES journalist, Pratt Sherrone, was talking with an equipment manager outside the stadium and found out that…. get this… the Yankess played the Blue Jays today!
So pretty much you can see both organizations are giving their fans a truly remarkable experience.
+1 for the username with all the 9’s, Turk is one of my all time favorites, spiking the rosin bag after outs was awesome.
thanks for living out our dreams matt, what a unique opportunity, im so glad i got to read it.
i had a dream a couple of weeks ago that i watched a mets spring training game on a small field in the outfield at shea with santana pitching and maybe a hundred or so people watching from bleachers setup on either side of the diamond, then i woke up and it was raining and i had the flu.
Kudos, Turk. Yet another example why the comments section borders on unreadable anymore……
and btw, I’m referring to your inane criticism – NOT Matt’s or any other poster’s enthusiasm.
drew, that’s a pretty strong response for someone who can’t pick up on a little sarcasm.
I wasn’t criticizing, I was praising the Mets and SNY for allowing Matt to do such an amazing job. Whereas that OTHER team in NY continually churns out boring news stories and would forbid that type of access to their players.
X Freakin D man.
best.post.ever.
New around here are ya?
I wish we had a manger like joe girardi that stresses getting in good shape. Willy stresses nothing that has not been stressed before.
I just pulled my hamstring reading that.
man
i wish someone can teach me to throw a dominating curve a slider a 2 seam fast balland a circle change so i can fool everyone in high school and get signed by the mets that will be my dream come true.
arghhhh matt can u invite me and johan and pedro to ur house please
Matt, awesome, purely awesome. Try and get a sit down with Pedro, I’m sure you could find something interesting to talk about, but this was pretty damn cool. Awesome man.
Matt, you also have an icebreaker. You could offer to show Pedro how Johan throws his circle change.
Great job. Who needs newspapers or TV when the good stuffs happening here.
This is great stuff, Matt….probably the best coverage I’ve read on this site. Plus, you have a great heirloom to hand down for posterity! I’m really happy for everything that’s happening to you. You’ve earned it, bro.
You da man. I like Santana even more after your post. Best yet!
and to think ab 2 years ago you were begging for money from us to help keep the site running…sad to say i never gave you any money bc you def did deserve it…this post alone would be worth something…don’t know what i’d do without this site.
Dude! Matt! Dude!
DUDE!
Didya ever, in a million years, think that when you started this blog, you would be sitting in the Mets locker room, getting pitching tips from the BEST FREAKING PITCHER IN THE BIGS?!?!??!?!
Not only was this an excellent, EXCELLENT post, but I’m so psyched to see this site take ya so far. Been reading Metsblog for years and it just keeps getting better and better and better.
DUUUUUUUUUUUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not that it makes a difference, but it’s more fun to root for good guys like Johan. He didn’t try to blow you off or big time you. It sounds like he even enjoyed showing you how to throw it.
Great post !!!!
Greatest story ever. Holy crap.
March 4, 2008- Matt’s mancrush on Johan begins…
:-D
Not only an amazing post, but also some of the funnier comments I have read on here in a long while…
Congrats, Matt! Things just keep getting better and better for you, huh? First, you get to join the Mets at Spring Training. Then you end up hanging out with the players and in the clubhouse. And then getting some one-on-one time with Johan, learning his changeup grip? You are living the life! Good for you!
Matt,
Fantastic post! Just amazing….thanks for the insight! You are one lucky guy…this is one of a kind. Great job again!
Matt, you make me proud to be a Mets fan.
God bless you.
I will never forget this day
haha, good job matt. guess you got your interview.
I am so jealous of Matt right now. Keep practicing and maybe Matt could be our fifth starter!
Great Story . Keep it up !