Detroit – Tigers’ manager AJ Hinch doesn’t typically put a premium on having pitchers with different arm angles in his bullpen. The premium is on guys who throw strikes and get outs, regardless of arm angle. For him, it's more about matching up his relievers’ elite pitches with hitters' weaknesses.
Alex Lange’s breaking ball against right-handed hitters who tend to chase, for example. Or Joe Jimenez’s high-spin four-seamer up in the zone against a hitter with a steep launch-angle swing.
But seeing what he’s seen this season, facing bullpens like Tampa Bay and Minnesota, who run out different-styled relievers one after another and hearing his hitters talk on the difficulties that presents – well, he’s warming to the idea of offering a different look out of his pen.