Big news yesterday from New Hampshire as Finn McCool reported that Jamie Vermilyea is headed back to the bullpen with Brandon League replacing him in the rotation. In five AA starts for the Fisher Cats Jamie has a 3.14 ERA, and a perfect game, so why would the Jays move him back to the pen? I was in Binghamton to see New Hampshire last week and had the opportunity to ask Jamie about this and some other questions that were on my mind.
Jamie Vermilyea is a big guy, 6'4", 195 lbs. Jamie appears to be a relaxed, easy-going guy, however Fisher Cat staff members tell me Jamie has a competitive side. Jamie is one of those relievers who like to sprint in from the bullpen, an "adrenaline-junkie" as one person told me. I asked Jamie about his stated preference for relieving. "After throwing that perfect game I don't mind starting too much, but I definitely would rather come out of the pen, but they want me to start now. I am happy to start, happy to relieve." As I mentioned in my trip report Dane Johnson, the Jays minor league pitching instructor, was in town for the series against Binghamton. He watched Jamie pitch on Thursday last week and presumably had a chat with him right after that. I assume the decision to switch roles was made after that visit.
I asked Jamie about how he flew under the radar until the Jays drafted him in the ninth round of the 2003 draft?
"I talked to the local scout when I was in high school but I was not expecting to get drafted. I pretty much walked-on at New Mexico, I could have gone (on a scholarship) to a small division two school in Denver, Colorado but I decided to walk-on in New Mexico". I asked Jamie how he went from a walk-on to having so much success in pro ball? "Back in high school I was just a tall skinny kid who didn't throw too hard so I definitely benefited from going to college. I put on some weight and had good coaching so that helped".
Jamie has shown an aversion to walking hitters. "That has pretty much been my strength, put the ball in the zone. My sinkerball and change-up are my main pitches, try and get those in the zone early and let them put the ball in play". The Jays are working with Jamie to fine tune his mechanics a little bit and trying to improve his slider. I asked Jamie about his slow start this season in Dunedin. "I just got off to a slow start, my control was off, I worked with Rick Langford and that helped me".
Rick Adair says of Jamie, "he is a groundball pitcher, needs to change speeds, may need a cutter to face left-handed hitters. He is a laid back guy but he competes very well". Rick pointed out an interesting fact about Jamie's hot start at AA. "We didn't see him pitch out of the stretch for a couple of weeks".
Dane Johnson says of Jamie: "He is aggressive in the zone with his fastball, he relies on his movement, he has got plus movement he is not going to slop it up there, he has a real smooth motion".
As discussed Jamie relies on his sinker and change-up. Jamie also throws a slider, although it appears to be his third pitch right now. Jamie's fastball/sinker tops out just under 90 and scouts believe his stuff is more suited to the bullpen.
Jamie Vermilyea is a big guy, 6'4", 195 lbs. Jamie appears to be a relaxed, easy-going guy, however Fisher Cat staff members tell me Jamie has a competitive side. Jamie is one of those relievers who like to sprint in from the bullpen, an "adrenaline-junkie" as one person told me. I asked Jamie about his stated preference for relieving. "After throwing that perfect game I don't mind starting too much, but I definitely would rather come out of the pen, but they want me to start now. I am happy to start, happy to relieve." As I mentioned in my trip report Dane Johnson, the Jays minor league pitching instructor, was in town for the series against Binghamton. He watched Jamie pitch on Thursday last week and presumably had a chat with him right after that. I assume the decision to switch roles was made after that visit.
I asked Jamie about how he flew under the radar until the Jays drafted him in the ninth round of the 2003 draft?
"I talked to the local scout when I was in high school but I was not expecting to get drafted. I pretty much walked-on at New Mexico, I could have gone (on a scholarship) to a small division two school in Denver, Colorado but I decided to walk-on in New Mexico". I asked Jamie how he went from a walk-on to having so much success in pro ball? "Back in high school I was just a tall skinny kid who didn't throw too hard so I definitely benefited from going to college. I put on some weight and had good coaching so that helped".
Jamie has shown an aversion to walking hitters. "That has pretty much been my strength, put the ball in the zone. My sinkerball and change-up are my main pitches, try and get those in the zone early and let them put the ball in play". The Jays are working with Jamie to fine tune his mechanics a little bit and trying to improve his slider. I asked Jamie about his slow start this season in Dunedin. "I just got off to a slow start, my control was off, I worked with Rick Langford and that helped me".
Rick Adair says of Jamie, "he is a groundball pitcher, needs to change speeds, may need a cutter to face left-handed hitters. He is a laid back guy but he competes very well". Rick pointed out an interesting fact about Jamie's hot start at AA. "We didn't see him pitch out of the stretch for a couple of weeks".
Dane Johnson says of Jamie: "He is aggressive in the zone with his fastball, he relies on his movement, he has got plus movement he is not going to slop it up there, he has a real smooth motion".
As discussed Jamie relies on his sinker and change-up. Jamie also throws a slider, although it appears to be his third pitch right now. Jamie's fastball/sinker tops out just under 90 and scouts believe his stuff is more suited to the bullpen.
