Braves news: Spencer Strider has amazing counter to the pitch clock

Atlanta Braves fireballer Spencer Strider is about to channel his inner NFL starting quarterback.

With MLB adopting a pitch clock this season, Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider is going about how to handle these adjustments very methodically.

Strider caught up with Justin Felder of FOX 5 Sports in the early days of spring training. His best assessment of how to go about navigating a pitch clock is to treat the position like being a quarterback. Having a default pitch to go to in certain situations will help pitchers like Strider stay locked into the game with the sped-up level of play. This is not a bad way to think about all this.

"“I’ve used the analogy ‘I feel like a quarterback now,’ so I’m watching the play clock, reading the defense, trying to get the play off in time.”"

For anyone in Braves Country wanting to make Strider to Patrick Mahomes comparisons, go right ahead.

Keep in mind that Strider has been predominantly a two-pitch pitcher at this stage of his professional career. Whether it be fastball or slider, this should keep things easy for Travis d’Arnaud and Sean Murphy behind the dish.

Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider will quarterback the MLB pitch clock

Strider’s approach to the game of baseball has always been methodical. He takes great pride in his pliability and being in the best shape as humanly possible. He is the Quadfather after all. So it should not be much of a surprise that he has a way to go about using the pitch clock to his advantage. Pitchers who have prepared for this big adjustment will be the ones who will succeed.

No doubt about it, this will be utterly fascinating to see what pitchers will see their games improve with a pitch clock, as well as those who will suffer after its league-wide implementation. Those with elite stuff will probably benefit from it, as will those with great command and mechanics. However, those who are not the most situationally sound will get eaten alive by the rate of play.

Ultimately, the pitch clock will be very revealing. Like the pitchers being checked seemingly every inning for having a foreign substance on them, it will look weird at first, but will then just be part of the game. The other big thing we have to understand in all this is the batters will have to adjust to a sped-up game as well. Ready or not, here comes the heater! Are you swinging or hitting the dirt?

Preparation is the key to success, especially in a game largely defined by failure as with baseball.