Karinchak's line is 4.0 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 5 K's. So far the predictions that he'll blow hot and cold, walk a lot of batters, strike out a lot, and walk the tightrope in many appearances is not holding water. He hasn't been getting himself into jams with wildness. He hasn't been falling behind in counts. He's just been a very good relief pitcher who forces a lot of weak contact.
The Twins were the highest scoring team in baseball last year and coming into last night they led the majors in runs per game. Karinchak came in to face the top of their order with a two-run lead. You might expect a rookie to nibble in this situation but he went right at them. Six pitches and he was out of the inning with not a single ball being called. He never gave Nelson Cruz a chance to tie the game.
It seems like on this board fans expect pitchers to do whatever they did in the minors. Civale won't miss enough bats to be that successful because he didn't strike out that many in the minors. Karinchak will struggle with walks because he walked some guys in the minors. This organization has the best pitcher development program in baseball. They fix mechanical problems and make these guys better. Look at Clevinger, who we got for a washed up Vinnie Pestano, and Bieber, who was a 4th round pick.
At what point do you look at the pitcher that is in front of you now and say, "This is who he is" instead of "No way he can keep this up"?
In Beiber's one full season in the minors he averaged 8.4 K's per 9 innings. Last year it was 10.9 and this year he's blowing that number out of the water. Maybe this is who he really is. It's very early, but maybe this is who Karinchak really is.