Three Facts: Detroit Tigers

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 18, 2009 11:28 PM EST

I'm trying to mix these things up (and get through them as quickly as possible). Let's take a look at three of the more interesting Detroit Tigers pitchers and their PitchF/x data using a graph that I totally stole from Harry.

Zumaya_medium

Edwin_medium

Verlander_medium

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Tell me how to read the X Break.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Feb 19, 2009 12:15 AM EST reply actions

Negative X-Break = inside to righties.

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 19, 2009 12:42 AM EST up reply actions

Wow, I was confused for several seconds.

And then I realized I meant to ask how to read the Z, not the X. I get the X.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Feb 19, 2009 12:53 AM EST up reply actions

The z-axis is how the pitch moves vertically compared to a spin-less pitch (without considering knuckling).

Fastballs don’t actually break up, but they don’t fall as much as a spinless pitch. Backspin makes them move straighter.

A negative number on the z-axis means there’s some topspin, making the pitch move down more than a spinless pitch.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Feb 19, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

So these are from the catcher's perspective, right?

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Feb 19, 2009 9:08 AM EST up reply actions

Correct.

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 19, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions

Does this mean Edwin's slider is not good?

Space.

It's a problem we face.

So we never go anywhere.

We just stay in one place.

by hazel on Feb 19, 2009 9:10 AM EST reply actions

Why would it? What's your thought process?

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Feb 19, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

Are you thinking it doesn't slide very much?

If so, yeah, I see your point, especially considering his fastball doesn’t tail much, either. Maybe that’s one reason he doesn’t K as many guys as you’d think for as hard as he throws.

RJ has a post up at DRaysBay with the Rays starters stuff graphed and Sonnanstine has a huge disparity in x-breaks for his fastball and slider. Throws much softer, though. Interesting that Edwin has control problems, given how little his stuff moves. Must be a mechanics thing. Might he get more control and more break by throwing a bit slower?

Also, I wonder if Sonny walks fewer batters simply because they swing at his stuff more often. Slower pitches look juicier, so hitters don’t wait for a walk as often? That’s a total hypothesis, anyone care to check it out?

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Feb 19, 2009 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

The harder you throw

the less likely you’re to hit your spot regardless of break. You’ll get used to knowing where your pitches will generally go if you throw free and easy.

I also believe that Sonny’s control is the reason for his strikeouts. With Edwin, you can wait for one in your zone and crank it. With Sonny, he keeps you off balance. I really don’t know if I’m reading fangraphs right(I’m not well versed in their metrics) but it seems to me that hitters wait on Edwin a little more and make contact a little less.

by Daniel Berlyn on Feb 19, 2009 8:58 PM EST up reply actions