I was going to post this in yesterday's game thread, but the data was so weird I wanted to make a new thread so I could continue to monitor what's going on.
Wright didn't throw enough pitches to make any concrete conclusions on any of them except maybe the FA, but here's what he showed in his 2 inning stint...
FA: 94.6 mph (Grade 56.1), 1.0" XMov (Grade 26.5), 5.2" VMov (Grade 16.9)
I'm afraid this FA is going to be a serious issue moving forward, which is odd because his 2454 RPM on the pitch is 3rd best on the team. Maybe it's an arm slot issue? It's almost like he throws it with side spin...like a football.
If this is the amped up velocity out of the BP, then it's likely average velocity as a SP. Needless to say, if this movement data based on 16 FAs is correct, the 20 grade movement is not something I've ever seen on a FA thrown by a Braves pitcher. This is bottom of the scale horizontal movement. His rise on the FA is so bad it actually profiles as an average SI...problem is if the pitch was classified as a SI the horizontal movement is so bad it wouldn't even be on the scale at all (Grade -10.4).
SL: 80.4 mph (Grade 32.0), 9.0" HMov (Grade 80+), -4.3" VMov (Grade 77.7)
This is a slow slider with absolutely wipe out movement. We saw how it works against Bradley. This has to be graded a plus-plus pitch overall...it's nasty.
FC: 85.0 mph (Grade 32.9), 2.9" XMov (Grade 63.4), -2.1" VMov (Grade 80+)
A slow cutter with crazy movement. I have no other data on a cutter with negative vertical movement. I don't even know how to grade this pitch. It moves like a splitter with cutting glove side action instead of fading arm side action. We probably have to call it plus though, right?
CH: 11.2 mph delta (Grade 66.8), 8.5" XMov (Grade 55.8), 3.2" VMov (Grade 56.9)
Finally, a pitch that fits a normal profile! This is a 60 grade pitch overall.
So we have a guy with a horridly straight fastball on both planes despite a good spin rate, a slow slider with elite movement, a cutter with off the charts sink, and a change that hovers around plus. I've analyzed hundreds of pitches from dozens of pitchers, and I've never seen anything like it. When I started this post the FA movement had me extremely discouraged, but that FA coupled with the crazy movement on everything else might end up being effective.
I have no idea how to view Wright, so all I can do is take a wait and see approach.
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