Minorleagueball top 20

[bravesfanMatt]

100 straight is easier to hit than 90 with movement.

 

[bravesfanMatt]

And I don't think they told them to abandon the heat. Have your four seamer in your pocket but learn to pitch with your two seamer. If a hitter has to respect 94 with movement then a 96 that is straight will surprise then even more. It is all about keeping them off balance.

 

[chop2chip]

Isn't there a correlation between velocity and contact rate? Does taking some ticks off the fastball to focus on command sound a lot like pitching to contact?

Sure there's a correlation, but there's also a correlation between MPH and walk rate, injury, etc.

There's a lot of reasons to deemphasize MPH that aren't related to pitching to contact.

 

[chop2chip]

Sure there's a correlation, but there's also a correlation between MPH and walk rate, injury, etc.

There's a lot of reasons to deemphasize MPH that aren't related to pitching to contact.

In other words, unless a pitcher is going max effort on every single pitch (I.e., like a closer) then you could use your logic that that pitcher is pitching to contact.

 

[gilesfan]

Sure there's a correlation, but there's also a correlation between MPH and walk rate, injury, etc.

There's a lot of reasons to deemphasize MPH that aren't related to pitching to contact.

I will have to check and see if there have been any studies, but I know pitchers that miss bats are better performing pitchers. And pitchers that throw harder are typically ones that miss more bats.

I haven't seen any reason to deemphasize MPH.

 

[clvclv]

I will have to check and see if there have been any studies, but I know pitchers that miss bats are better performing pitchers. And pitchers that throw harder are typically ones that miss more bats.

I haven't seen any reason to deemphasize MPH.

Folty and Cabrera notwithstanding I guess. Wisler's velocity appeared to tick up slightly this season as well, but his results certainly didn't improve.