A bunch of good stuff from PITCHf/x with maximum presentation and minimal interpretation. Unfortunately not split by batter handedness.
Table 1: Outcome by Pitch
Table 2: Pitch by Outcome
Table 3:PITCHf/x Data by Outcome, Split by Pitch
pfxX = horizontal movement, pfxZ = vertical movement, Loc_X = horizontal location (negative = inside to righties, zero = center of plate), Loc_Z = vertical location
Figure 1: Felix Changeup, Aerial View
Figure 2: Felix Changeup, Side View
Figure 3: Felix Curveball, Aerial View
Figure 4: Felix Curveball, Side View
Figure 5: Felix Fastball, Aerial View
Figure 6: Felix Fastball, Side View
Figure 7: Felix Slider, Aerial View
Figure 8: Felix Slider, Side View
0 recs | 24 comments
Did you notice any pattern to suggest a clear difference between a 2 and a 4-seamer
in Felix’s fastballs? And we just going to go ahead and call that 89-90mph thing a changeup?
Matthew - August 17, 2008
I'm calling it a changeup unless it's clearly something else just for the sake of simplicity
It’s not worth trying to figure out what it’s supposed to be.
I’ll play around with his fastball tonight or tomorrow when I get the chance.
Jeff Sullivan - August 17, 2008
This is the unsolvable riddle
I’ve been playing around with everything (velocity, pfxX, pfxZ, spin, break length, break angle, etc), and the best I can do is that, when I split Felix’s fastballs into velocity > 96mph (4-seamers) and velocity < 93mph (2-seamers), the former has a pfxX of -6.4, while the latter has a pfxX of -9.2. But there’s so much noise in there that I don’t think it’s possible to take a group of Felix fastballs and assign them as 2 or 4-seamers with anything better than reasonable accuracy.
Jeff Sullivan - August 17, 2008
Oh and next time just ask for batter handedness to be added.
Matthew - August 17, 2008
I kind of assumed it would be in there and then didn't realize it wasn't until I was too far along
Jeff Sullivan - August 17, 2008
Great, now I feel inadequate for not providing it.
Do I get demoted to Data Tugboat now?
Matthew - August 17, 2008
At this rate you'll never make it to Data Battleship
Jeff Sullivan - August 17, 2008
And this isn't a sorority?
JI - August 17, 2008
Graham does use a lot of Greek letters...
Last Fan Of Jose Lopez - August 17, 2008
We can be ηβπ
Graham MacAree - August 17, 2008
Data to support what we've been saying for years
Fastball = his worst pitch. Needs to throw more change-ups.
A 6% swinging strike rate at his fastball, despite having the highest average velocity of any starter in MLB. His fastball command sucks.
davidcameron - August 17, 2008
As a fan, this is so hard to admit.
Teej - August 18, 2008
It's amazing to see how much more break he gets on the curve when he gets SStrks
Although it could be a little of SSS and a little of the fact that when his curve is at its best is when he gets swinging strikes.
Mariner John - August 17, 2008
Kind of intuitive too - the more the ball breaks, the harder it is to hit
seattlebruin - August 18, 2008
Nerd
Graham MacAree - August 17, 2008
Bazing!
seattlesundevil - August 17, 2008
That curveball looks scary
Last Fan Of Jose Lopez - August 17, 2008
What I found interesting was interpreting the batter's approach
Adding the Ball% and the SL% to see what pitches hitters are attacking
hitters take his curve 70% of the time, meaning this is an excellent pitch if he has command. Getting ahead 0-1 is huge, and throwing a first pitch curve that might be taken can add to his arsenal
fastball is taken 52, slider about 54. Interestingly enough, hitters are most aggressive on his changeup, watching it only about 45% of the time. Though hitters chase it most often they have the least success against it. With the highest groundball rates and almost tied with the slider for highest SS rates. It’s also least often thrown for a ball, although you’d have to look at the pitch FX location to determine if this is because it is most accurate, or if the strike percentage is inflated by the high swing rate.
mariners124m - August 18, 2008
After reading it over that post needs editing/proofreading
Sorry fellas, I’m a fairly buzzed
mariners124m - August 18, 2008
All I see are some pretty lame rainbows.
SethGrandpa - August 18, 2008
"Mmmmmmm. . . that's good rainbow."
thewyrm - August 18, 2008
If you found the pot of gold at the end, you wouldn't think they were lame anymore
seattlebruin - August 18, 2008
All the colors of the 'bow, man.
Phil Hatzenbuehler - August 18, 2008
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