A look at Ben Sheets fastball and curve from a side view
by dixieflatline
on May 9, 2008 3:08 PM CDT
So here is the latest PITCHf/x creation. I am plotting an average fastball and curveball for different pitchers to try to find the infamous "hump" to the curve. These plots are shown standing near where the 3rd base coach might be standing looking at the pitch from the side. Currently, I am only using the crappy 2008 data but things don't look terrible. Here is Ben Sheets.
Sheets is supposed to have a very small hump or no hump so when I saw this I was a bit surprised. You can see that Sheets is releasing the two pitches from slightly different release points which matches up with what we have seen from the 2007 data.
Sheets average fastball tends to be up in the zone with the curve near the knees. This looked like a pretty big "hump" to me so I decided to look at a crappy pitcher to compare.
Ponson tends to work down in the zone with both his fastball and curve. This results in a huge "hump" to his curve. Also look at the difference in release point. I have to imagine that this is basically telling batters what is coming.
Anyway, I am hoping to have some more quantitative stuff on this for my next THT article if anyone finds this stuff interesting.
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good stuff
I wonder if the “sinker” is his “change-up.”
by ol Pete on May 9, 2008 3:15 PM CDT 0 recs
Actually in 2007 he was throwing a two seamer and not a change
You can see his change in the 2008 data though.
by dixieflatline on May 9, 2008 3:41 PM CDT 0 recs
Great stuff dixie
Really interesting.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on May 9, 2008 4:33 PM CDT 0 recs
Nice work
All this stuff is fascinating dixie. Keep up the good work. It is appreciated
Can't pitch Gagne in rain. He’s like the B-2 bomber of baseball.--TheJay
by verno329 on May 9, 2008 4:41 PM CDT 0 recs
Thanks guys
Hopefully I’ll have some really neat stuff to show by Tuesday’s THT article.
by dixieflatline on May 9, 2008 5:37 PM CDT 0 recs
Keep up the good work
Between this and the ump stuff, you’ve been awesome.
He's the round mound of profound
by drezdn on May 9, 2008 6:06 PM CDT 0 recs
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago
|
53 | 36 | .595 | 0 | Won 1 |
| St. Louis
|
51 | 40 | .560 | 3 | Won 1 |
| Milwaukee
|
50 | 40 | .555 | 3.5 | Won 1 |
| Cincinnati
|
43 | 47 | .477 | 10.5 | Won 4 |
| Pittsburgh
|
41 | 47 | .465 | 11.5 | Lost 3 |
| Houston
|
41 | 49 | .455 | 12.5 | Lost 1 |
(updated 7.8.2008 at 10:02 PM CDT)
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