Comments on: Mauer’s Performance by Pitch Location http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:42:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: delv http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/#comment-129315 delv Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:24:54 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=15842#comment-129315 As I said in the prior Mauer thread, Cano is great comp except with more of his HR inside. Plenty of FB and power the other way, weak grounders to the right side, etc. As I said in the prior Mauer thread, Cano is great comp except with more of his HR inside. Plenty of FB and power the other way, weak grounders to the right side, etc.

]]> By: Taro http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/#comment-129260 Taro Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:31:57 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=15842#comment-129260 Interesting stuff. There seems to be a tendency for umpires to call inside pitches on LHBs, so that shouldn't be an issue for opposing pitchers. Even if you "miss" you are better off missing middle-in than middle-away with Mauer. Worst case scenario you hit him. Clearly Mauer's approach at the plate is to stay back on the fastball (almost to an extreme), giving him some extra time to recognize a pitch, adjust to the offspeed, and lay off of the high fastball. Pitchers need to force him to try to pull the fastball and then they can start messing up with his timing with offspeed pitches and opening up the rest of the plate. Interesting stuff.

There seems to be a tendency for umpires to call inside pitches on LHBs, so that shouldn’t be an issue for opposing pitchers. Even if you “miss” you are better off missing middle-in than middle-away with Mauer. Worst case scenario you hit him.

Clearly Mauer’s approach at the plate is to stay back on the fastball (almost to an extreme), giving him some extra time to recognize a pitch, adjust to the offspeed, and lay off of the high fastball.

Pitchers need to force him to try to pull the fastball and then they can start messing up with his timing with offspeed pitches and opening up the rest of the plate.

]]> By: Steven ellingson http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/#comment-129115 Steven ellingson Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:08:02 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=15842#comment-129115 Yeah, there are some pitchers who just never seem to go inside. They aren't going to try something new when Mauer's at the plate. The problem is, if you miss inside, he doesn't swing, and if you miss over the middle, he smashes it. You need to be able to hit that corner if you want to get him out inside. Yeah, there are some pitchers who just never seem to go inside. They aren’t going to try something new when Mauer’s at the plate. The problem is, if you miss inside, he doesn’t swing, and if you miss over the middle, he smashes it. You need to be able to hit that corner if you want to get him out inside.

]]> By: Luke in MN http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/#comment-129075 Luke in MN Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:42:12 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=15842#comment-129075 Enjoyed both the original article and follow-up. I'll just add that I wouldn't mind if all your analysis for the rest of the season dealt with Mauer. Enjoyed both the original article and follow-up. I’ll just add that I wouldn’t mind if all your analysis for the rest of the season dealt with Mauer.

]]> By: The Hit Dog http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/#comment-129068 The Hit Dog Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:24:46 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=15842#comment-129068 God this site is awesome. God this site is awesome.

]]> By: Bill&TedsExcellentAdventure http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/#comment-129032 Bill&TedsExcellentAdventure Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:56:24 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=15842#comment-129032 From what I remember last year it seems like pitchers were throwing more inside on mauer towards the end of the year. I do specifically remember mauer turning on a Verlander fastball towards the end of the year. The problem for most pitchers is throwing inside is not a very easy thing to do. In my mind (as a former pitcher) it is the hardest pitch to throw - to throw inside & off the plate. I very much doubt that Major league teams do not know that pitching Mauer hard and in is probably the best way to get him out. That being said, Mauer does have the ability to turn on pitches. He doesnt need to do it very often, but I imagine if pitchers started pounding him inside constantly he would swing earlier, and hit more flyballs (homeruns) to right field. About the defensive alignment, from what I can tell most teams do shift him correctly. Outfield shifts like a right handed pull hitter, and infield shifts like a left handed pull hitter. The infield does not put on a full shift, from what I have seen the shortstop is usually up the middle but still on the shortstop side of 2nd base. I think if you were to completely pull over the infield (with the shortstop on the 2nd baseman side of 2nd base), I am pretty sure mauer would adjust to it. If the 3rd baseman is playing too far away from home Mauer will bunt until he positions himself in a spot to field a bunt. Basically what I am trying to say is I think Major league teams know where to defend Mauer, and they know where to pitch Mauer. Mauer is a good enough hitter he is going to be able to adjust to either. Although, I do believe he is not pitched inside enough, I think that is because the pitcher isnt following scouting reports, not because Major league teams do not already know that he doesnt usually handle the inside pitch as well. It will be interesting to see how pitchers start attacking him. The one plus to when a pitcher throws inside is that Mauer does not swing if it is going to be a ball, or if with less then 2 strikes he isnt going to be able to handle the pitch well. So even if you throw him inside, most likely you are going to have to do it more then once. From what I remember last year it seems like pitchers were throwing more inside on mauer towards the end of the year. I do specifically remember mauer turning on a Verlander fastball towards the end of the year. The problem for most pitchers is throwing inside is not a very easy thing to do. In my mind (as a former pitcher) it is the hardest pitch to throw – to throw inside & off the plate. I very much doubt that Major league teams do not know that pitching Mauer hard and in is probably the best way to get him out. That being said, Mauer does have the ability to turn on pitches. He doesnt need to do it very often, but I imagine if pitchers started pounding him inside constantly he would swing earlier, and hit more flyballs (homeruns) to right field.

About the defensive alignment, from what I can tell most teams do shift him correctly. Outfield shifts like a right handed pull hitter, and infield shifts like a left handed pull hitter. The infield does not put on a full shift, from what I have seen the shortstop is usually up the middle but still on the shortstop side of 2nd base.

I think if you were to completely pull over the infield (with the shortstop on the 2nd baseman side of 2nd base), I am pretty sure mauer would adjust to it. If the 3rd baseman is playing too far away from home Mauer will bunt until he positions himself in a spot to field a bunt.

Basically what I am trying to say is I think Major league teams know where to defend Mauer, and they know where to pitch Mauer. Mauer is a good enough hitter he is going to be able to adjust to either. Although, I do believe he is not pitched inside enough, I think that is because the pitcher isnt following scouting reports, not because Major league teams do not already know that he doesnt usually handle the inside pitch as well.

It will be interesting to see how pitchers start attacking him. The one plus to when a pitcher throws inside is that Mauer does not swing if it is going to be a ball, or if with less then 2 strikes he isnt going to be able to handle the pitch well. So even if you throw him inside, most likely you are going to have to do it more then once.

]]> By: Mike Green http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/#comment-129030 Mike Green Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:54:50 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=15842#comment-129030 Incidentally, if turns out that RH sinkerballers can get Mauer out inside, Bryan Smith will find some way to mention it in his prospect reports. The usual modus operandi for a RH sinkerballer is to attempt to get the LHH to turn over on an outside pitch, but it won't work with Mauer. Incidentally, if turns out that RH sinkerballers can get Mauer out inside, Bryan Smith will find some way to mention it in his prospect reports. The usual modus operandi for a RH sinkerballer is to attempt to get the LHH to turn over on an outside pitch, but it won’t work with Mauer.

]]> By: RZ http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/#comment-129024 RZ Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:31:48 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=15842#comment-129024 Angle of pitch compared to angle of hit is an idea. Angle of pitch compared to angle of hit is an idea.

]]> By: Mike Green http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/#comment-129021 Mike Green Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:24:19 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=15842#comment-129021 Excellent. I imagine that there might be difference vs. RHP and vs. LHP. That might be worth exploring. We know that Mauer hits fastballs better than off-speed stuff. It might be interesting to have a look at off-speed stuff inside, in particular. Excellent. I imagine that there might be difference vs. RHP and vs. LHP. That might be worth exploring.

We know that Mauer hits fastballs better than off-speed stuff. It might be interesting to have a look at off-speed stuff inside, in particular.

]]> By: Michael http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/mauers-performance-by-pitch-location/#comment-129020 Michael Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:23:49 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=15842#comment-129020 Great stuff Dave, as always. Are these performances from 2009 only? If so, I wonder if that power on the outer half of the plate was there in 2008 and whether it'll stick in 2010 and onward. Great stuff Dave, as always. Are these performances from 2009 only? If so, I wonder if that power on the outer half of the plate was there in 2008 and whether it’ll stick in 2010 and onward.

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