Comments on: Staring Down the Sinkerballers, Part One http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:33:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: shthar http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/#comment-124316 shthar Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:08:25 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=14707#comment-124316 Would it be rude of me to point out Bergeson's #s add up to 108.6 percent? Would it be rude of me to point out Bergeson’s #s add up to 108.6 percent?

]]> By: Nevin http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/#comment-123549 Nevin Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:27:35 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=14707#comment-123549 Brandon Webb fits the model, prior to his missed year. Cahill came in just under 50% GB in '09, so misses the study. Brett Anderson, while left handed and so missing out here, is my new boyfriend: Left handed, avg fastball in '09 = 92.6, a 2 seamer a few miles slower, at 89.5, a slider, cut fastball and change all right around 84 (although the cutter is probably a mistake of some sort, thrown 0.1% of the time according to his page), and a K rate that was over 1/IP in the minors, only 7.70 last year, and a groundball rate over 50%. Can't wait to draft him in the 10th or 11th round of my fantasy league this year. Brandon Webb fits the model, prior to his missed year.
Cahill came in just under 50% GB in ’09, so misses the study.
Brett Anderson, while left handed and so missing out here, is my new boyfriend: Left handed, avg fastball in ’09 = 92.6, a 2 seamer a few miles slower, at 89.5, a slider, cut fastball and change all right around 84 (although the cutter is probably a mistake of some sort, thrown 0.1% of the time according to his page), and a K rate that was over 1/IP in the minors, only 7.70 last year, and a groundball rate over 50%.
Can’t wait to draft him in the 10th or 11th round of my fantasy league this year.

]]> By: fanofdefenseagain http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/#comment-123387 fanofdefenseagain Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:11:50 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=14707#comment-123387 Sergio Mitre is absurdly underrated by statistically ignorant Yankee fans and media. Sergio Mitre is absurdly underrated by statistically ignorant Yankee fans and media.

]]> By: YiYang http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/#comment-123329 YiYang Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:01:15 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=14707#comment-123329 Oh Chien-Ming Wang . . . I was quite sad when the Yankees didn't non-tendered him. Personally, I'm still scratching my head over what happened. Regardless, Wang will make whoever signs him quite happy. I highly doubt that the two consecutive 19 win seasons are a fluke. Oh Chien-Ming Wang . . . I was quite sad when the Yankees didn’t non-tendered him. Personally, I’m still scratching my head over what happened. Regardless, Wang will make whoever signs him quite happy. I highly doubt that the two consecutive 19 win seasons are a fluke.

]]> By: Walt http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/#comment-123271 Walt Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:49:09 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=14707#comment-123271 great article. how about brandon webb? great article. how about brandon webb?

]]> By: SeanP http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/#comment-123155 SeanP Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:29:30 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=14707#comment-123155 Hooray, Bergeson is finally getting the attention he deserves! Great article! Hooray, Bergeson is finally getting the attention he deserves! Great article!

]]> By: pounded clown http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/#comment-123078 pounded clown Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:28:46 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=14707#comment-123078 Unless you look like Aaron Harang Unless you look like Aaron Harang

]]> By: Bryan Smith http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/#comment-123058 Bryan Smith Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:05:03 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=14707#comment-123058 I can certainly attest that Porcello is capable of pitching above 93, he was routinely 93-97 with his four-seam fastball as a senior in high school. But even then, he showed an affinity for the two-seamer. Now, I'm not sure I believe the story that Porcello has another breaking ball we haven't seen yet -- sometimes the urban legends surrounding these guys are ridiculous -- but I am sure he has another gear to get to. I can certainly attest that Porcello is capable of pitching above 93, he was routinely 93-97 with his four-seam fastball as a senior in high school. But even then, he showed an affinity for the two-seamer. Now, I’m not sure I believe the story that Porcello has another breaking ball we haven’t seen yet — sometimes the urban legends surrounding these guys are ridiculous — but I am sure he has another gear to get to.

]]> By: Anthony http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/#comment-123052 Anthony Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:31:09 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=14707#comment-123052 What about Trevor Cahill? What about Trevor Cahill?

]]> By: ToddM http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/staring-down-the-sinkerballers-part-one/#comment-123041 ToddM Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:49:30 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=14707#comment-123041 Re: Rzep... he's a lefty, as mentioned in the article (his name isn't highlighted for some reason). As for Porcello, he's going to be interesting. From what I understand, Porcello was asked to alter his repetoire at the major league level in order to pitch more innings under a fairly strict pitch count. As he's still only 21, this might still be asked of him for a while. He's definitely capable of throwing consistently above 93 (the cutoff mentioned), but is instead pitching to contact and racking up those GDPs. Honestly, I'm not sure if I believe the above story entirely, but if it's true, that's an amazing achievement for a guy that young -- making the adjustment necessary to survive in bigs BEFORE it was necessary may end up making him a starter with an amazingly versatile set of pitches once the shackles are taken off. Re: Rzep… he’s a lefty, as mentioned in the article (his name isn’t highlighted for some reason).

As for Porcello, he’s going to be interesting. From what I understand, Porcello was asked to alter his repetoire at the major league level in order to pitch more innings under a fairly strict pitch count. As he’s still only 21, this might still be asked of him for a while. He’s definitely capable of throwing consistently above 93 (the cutoff mentioned), but is instead pitching to contact and racking up those GDPs.

Honestly, I’m not sure if I believe the above story entirely, but if it’s true, that’s an amazing achievement for a guy that young — making the adjustment necessary to survive in bigs BEFORE it was necessary may end up making him a starter with an amazingly versatile set of pitches once the shackles are taken off.

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