Comments on: Bobby Jenks: Finesse Pitcher?

By: TwinsFanc1981

TwinsFanc1981 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:25:23 +0000

A quick pitch f/x impromptu analysis shows that in 2007, Jenks had a fastball that had a WHIFF (swing and misses) or .142 (or 14.2%). This past season, Jenks saw his fastball WHIFF drop from the .142 to 0.090 (or 9.0%). He does have a sinking fastball which coupled with the additional contact and the groundball tendencies, could have led to the spike in GB%. In addition to the fastball, Jenks toned down his use of the slider over the course of the past two seasons. In 2007, Jenks used his slider 20.6% of the time. That year it had a WHIFF of .338 (or 33.8%). In 2008, Jenks deployed the slider only 13.8% of the time and saw his swing-and-misses drop (.136 or 13.6%). Furthermore, the 2007 version obtained outs 86.8% of the time it was put into play. Last season it was converted to an out only 63.6%. Of course, considering it was a slider, it was probably of the non-damaging groundball variety when put into play resulting in a harmless base hit.

By: W. Jones

W. Jones — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:51:28 +0000

Dude, enough with the “fat” asides (portly, plus-sized, etc.). Have you ever seen Jenks in the locker room? I doubt it. From the neck down, there ain’t much fat left on him. I would bet a week’s salary that his body-fat % is far lower than yours.

By: Rick Berdelle

Rick Berdelle — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:37:04 +0000

Its interesting that Bobby’s contact % has gone up while he has had such a drastic drop in LD%. Do you think the drop in LD% from over 25% down to 14% is due to more movement on his fastball? Can anyone break down his PitchFX data to see if as his fastball velocity decreased his movement increased? Seems like he is allowing weak contact. His BABIP went from the mid .300s in 2005 and 2006 to the mid .200s in 2007 and 2008 as well.