Description:

Batted Ball Data (groundball, fly-ball, and line-drive rates) represents the percentage of each batted ball type hit against a pitcher. Much like how hitters have partial control over their batted ball splits, pitchers do have some control over the way the ball is put into play against them. Pitchers tend to be primarily groundball or flyball pitchers, depending on their pitching style.

Pitchers with high groundball rates tend to give up more total hits, but they also allow fewer extra basehits. This is relatively intuitive: groundballs are harder to field than flyballs and they rarely go for extra bases (and almost never go for homeruns), so pitcher’s that limit the amount of flyballs hit will also limit the amount of extra bases against them. Similarly, flyball pitchers allow fewer total hits, yet more extra basehits.

Context:

2010 Groundball Rates

2010 Line Drive Rates

2010 Flyball Rates

Things to Remember:

- Line drives are death to pitchers, while groundballs are the best for a pitcher. In numerical terms, line drives produce 1.26 runs/out, flyballs produce .13 R/O, and groundballs produce only .05 R/O.

Links for Further Reading:

Pitchers, Strikeouts, and Batted Balls – Baseball Analysts

Much, Much More on Grounders – Lookout Landing

Groundballs and the Overall Picture – FanGraphs

Pitchers, Homeruns, and Fly Balls – FanGraphs

The Truth About the Grounder – Hardball Times

Groundballs and Homerun Rates – Hardball Times