| KChiefs1 |
04-16-2021 07:08 AM |
https://theathletic.com/2522292/2021...ob-junis-more/
The Pitching Report (4/16): New pitches for Lance McCullers Jr., Jakob Junis and more
by
Eno Sarris
Quote:
The report is back! With a new name — because we’re still trying to nail down some details behind the scenes, but also because this title and format allows for more creativity. You might find a full breakdown of one pitcher that caught my eye, or even just an inning. You might find a group of pitchers that are interesting for some reason. You might even find those Command and Stuff leaderboards we had here last year.
This week, it’s time to look at pitchers who are throwing new pitches. Thanks to Mike Kurland, and his new pitch mix change app, we can do a simple search that asks: which pitchers are throwing a pitch more (up 10 percentage points at least) who didn’t throw it at least 10 percent of the time last year (using that as a benchmark for “owning” a pitch)?
That list is below, with the newest Command+ and Stuff+ numbers. Those Stuff+ numbers are thanks to Max Bay, who picked up Ethan Moore’s stuff research and updated it.
Scanning the Command+ and Stuff+ numbers for this pitch, you realize quickly it’s a bit of an underwhelming list. Hey, if the pitch was amazing, they probably would have thrown it more before, right? There’s still the fact that adding a pitch (by throwing it more than 10 percent of the time), no matter how good it is, softens a pitcher’s third-time-through-the-order penalty, which would potentially allow them to pitch deeper into games. So it’s good news for all of these pitchers, really.
But it’s better news for some. Ideally, the new pitch would be good for action (Stuff) or location (Command) so that it can help the pitcher either get called or swinging strikes. A pitch like Huascar Ynoa’s sinker, which isn’t great at either, still leaves him searching for an action or command pitch other than his slider (114 Stuff+/99 Command+), as all of his other pitches are below-average in both respects.
A pitcher like Tyler Glasnow may get an incomplete on his report card here. There’s evidence he’s still figuring out how to use the slider best, and though you can put together a GIF like this one to highlight the difference between his curve and slider, it ends up being cherry-picking. Watch one of his starts and try to really nail down which breaking ball is which, and you’ll notice it’s not easy. Still, if there was a top-end pitcher who more desperately needed a third pitch, they aren’t obvious, so let’s call it a win for him anyway.
Jakob Junis, Cutter
Here is where we might see the best overall impact from a new pitch. Junis was a two-pitch pitcher, and according to STATS Perform, he still is. But Statcast is tracking a new cutter, so let’s see if we can tell the difference.
Maaaayybee? It’s interesting that STATS doesn’t see a difference because they use catcher signs in their work, and if there’s one sign for these two offerings then it’s probably just one pitch. Also, using Alex Chamberlain’s pitch type leaderboard, the slider has basically the same movement and stats to lefties and righties … but he throws a curve on that leaderboard, and not on Statcast.
So, let’s keep watching. Two breaking balls could be a big deal for Junis, who sorely needs a third pitch. His home runs per nine innings go up from 1.3 the first time through the order to 2.0 the third time through. For now, in fantasy, you’d want to hold him on your bench away from home and even home against better offenses, but he might still be a hold.
|
|
***Official 2021 Royals Season Repository Thread***
(https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=336108)