Offensive Pitch Analysis: Sliders

by Jesse on Sep 4, 2008 2:38 AM EDT in By the Numbers

All information derived from Josh Kalk's pitchfx reporting.

Name	Balls	Called Strikes	Swinging Strikes	Foul/Foul Tip	In-Play Outs	1B	2B	3B	HR
D. Span	32	8	5	6	12	2	1	0	0
A. Casilla	42	13	7	35	17	10	1	0	2
J. Mauer	135	59	13	46	44	12	12	0	0
J. Morneau	129	45	49	81	61	22	10	4	4
J. Kubel	117	50	62	46	41	7	3	0	4
D. Young	166	33	86	81	85	42	6	3	4
B. Buscher	20	6	10	12	9	2	0	0	1
N. Punto	23	15	2	21	11	1	3	1	0
C. Gomez	172	67	76	114	75	41	8	0	6
M. Redmond	20	10	7	15	9	3	4	0	0
B. Harris	138	71	35	49	42	14	6	0	2
M. Cuddyer	113	40	42	41	36	9	3	1	0

I've left off my version of BABIP for now...something we've laughingly dubbed jBABIP. We've already done fastballs, so as we did then--any observations?

0 recs | Comment 9 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Gomez foul balls

I’d like to track how many pitches Gomez sees per plate appearance over the season. My sense is that he’s fouling a lot more balls away and working deeper into counts. If I’m right, he still isn’t getting the results we want, but he’s making strides. Well, baby steps.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Sep 4, 2008 12:41 PM EDT 0 recs

Right now, I'll take baby steps.

Any movement in the right direction would be a great start.

by Jesse on Sep 4, 2008 1:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

I can't find anything month by month...

regarding pitch counts. However, I did find some interesting splits regarding Gomez’ performance based on outcome of the first pitch:

Puts first ball in play (0-0): 87 AB .391/.404/.483
Takes ball one (1-0): 159 AB .239/.309/.321
Takes/swings strike one (0-1): 250 AB .212/.236/.304

I don’t know what league averages look like, but for comparison, Mauer’s numbers are:
(0-0): 28 AB .429/.433/.500
(1-0): 189 AB .317/.484/.450
(0-1): 226 AB .314/.336/.434

Morneau:
(0-0): 82 AB .390/.390/.732
(1-0): 207 AB .304/.449/.512
(0-1): 235 AB .289/.320/.447

Gomez is really poor if he doesn’t put the first pitch in play, regardless of whether strike one or ball one.

by Adam Peterson on Sep 4, 2008 3:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

It's almost like he doesn't consider the situation at all.

As a professional hitter that’s embarassing, but he’s young so I hope that IS the issue. Because if not, then it means he DOES consider the situation, but is either unabe to step up at this point of his career or is just easily mixed up—doesn’t know what pitch is coming when, based on the count, base runners, outs, etc.

Almost like he doesn’t WANT to be at the plate, so he tries to get it over with as quickly as possible, and when he doesn’t get on base on that first pitch he just redoubles his efforts to plow through the plate appearance.

by Jesse on Sep 4, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

Reflective of a poor contact rate

which is sitting at 77% right now.

Of the 250 times he’s been behind 0-1, it’s turned into 0-2 a total of 113 times and he’s put the ball in play another 58 times (.379/.379/.586).
Of the 159 times he’s been ahead 1-0, it’s turned into 2-0 a total of only 41 times and put in play another 33 times (.303/.303/.424)

He just swings so darn often regardless…

by Adam Peterson on Sep 4, 2008 7:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Gomez: 3.4 P/PA

by Johnny Safron on Sep 4, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Has this number improved throughout the year?

That was cmath’s question. I was unsuccessful in finding an answer.

Also, would you consider 3.4 P/PA to be good? I look at it and think, it takes a minimum of three pitches to strike out…

by Adam Peterson on Sep 5, 2008 9:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

3.4 isn't good,

but considering that seeing 4 P/PA is considered “high”, there isn’t much seperation. I’d like to say 3.6-3.8 is average, and the closer you get to three the worse you are. Some players have success while only seeing 3.4 P/PA, but Gomez definitely struggles.

by Jesse on Sep 5, 2008 12:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

What I'd like to see

is how Gomez’s rate of chasing balls outside the zone and contact rate (relative to number of times he swings the bat, not to appearances) have improved or worsened throughout the year. Is he chasing fewer balls, indicating an improving batting eye? Is he making contact more frequently, indicating he’s learning to cut down on his swing a bit?

by Adam Peterson on Sep 5, 2008 1:46 PM EDT up 0 recs