Comments on: Camp chirps

By: GOOCH

GOOCH — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:45:22 +0000

I got on here to take note of the selection bias inherent to looking at windup numbers versus the stretch (since there is a strategic choice b/w those two categories…pitchers don’t randomly or equally choose one or the other)…but I see other readers have already beat me to it. Well done, guys! D.GOOCH

By: fewgoodcards

fewgoodcards — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:28:28 +0000

derrick goold has a nice note about clayton mortensen in his blog that you may want to add. as expected, duncan loves his sinker.

By: SB12

SB12 — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:09:47 +0000

“think of it like this, he can usually only walk 1 guy out of the windup per inning. he can walk a lot more out of the stretch”

I can’t believe I didn’t think of it like that. Thanks for the correction.

By: fewgoodcards

fewgoodcards — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:31:01 +0000

SB12, that could just be b/c he doesn’t have the chance to walk as many out the windup. think of it like this, he can usually only walk 1 guy out of the windup per inning. he can walk a lot more out of the stretch. when he is on, he isn’t going to get a chance to pitch out of the stretch b/c he just doesn’t give up many hits. however, on the days he isn’t pitching well he usually walks the first guy and has to pitch the rest of the inning out of the stretch.

its hard to tell how he does just basing it on splits from last year. there are so many variables. i think the best comparison is to see how he pitches this year compared to how he pitched last year. if he walks fewer guys it probably worked, if he gives up more hits and his strikeout rate goes down while still walking a ton it didn’t.

By: erik

erik — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:52:56 +0000

nuhusky knows a heck of a lot more about pitching then i do, so if he says it’s a good thing i’ll take his word for it

By: SB12

SB12 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:44:21 +0000

The numbers I’ve found show his command is horrifying out of the stretch, his walk rate triples. Obviously he’s going to need to learn to throw out of the stretch, but I’m not crazy about Dave’s logic here.

Making the right decision for the wrong reason type of thing.

By: fewgoodcards

fewgoodcards — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:06:42 +0000

i also think its a good idea. as long as he doesn’t have a big loss in stuff in the stretch (which i don’t think he does), it should help him out with his control as he will be doing the same thing every pitch.

By: nuhusky41

nuhusky41 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:09:32 +0000

For Perez, I think it is a great idea for someone who struggles with control to throw strictly from the stretch. Around 90% of the most important pitches you will throw in the game are thrown from the stretch, and by only throwing from it, you become more comfortable. Greg Maddux is known for his intensely long bullpen sessions warming up for a game, and of all the pitches that he throws warming up, you will see that he only throws the final 10 pitches from the windup in his bullpen, demonstrating the importance of pitching out of the stretch. Also, it simplifies the mechanics for a pitcher as he will not have to go between the two methods throughout a game.

I don’t believe that the stretch creates more stress on the arm, as you can work with the timing once the pitcher becomes accustomed to pitching soley from the stretch. Personally, I made this change 3 years ago in my Sophomore season and it made everything so much simpler mechanics-wise. In my opinion it is a great idea for Perez.

By: bret

bret — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:57:52 +0000

I may be in the minority here but I still have some hope/faith for Blake Hawksworth. I’m not talking ace hope, but 4th/5th starter hope.

I know he was pretty bad last year but he was really good in 2006. If he shows well enough in spring why not let him fill that #5 spot until Clement comes back?

By: erik

erik — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:50:37 +0000

hugo,

i believe perez has always had the curve, he may just be throwing it more. i don’t know if he needs to all that often, his fastball and slider is deadly as it is.