Nowadays, we frequently see a pitcher in the MLB throw a fastball that touches 95 mph or more. For example, Hunter Greene and Jhoan Duran can easily throw a fastball that touches 100 mph. However, not every pitcher can throw as hard as Greene or Hicks does. By contrast, some pitchers rarely throw a fastball that reaches 90 mph.
This season, there are some pitchers who usually throw fastballs that don’t touch 90 mph.After checking on the statcast website, Kyle Hendricks already threw 283 four-seam fastballs that didn’t reach 90 mph thus far. Opponents hit .213 against his four-seam fastballs that are below 90 mph, but xwOBA is over .450, which means that MLB batters do actually make solid contact. It’ll be worth watching whether batting average against his four-seam fastball will go higher later this season. Hendricks uses his four-seamer 30.3% of the time so far this season.
In addition, Rich Hill just turned 42 in March and he’s trying to show that he can pitch well in the majors. Rich Hill uses his curveball more than 40% of the time this season. At the same time, his four-seamer usage declines from 47.2% to 38.8%. Hill’s four-seamer rarely reaches 90 mph. Last season, opponents batted .266 against his four-seamer. By far, batting average against Hill’s four-seam fastball drops to .230. Nonetheless, batting average against his curveball increases from .224 to .239.
Meanwhile, Brent Suter made 17 relief appearances for the Brewers thus far this season. He uses his four-seamer more than 70% of the time. By far, Suter’s four-seamer reached 90 mph only once. Additionally, opponents hit .350 against his four-seamer and xwOBA is .373. Should Suter decrease his four-seamer usage?
Zack Greinke was the 2009 AL Cy Young award winner. Back then, he made 33 starts for the Royals, posting a 2.16 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP over 229.1 innings. He returned to the Royals this season, however, he’s not that Grenkie who can throw a four-seam fastball that hits 95 mph. Back in 2009, the average velocity of Greinke’s four-seamer was 94.4 mph. Nonetheless, average velocity of Greinke’s four-seamer is only 88.5 mph this season and most of the time, his four-seam fastball couldn’t hit 90 mph. Opponents have a batting average over .300 against his four-seamer. Greinke is currently on the injured list and he hasn’t earned a win this season.
Finally, Dylan Bundy’s four-seamer velocity also drops and most of the time, his four-seamer doesn't reach 90 mph this season. Last year, his four-seamer velocity was 90.7 mph, on average. And opponents batted .237 against his four-seamer. By far this season, Bundy uses his four-seamer 37.2% of the time and opponents have a batting average of .250 against his four-seamer.
Kyle Hendricks already threw more than 280 four-seam fastballs that didn’t reach 90 mph and Rich Hill threw more than 270 four-seamers that didn’t hit 90 mph. Opponents don’t have a batting average over .250 against their “slow” four-seam fastballs. However, xwOBA against Hendricks’ four-seamer is over .450. Additionally, opponents hit pretty well with an over .300 BA when Suter’s and Greinke’s four-seam fastballs don’t reach 90 mph. A “slow” four-seam fastball might not really work for everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment