Comments on: Royals Starters Pitch Types In 2010

By: John

John — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:01:18 +0000

I’d love to hear a reason for the discrepancy between speed and pitch value. Are Luke, Vin, and Kyle all have high-velocity fastballs with not a lot of good results. Is this primarily due to control? Bruce and Jeff average 5 or 6 MPH slower, but they’re getting values near zero. They’ve all gotta throw fastballs, that may be given, but since these fastballs are apparently not for strikes, wouldn’t we rather slower pitches for less negative value?

By: Ted

Ted — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:50:50 +0000

Two things struck me: (1) a lot of our guys throw a cutter; and (2) no one throws a two-seamer, which I thought was McClure’s specialty.

Also, the splitter is an overrated pitch, and I would be fine if Hoch abandoned it altogether. Focus on the changeup and slider, mix in some cutters to the lefties, and try to keep the fastball in the park.

By: Ted

Ted — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 20:46:08 +0000

jamboslice: Hochevar’s changeup produces lots of weak ground ball outs, which is why it lies on the plus side of this graph. He just doesn’t throw it much. And to Hooligan, I think Hoch’s changeup really is quality, and that it isn’t used more because it is his out pitch, which is not needed too often. Hoch isn’t like Hudson or Webb, who use the sinking pitch as their first pitch, though maybe he should start “pitching in reverse” and feature his changeup more often. Personally, I would be interested to look at the pitch fx from his better starts, and see the percentages on his pitches, whether the slider and chageup were featured more, or if the fastball was more effective at setting up the off-speed stuff.

By: airgoesit

airgoesit — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:32:46 +0000

That sampling would seem to indicate we have two potentially above average relief pitchers trying to be starters (Hoch and Davies). Somebody said Hoch needs to forget the curve and concentrate on his slider and change. viola.
I was luke warm on Mazzaro, but the past couple weeks of listening to “baseball people” and researching for fantasy have given me reason to rethink that stance. If he can figure out his fastball and lose 4-5 mph on the change, he could be REAL nasty as a #3 or 4.

By: Mr. Dave

Mr. Dave — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:21:53 +0000

Nick, Davies may have had more quality starts than Chen did, but Chen also started the season in the bullpen. He didn’t get his first start until May 30th, and he was only able to go four innings. From the time he was legitimately in the rotation on June 4th, he had 9 quality starts. Davies, in that same time frame, had 8.

Chen last year finished with an ERA+ of 101, so he was roughly league average. Davies ERA+ was 78, which is atrocious. Chen had a WAR of 2.1, which considering he pitched for the Royals last year, is pretty good. Davies, meanwhile, was at 0.2. Chen was barely considered starter quality, but that is better than replacement level which is where Davies was at.

Now, in no way does this suggest that either should be anything more than the number five starter when the prospects are major league ready. I sincerely doubt that either will be with the Royals past 2012 at the latest. I just think that Chen is a little bit better than we tend to give him credit for.

By: % (In the UK)

% (In the UK) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:55:21 +0000

“I dont believe he (Chen) will start a single game after the All-Star break”

Thats extremely depressing Nick,allthough i agree 100% that Davies is going to have a far superior year than Chen & advance a lot more in respect of consistency of performance,the Royals really need Chen to come through & be solid all year,even if its only for six innings an outing,cause i dont have confidence in Hochevar or Francis doing just that & its a lottery for whoever becomes the 5th starter to do the same.

I’ll be holding you to account on that statement from this side of the pond cause i am just edging towards Chen on this one,i’m sure we’ll have some fun with it at least!

By: Wayland

Wayland — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:28:10 +0000

I watch the Spring Training preview the other night on FSN. If you haven’t watched it, I recommend catching it if it re-airs. I liked a couple of things from it: George Brett’s comment about trying to make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t. I also enjoyed Goldberg’s sit down with the young left handed pitchers (Monty, Lamb, Duffy, Dwyer, Smith, and Teaford). They all said that they would want Teaford starting a game seven because of his experience. Man, he is getting shelled so far.

Another thing that may not mean anything but I noticed anyway was when they were talking to Frenchy. They said something to him like, what part didn’t you understand that it was pictures day and to show up clean shaven. He had some scraggly hair growth all over his face and he just laughed it off and said “this was the best that I could do.” Honestly, what a joke. If you can’t even show up clean shaven for pictures day like you are told, are you willing to follow leadership and set a good example for all the kids that we are going to have coming up? Again, it might mean nothing, but I am taking it as a bad sign.

By: Abh

Abh — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:37:56 +0000

Moustakas may end up being the only average/below average defender on the infield, so Hochevar has gotta get that sinker going. Royals could really use he and Crow throwing a whole lotta groundballs from the right side between Montgomery/Lamb/Duffy starts.

By: Nick Scott

Nick Scott — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:04:22 +0000

I’m of the opposite opinion on Chen. I don’t believe he will start a single game after the All Star break. I think he got exceedingly lucky last year and had fewer quality starts than Kyle Davies.

By: Mr. Dave

Mr. Dave — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:52:15 +0000

The info leads me to think that maybe Bruce Chen is better than we actually think he is. I fully admit my probably irrational liking of Chen (probably because he’s been such a journeyman and may have finally found a home), and think that he could become a Jamie Moyer type. This chart may actually give me some tangible reason to think he has become that kind of pitcher.