Posted June 16, 200915 yr Innings 1-4: Only threw non-fastballs 11% of the time, gave up four runs on 67 pitches. Innings 4-9: Threw non-fastballs 32% of the time, gave up no runs on 56 pitches. God knows why he was leaning so heavily on the fastball, especially against a team with an 84% contact percentage. His slider was completely there. Seems like he may have gotten some bad scouting reports somewhere along the way.
June 16, 200915 yr Seems quite similar to Lindstrom who we all know gets hit hard when he fails to mix in more of his breaking stuff.
June 16, 200915 yr Every pitcher who has pitched at the professional level + pitching coaches will tell you that the most important thing for a pitcher is to establish his fastball.
June 16, 200915 yr Like Erick said, you always start heavy on the fastball and start mixing in the breaking stuff as you go along.
June 17, 200915 yr Like Erick said, you always start heavy on the fastball and start mixing in the breaking stuff as you go along. Unless you don't throw as hard, then you need to establish your off speed pitches and the fastball should be a well spotted pitch but still you should establish it early.
June 17, 200915 yr It seems simple to me. Start them off with fastballs. If you're having success with it, keep throwing it until the hitters figure it out. Why waste a pitch trying to locate a breaking ball, or show a hitter your breaking stuff any sooner in the game than you need to? The Toronto hitters figured out his fastball in the 4th inning, so he started mixing in some more breaking pitches thereafter.
June 17, 200915 yr It is very possible that he felt comfortable with the lead that he was given and felt like he'd be better off relying on his fastball because he is comfortable with it.
June 17, 200915 yr Innings 1-4: Only threw non-fastballs 11% of the time, gave up four runs on 67 pitches. Innings 4-9: Threw non-fastballs 32% of the time, gave up no runs on 56 pitches. God knows why he was leaning so heavily on the fastball, especially against a team with an 84% contact percentage. His slider was completely there. Seems like he may have gotten some bad scouting reports somewhere along the way. BTW, it's worth mentioning that your numbers are wrong and weird. First, he gave up 3 runs, not 4. 2nd, why do you have the 4th inning in both groups? And, in the 4th is when he gave up all his runs, he used 9 "non-fastballs" in 18 pitches, that's 50%. So I'm not sure what you were going for there.
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