Fastballs are thrown a lot. One reason is that they’re thrown for strikes more often than any other pitch, leading to fewer walks. So why throw a non-fastball? Because curve balls, sliders, and off-speed pitches generate more whiffs and aren’t hit as hard. This data backs up the assumption that fastball should be thrown when balls are nearly as hurtful as a hard-hit ball, while other pitches are more useful when giving up a hard-hit ball is a big loss compared to simply wasting a pitch. The cutter, however, comes with the best of both worlds. It’s thrown in the zone as often as pure fastballs, but generates more whiffs (although not as many as the other three pitches), and isn’t hit as hard. It appears, then, that it’s a jack of all trades pitch, able to be pumped over the plate repeatedly without strong repercussions. …
BTW, here’s Tango’s thread.
September 14, 2009
Imagine if he adds a cutter…
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