« Big Unit Staying Home | Main | June 12th vs. The Diamondbacks »
June 12, 2007
Yankees "Chuck and Duck" Leaders
I was just looking at some of the Yankees pitching stats over at the Hardball Times and something caught my eye.
First, I was looking at which Yankees pitchers used the least amount of pitches per batter. Then, I noticed which Yankees pitchers allowed the most line-drives. This brought the following question to my head:
Which Yankees pitchers (this season) are the quickest, in terms of throwing pitches, to allow a line-drive?
So, with the help of Excel and the two aforementioned stats, I came up with this list of what I'm calling "Chuck and Duck" leaders for the Yankees (to date):
It's no shock to see Villone and Vizcaino near the top of this list. I think most Yankees fans, this year, don't have to think hard to picture them coming into a game, facing a batter, and quickly allowing a hard hit ball. However, I think some Yankees fans would be surprised to see Mussina right there with them. Hopefully, as time goes by this season, Moose will start to move away from the top of his chart.
It's also interesting to see Tyler Clippard at the bottom. Sure, he throws a lot of pitches to a batter (on average). But, he's not allowing a lot of hard hit balls either. That's something worth noting.
Farnsworth and DeSalvo are near equals in "Chuck & Duck" marks. Considering the difference in their "stuff," it's interesting to see they're equals here. (It also speaks volumes about Farnsworth's performance, so far, this year.)
Basically, I think the magic number in this measure is .465ish (where anything above is not great and anything below is pretty good - in terms of not being the type of pitcher to face a batter and quickly allow a hard hit ball).
Yes, this is not very scientific and perhaps a bit slapdash way to look at this - but, you have to agree...the stats fall in line with what you expect to see, if you have watched a lot of Yankees games this year.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at June 12, 2007 03:54 PM
Comments
~~~you have to agree...the stats fall in line with what you expect to see, if you have watched a lot of Yankees games this year.~~~
Agreed!
This is really interesting and it does help validate what we've seen. Given that the season is over 1/3 done, then it'll be interesting to see the deltas after the completion of every 1/3 the season.
Posted by: Garcia ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 12, 2007 04:43 PM
I was listening to John Flaherty talk this evening about Farnsworth's smooth windup and how it helps a batter get a bead on the 95-97 mph pitch as opposed to someone throwing a herky-jerky deceptive 88-92. The radar gun is an overrated tool for evaluating pitchers.
But some good research there. That's why I like your site over the Banter.
Someday you have to tell me/us why you expect the SAWKS to do so well. I really gave them a 90 win season this year and still expect Beckett to spend more time on the DL as well as Matsuzaka to fade big time in August. PoppleArm is another big question mark. And when those factors begin to play out along with the decline of Pedroia, Lowell etc. I really haven't seen anything yet to change my mind. They're always hot as pistols in april may. I thought they were going down last night, alas.
Character wise, they've never had it. But you obviously feel they do -- is it all numbers with you? Can't you see them finishing out with a couple of bad stretches and playing .520 or .530 ball?
When the Yanks coalesce and move, they move. They know how to grind it out. The SAWKS have never done that -- even 2004 required shit luck. I've been watching them for years and when the pressure hits a screw always pops loose. Manny, Schilling, Popplearm -- something always happens.
All the fans in Boston are ever left with is "You just gotta believe." Believe me, there is no "gotta believe" anything. I just know they aren't going to make it. Wildcard maybe and they'll be dangerous. But not grind it out championship calibre baseball.
Posted by: dereksTeam at June 13, 2007 12:01 AM
Interesting info, Steve. I do hope Moose moves down on that list.
Posted by: rbj at June 13, 2007 07:58 AM