Morrow's Second Start
I don't have, and won't even pretend to have, a scouting report on this game. I have no idea if Morrow threw 51 straight fastballs or busted out a knuckler. This is not a substitute for such a scouting report, but instead a complement to the one that I'm sure Jason Churchill will be able to provide later on. This is what it is, a review of the numbers of Morrow's second start in the hope to avoid premature over-reaction to perceived struggles.
2.2IP, 5H, 3ER, 2BB, 2SO.
That's what most people are going to see and just pass that off as a mediocre start. If we've hammered anything this past 6 months or so (besides the importance of defense) is that traditional means of measuring pitching suck. First of all, this start was in Tuscon which is a hitter friendly park in a hitter friendly league. Parks matter!
Next, just reviewing the walks in Gameday shows that the walks weren't that wild. For one, both came on 3-2 counts and both had at least two balls that while they weren't necessarily in the strike zone, were pretty close. In fact, Morrow threw 51 pitches, 35 of them strikes, a 69% ratio which is very good and portends a good projected walk rate.
To the strikeouts. Both were of the swinging variety which is the better kind and all in all, Morrow missed seven bats in 51 pitches, a touch under 14% which is a very healthy number and indicates a strong strikeout rate going forward.
Finally, the batted balls. Three were classified as line drives, two as groundballs and three as fly balls with a bunt and a pop up thrown in as well. Not horrible, not great, but none left the park and that's important. You'd like to see more balls on the ground and less hit on a line but remember, parks matter.
All in all, while I wouldn't classify this as a good step forward; from a statistical perspective this is by no means a step backward.
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This puts it into perspective a little more, thanks Matthew.
Gameday is available for minor league games? Does this mean PITCHf/x is rolled out in these ballparks?
by BrianL on
Aug 11, 2008 11:42 PM PDT
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Gameday has been available on Triple-A for some time.
No, Pitch F/X is not set up there. It’s the gameday circa late 2006.
by Matthew on
Aug 11, 2008 11:43 PM PDT
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From someone who was at the game
“Brandon Morrow stinks.”
He also mentioned that he threw almost all fastballs.
Obviously, the first comment was hyperbole, but so far, in two starts, he’s still pitching like a reliever.
by davidcameron on
Aug 12, 2008 7:42 AM PDT
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I sincerely hope this club doesn't abandon Morrow as a starter because they can't pull it off as quickly as the Yankees did with Joba.
It sounds like a lot of work needs to be done.
by BrianL on
Aug 12, 2008 7:47 AM PDT
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...Which is why I was hoping they'd wait until the offseason.
9 = 8
by JI on
Aug 12, 2008 8:02 AM PDT
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How much will sending Morrow to Venezuela help his development?
At some point you have to start worrying about innings.
by BrianL on
Aug 12, 2008 8:05 AM PDT
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They have handled this so poorly
On what other team does a guy dominate as a reliever and get sent out in August to re-learn how to pitch?
This organization needs some organization and oh god I can not wait for the new GM.
9 = 8
by JI on
Aug 12, 2008 8:15 AM PDT
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How do we factor in the innings he tossed in Venezuela last season?
Honestly I don’t know, does he need a winter off after throwing last winter?
by BrianL on
Aug 12, 2008 8:18 AM PDT
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You add 31.3333 to the ~35 he's thrown this year.
I don’t think that’s enough to shut him down for this coming winter.
by marc w on
Aug 12, 2008 1:44 PM PDT
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I think at this point the primary goal is to get him stretched out first, then worry about his approach
For the reasons you stated, I figured this start would go far less smoothly than the first. Tucson will punish your mistakes more than Cheney will, and if he’s only throwing one pitch still, then add it up.
by Gomez on
Aug 12, 2008 8:39 AM PDT
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Don't worry
I think Lincecum struggled after being sent down to become a starter
by Ian? on
Aug 12, 2008 9:23 AM PDT
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Didn't he do pretty good last winter
with control, strikeouts, and pacing himself throughout the game?
by Edgar for Pres on
Aug 12, 2008 12:21 PM PDT
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27:7 K:BB ratio, 6 starts, averaged a bit under 5 1/3 per start over 31 1/3 total IP. 5.46 RA.
For reference, Sean White threw 46 IP, 5.75 IP/GS, 20 Ks to 8 BBs, 3.13 RA.
by marc w on
Aug 12, 2008 1:47 PM PDT
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