An awesome article on pitcher release points using Pitchf/x by total bad-ass, Mike Fast. I've read...

An awesome article on pitcher release points using Pitchf/x by total bad-ass, Mike Fast. I've read it twice already. A little something to keep your mind occupied from the recent tragedy.

over 1 year ago JLC 4 comments 0 recs |

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Nice Find

It helps illustrate the point of trying to keep motions compact and repeatable. It is interesting the ways Pitchf/x can be used to further our understanding of the sport we love.

I wonder, is there another correlation to be made from this data? Such that the more varied your motion is, the “better” your stuff is?

Either way, I’ll be using this to help coach some of the kids I’ve been working with.

Thanks for the find

Shenanigans

by Brohan on Nov 13, 2010 11:51 PM PST reply actions

The correlation question is a good one.

At the bottom of the article I linked, in the “Applications of the Data” part, Mike Fast says this:

Information on release point trends and consistency is good, but what can be done with it? Are certain release points more advantageous than others given a particular pitcher’s stuff? Josh Kalk examined this question in 2008 and did not find much of an effect.

Josh also looked at overall pitch results compared to release point standard deviation and did not find a significant effect. He did not separate game-to-game deviations from in-game deviations. He also did not separate by pitch types or remove pitchers who were using multiple distinct arm angles or positions on the rubber, nor did he correct for PITCHf/x camera problems at a lower level than the ballpark-season. That is not to say that Josh’s method was inferior; he was examining slightly different questions.

Game-to-game fastball release point consistency does show some correlation with the amount of walks a pitcher allows. The following chart shows the percentage of walks allowed by all pitchers with at least 200 innings pitched in 2008-2010 as compared to their game-to-game release point deviations.

So there might be something to release point consistency and pitcher performance. The article I linked to, in the block quote above, by Josh Kalk at THT addresses your question about varying release point to improve your “stuff” (e.g. suddenly dropping down side arm).

But it’s still very early to say whether or not we can draw correlations between performance and release point. Remember, the article in the fanshot only deals with fastballs. It’s worth examining what release point consistency can do to improve a pitcher’s offspeed stuff (e.g. if a curveball comes out higher than a fastball, can that really have a huge effect on pitcher performance?). I’m sure Mike will examine this stuff further, though.

As an aside, I think Pitchf/x is an amazing tool in that it can massively improve on what a scout is able to see/recall, but is accessible to the general public. Studies like this should definitely interest any MLB clubs looking to gain and advantage over competition.

by JLC on Nov 15, 2010 5:19 PM PST up reply actions

Right. Kalk's piece on pitch sequencing at THT probably helped land him a job with the Rays.

by marc w on Nov 16, 2010 11:38 AM PST up reply actions

I'm interested to see more studies

I completely forgot the article only covered fastballs. From a quick overview of the names, it seems that more varied release points belonged to pitchers of ‘better’ stuff.

It makes complete sense that the more consistent release points have some correlation with walk rates, as the pitcher would be able to effectively hit his spots more often. The same fastball release point would seem crucial to mitigate walks, as fastballs are thrown like 70% of the time (no data to support, just previous experience) and even moreso when the pitcher is behind in the count.

I’m interested to see if the same rough correlation can be made with other pitches. However, it would seem that curveballs, sliders, spilts, and the like, would be effected by more physics related properties. The pressure applied to different fingers, the torque upon release, rotational velocity, etc. would be harder to correlate to accuracy – easier for movement.

Pitchf’x has contributed fantastic results, and only more can come from it. You’re right. Scouts, coaches, and us arm chair managers can utilize this tool to get a better understanding of a players performance as we try to get past the ‘Wins’ total.

Side note. I also wonder if the more varied release points tend to belong to ‘higher’ injury risk pitcher, but that probably comes down to more Physiology.

Shenanigans

by Brohan on Nov 17, 2010 12:19 PM PST up reply actions