Charts of the Week
A couple of velocity charts have caught my eye this week. Here they are:
- Ryota Igarashi has had a rough go of things in New York — this follows a rough end to last season with Yakult. Taking a look at the data from last year, his fastball velocity noticeably lower in his last four appearances. He’s averaging about 93.5 mph this season.
- Another guy who’d seen a noticeable dip in velocity is one of my favorites, Kazuki Yoshimi. He was throwing harder on July 1, and had a decent game until allowing four consecutive singles in the 8th inning. Overall, Yoshimi’s numbers this year have been solid, but more pedestrian than last year: low to mid-3.00’s ERA, 6-ish K/9IP.
- On the other hand, Kyuji Fujikawa’s fastball velocity seems to have increased this season.Kyuji is having another dominant year, with 47 strikeouts in 31 innings.
- Chris Bootcheck made his first start in Japan on June 27, going 6.1 IP, with 6K, 0BB, 2ER while getting the win. Here’s what he mixed in.
01/07/2010 at 12:43 pm Permalink
I wouldn’t say Igarashi has had a rough time. He pitched well in April before injuring his hamstring fielding a bunt. He looked uncomfortable in May after coming off the DL, but pitched much better in June, if you exclude the 3-run HR he gave up in a mop-up situation while working with a young catcher, recently called up from Triple-A, whom he never worked with previously in a regular-season game.
01/07/2010 at 12:56 pm Permalink
He will still need to reign in the walks.
01/07/2010 at 2:40 pm Permalink
“…rein in…”
Yeah, 6.6 BB/9 isn’t so hot, though most of those runners didn’t end up scoring. He’s done a pretty good job overall, to the point where he’s generally used in close situations in the 7th or 8th inning.
01/07/2010 at 5:15 pm Permalink
16 earned runs in 17.2 innings pitched. 18 hits, 13 walks. Not sure about inherited runs though. But you’re right, most of the damage came in his three worst appearances.
01/07/2010 at 10:37 pm Permalink
I should also point out, I think Igarashi is capable of better results.
01/07/2010 at 11:34 pm Permalink
Igarashi has inherited six runners and allowed two of them to score. This includes his appearance tonight, where he entered the game with the bases loaded and only one out, then gave up a game-winning sac fly.
02/07/2010 at 4:12 am Permalink
Completely off topic here, but by now I think the sabermetic community would came with a stat that would calculate ERA for relievers who relief another pitcher for example come up with runners on and allows those runners on.
Example: Runners on 2nd, 3rd- Earned Runs going to the last pitcher, even though the responsbility for not getting them out is on that reliever brought in. Though on the other hand it this previous pitcher’s responsbility for allowing to be on in the first place, still like to see someone come up with a stat like that ERA and WHIP.