Read on Twitter
Thread: Edwin Diaz has the dreaded "dead-zone” fastball: a FB with equal parts horizontal and vertical movement.
Yet he still struck out 45.5% of the batters he faced and had a 1.75 ERA this year.
Let’s take deeper dive in and understand why.
( @BaseballCloudUS / #BallR)
Yet he still struck out 45.5% of the batters he faced and had a 1.75 ERA this year.
Let’s take deeper dive in and understand why.
( @BaseballCloudUS / #BallR)
Despite an avg. movement profile, Diaz used his FB 61% of the time and was near top of league in xwOBA and xBA with it. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=FF%7C&hfAB=&hfGT=R%7C&hfPR=&hfZ=&stadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfPull=&hfC=&hfSea=2020%7C&hfSit=&player_type=pitcher&hfOuts=&opponent=&pitcher_throws=&batter_stands=&hfSA=&game_date_gt=&game_date_lt=&hfInfield=&team=&position=&hfOutfield=&hfRO=&home_road=&hfFlag=&hfBBT=&metric_1=&hfInn=&min_pitches=0&min_results=200&group_by=name&sort_col=xba&player_event_sort=api_p_release_speed&sort_order=asc&min_pas=0&chk_stats_abs=on&chk_stats_hits=on&chk_stats_xba=on&chk_stats_woba=on&chk_stats_xwoba=on#results
Why? Because it’s still an outlier w/r/t
1. Velo (avg. 97.8 mph)
2. Release Point (4.89 ft, 3rd lowest among Ps with 200 FBs thrown)
Why? Because it’s still an outlier w/r/t
1. Velo (avg. 97.8 mph)
2. Release Point (4.89 ft, 3rd lowest among Ps with 200 FBs thrown)
With the combo of the 
elite velo and 
low release point, Diaz throws it with a flat vertical approach angle, making the pitch extremely hard to hit. If he were to try to get out of the “dead zone”, he may lose his unique release point and ++ velo. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=FF%7C&hfAB=&hfGT=R%7C&hfPR=&hfZ=&stadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfPull=&hfC=&hfSea=2020%7C&hfSit=&player_type=pitcher&hfOuts=&opponent=&pitcher_throws=&batter_stands=&hfSA=&game_date_gt=&game_date_lt=&hfInfield=&team=&position=&hfOutfield=&hfRO=&home_road=&hfFlag=&hfBBT=&metric_1=&hfInn=&min_pitches=0&min_results=200&group_by=name&sort_col=release_pos_z&player_event_sort=api_p_release_speed&sort_order=asc&min_pas=0&chk_stats_abs=on&chk_stats_hits=on&chk_stats_xba=on&chk_stats_woba=on&chk_stats_xwoba=on&chk_stats_release_pos_z=on#results
elite velo and low release point, Diaz throws it with a flat vertical approach angle, making the pitch extremely hard to hit. If he were to try to get out of the “dead zone”, he may lose his unique release point and ++ velo. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=FF%7C&hfAB=&hfGT=R%7C&hfPR=&hfZ=&stadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfPull=&hfC=&hfSea=2020%7C&hfSit=&player_type=pitcher&hfOuts=&opponent=&pitcher_throws=&batter_stands=&hfSA=&game_date_gt=&game_date_lt=&hfInfield=&team=&position=&hfOutfield=&hfRO=&home_road=&hfFlag=&hfBBT=&metric_1=&hfInn=&min_pitches=0&min_results=200&group_by=name&sort_col=release_pos_z&player_event_sort=api_p_release_speed&sort_order=asc&min_pas=0&chk_stats_abs=on&chk_stats_hits=on&chk_stats_xba=on&chk_stats_woba=on&chk_stats_xwoba=on&chk_stats_release_pos_z=on#results
The Moral(s) of the Story?
Next time you throw on a @rapsodo,
1. Understand that there is more to " #PitchDesign” than h/v break.
2. Remember that velocity is still
.
3. Find what makes you unique/an outlier and optimize it.
Next time you throw on a @rapsodo,
1. Understand that there is more to " #PitchDesign” than h/v break.
2. Remember that velocity is still
.3. Find what makes you unique/an outlier and optimize it.
