W
Will Helms
Guest
I'm back! I don't have any great scout stories from yesterday, but I think today's piece will be interesting, nonetheless. So without further adieu, here's Saturday's pitching breakdown.
Wil Crowe
Line: 6.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 9 K, BB, 92 TP
Strike %: 68.4%
FPS %: 62.5%
Breakdown:
Brandon Murray
Line: 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 20 TP
Strike %: 50%
FPS %: 100%
Breakdown:
Line: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K, BB, 2 HBP, 38 TP
Strike %: 47.3%
FPS %: 60%
Breakdown:
In the interest of time, I won't do a breakdown of Reagan's five pitches Saturday. Just a general overview:
No fastballs, just the usual dose of curves and one change. The HBP was started behind the left-handed batter and moved a full 18-24 inches before nicking the batter (who looked like he might have leaned in).
Reagan started the last at-bat with a 75 mph changeup that was hands-down the best pitch thrown at Founders on Saturday. It looks identical to his curve, but instead of dropping and moving toward a right-handed batter, it stays relatively flat and moves away. There was rumor that he worked on it during the offseason, but he didn't throw it Friday. If Reagan is confident enough to throw it even 15-20% of the time, he will be the best pitcher in the Gamecock bullpen. (Yes, I have watched Tyler Johnson).
That about wraps up yesterday's breakdown. I will be at the game today, but I'm not charting pitches, so there won't be a breakdown. However, I might throw up some observations about Hill's performance.
Wil Crowe
Line: 6.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 9 K, BB, 92 TP
Strike %: 68.4%
FPS %: 62.5%
Breakdown:
Fastball:
Total: 60 (65.2%)
Strikes: 45 (75%)
Batting Average Against: .105
Strikeouts with: 7
High Velocity: 96 mph
Average Velocity: 92-94
Notes: Hitters were consistently behind. His only extra base hit surrendered came on a 96 mph heater. The left-handed batter was behind and hit it high in the air to right, where Jacob Olson couldn't make the play.
Cutter/Slider: Strikes: 45 (75%)
8 looking
8 swing-and-miss
17 foul
12 in-play
Balls: 158 swing-and-miss
17 foul
12 in-play
Batting Average Against: .105
Strikeouts with: 7
High Velocity: 96 mph
Average Velocity: 92-94
Notes: Hitters were consistently behind. His only extra base hit surrendered came on a 96 mph heater. The left-handed batter was behind and hit it high in the air to right, where Jacob Olson couldn't make the play.
Total: 11 (11.9%)
Strikes: 7 (63.6%)
BAA: .667
Strikeouts with: 1
Average Velocity: 84-88
Notes: Rarely used, but effective, nonetheless. Two hits surrendered were a routine ground ball, misplayed by Matt Williams, and a blooped single off the end of the bat. Usually looks to pitch to contact.
Curve:Strikes: 7 (63.6%)
2 looking
2 swing-and-miss
1 foul
2 in-play
Balls: 42 swing-and-miss
1 foul
2 in-play
BAA: .667
Strikeouts with: 1
Average Velocity: 84-88
Notes: Rarely used, but effective, nonetheless. Two hits surrendered were a routine ground ball, misplayed by Matt Williams, and a blooped single off the end of the bat. Usually looks to pitch to contact.
Total: 21
Strikes: 10 (47.6%)
BAA: .000
Strikeouts with: 1
Average Velocity: 78-80
Notes: Crowe just missed with his curve several times (I had four of Crowe's curves charted as strikes that were called balls by the home plate umpire). It's a big sweeping curve that Crowe keeps low in the zone, often out of the zone as a chase pitch. There won't be much contact against his curveball.
Strikes: 10 (47.6%)
3 looking
3 swing-and-miss
4 foul
0 in-play
Balls: 03 swing-and-miss
4 foul
0 in-play
BAA: .000
Strikeouts with: 1
Average Velocity: 78-80
Notes: Crowe just missed with his curve several times (I had four of Crowe's curves charted as strikes that were called balls by the home plate umpire). It's a big sweeping curve that Crowe keeps low in the zone, often out of the zone as a chase pitch. There won't be much contact against his curveball.
Brandon Murray
Line: 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 20 TP
Strike %: 50%
FPS %: 100%
Breakdown:
Fastball:
Sawyer BridgesTotal: 13 (65%)
Strikes: 7 (35%)
BAA: .500
Strikeouts with: 0
High Velocity: 92
Average Velocity: 90-91
Notes: Murray continues to struggle with his control. After throwing three straight fastballs well out of the zone against Whatley, Murray responded with a 90 mph fastball belt-high and on the inner half that, as we know, was crushed for a three-run homer. He doesn't throw hard enough to rely on his fastball as an out pitch, but through two outings, his offspeed stuff has been off. His fastball will improve if he can start to control his curve and changeup.
Change:Strikes: 7 (35%)
2 looking
0 swing-and-miss
1 foul
4 in-play
Balls: 80 swing-and-miss
1 foul
4 in-play
BAA: .500
Strikeouts with: 0
High Velocity: 92
Average Velocity: 90-91
Notes: Murray continues to struggle with his control. After throwing three straight fastballs well out of the zone against Whatley, Murray responded with a 90 mph fastball belt-high and on the inner half that, as we know, was crushed for a three-run homer. He doesn't throw hard enough to rely on his fastball as an out pitch, but through two outings, his offspeed stuff has been off. His fastball will improve if he can start to control his curve and changeup.
Total: 2 (10%)
Strikes: 1 (Looking)
Balls: 1
Average Velocity: 82-83
Notes: Does not tend to throw it often, but it has some nice two-seam action. Like his curveball, the change has a lot of movement and should, in my opinion, be thrown more often.
Curve:Strikes: 1 (Looking)
Balls: 1
Average Velocity: 82-83
Notes: Does not tend to throw it often, but it has some nice two-seam action. Like his curveball, the change has a lot of movement and should, in my opinion, be thrown more often.
Total: 5
Strikes: 2
Average Velocity: 77-78
Notes: Here lies the problem. Murray is at his best when he can locate his curve and used it as an out pitch. He threw a great curve to the first batter he faced before following one well off the plate. Hunter Taylor had to make great stops on two others to pretty a wild pitch. Since he pitches off the curve, it's similar to a starter that can't locate his fastball. It has a lot of movement though.
Strikes: 2
2 looking
Balls: 3Average Velocity: 77-78
Notes: Here lies the problem. Murray is at his best when he can locate his curve and used it as an out pitch. He threw a great curve to the first batter he faced before following one well off the plate. Hunter Taylor had to make great stops on two others to pretty a wild pitch. Since he pitches off the curve, it's similar to a starter that can't locate his fastball. It has a lot of movement though.
Line: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K, BB, 2 HBP, 38 TP
Strike %: 47.3%
FPS %: 60%
Breakdown:
Fastball:
Josh ReaganTotal: 17 (44.7%)
Strikes: 10 (58.8%)
BAA: .400
Strikeouts with: 1
High Velocity: 94
Average Velocity: 92-93
Notes: Thrown well for the most part. Tends to overthrow sometimes, leading to several that were much further off the plate than intended.
Cutter:Strikes: 10 (58.8%)
4 looking
1 swing-and-miss
2 foul
3 in-play
Balls: 61 swing-and-miss
2 foul
3 in-play
BAA: .400
Strikeouts with: 1
High Velocity: 94
Average Velocity: 92-93
Notes: Thrown well for the most part. Tends to overthrow sometimes, leading to several that were much further off the plate than intended.
Total: 12 (31.6%)
Strikes: 5 (41.7%)
BAA: 1.000
Strikeouts with: 0
Average Velocity: 89-90
Notes: This was the problem. The homer from Marquez was an identical location and velocity to Murray's, though this one was a cutter, which is probably worst. What should be a swing-and-miss pitch was definitely not.
Change:Strikes: 5 (41.7%)
2 looking
0 swing-and-miss
1 foul
2 in-play
Balls: 70 swing-and-miss
1 foul
2 in-play
BAA: 1.000
Strikeouts with: 0
Average Velocity: 89-90
Notes: This was the problem. The homer from Marquez was an identical location and velocity to Murray's, though this one was a cutter, which is probably worst. What should be a swing-and-miss pitch was definitely not.
Total: 4 (10.5%)
Strikes: 2 (50%)
Average Velocity: 82-84
Notes: Sample size is too small, but this looks like a good pitch. Good movement and close enough in velocity to both his curve and cutter to cause issues.
Curve:Strikes: 2 (50%)
1 looking
1 foul
Balls: 21 foul
Average Velocity: 82-84
Notes: Sample size is too small, but this looks like a good pitch. Good movement and close enough in velocity to both his curve and cutter to cause issues.
Total: 5 (13.2%)
Strikes: 1 (20%)
BAA: .000
Strikeouts with: 1
Average Velocity: 77-78
Notes: If the strikeout pitch is any indication, this can be a great pitch for Bridges. Throws it off the plate as a chase pitch (Four thrown in even counts, one while ahead). Needs to work on control, like all others.
Strikes: 1 (20%)
1 swing-and-miss
Balls: 4BAA: .000
Strikeouts with: 1
Average Velocity: 77-78
Notes: If the strikeout pitch is any indication, this can be a great pitch for Bridges. Throws it off the plate as a chase pitch (Four thrown in even counts, one while ahead). Needs to work on control, like all others.
In the interest of time, I won't do a breakdown of Reagan's five pitches Saturday. Just a general overview:
No fastballs, just the usual dose of curves and one change. The HBP was started behind the left-handed batter and moved a full 18-24 inches before nicking the batter (who looked like he might have leaned in).
Reagan started the last at-bat with a 75 mph changeup that was hands-down the best pitch thrown at Founders on Saturday. It looks identical to his curve, but instead of dropping and moving toward a right-handed batter, it stays relatively flat and moves away. There was rumor that he worked on it during the offseason, but he didn't throw it Friday. If Reagan is confident enough to throw it even 15-20% of the time, he will be the best pitcher in the Gamecock bullpen. (Yes, I have watched Tyler Johnson).
