Is the strike zone bigger?
Is it COVID?
something is off.
Is it COVID?
something is off.
I refuse to believe pitching is that much better in MLB
- Thread starter Ethnic Vagina Finder
- Start date
Amare's Right Hook
Southeast World Champion
Agree, too much complaining about pitching lately.
ERA's this year. The amount of no hitters this year. The shytty batting average this year. The lack of scoring this year.
It has been only 40 games but even so, there will be years where the pendulum swings towards pitching and defense.
We can’t say anything definitive about the way pitching is trending for at least 3 years.
Is the strike zone bigger?
Is it COVID?
How the 'K' became the most destructive letter in Major League Baseball
Solid article. Its a bit wordy in the beginning so skip down to the header that says "Velocity And What Comes Next".
1. To sum it up the average fastball in 2011 was 89 mph, in 2021 its 94 mph. You could sit on an offspead pitch and still catch up to an 89 mph fastball, you cannot sit on anything and catch up with a 94+ mph fastball. You may not think 6 mph isnt much but its night and day. I was a decent high school hitter and i remember the first time i saw a pitcher throwing over 90, no joke, until you adjust to it you cannot even see the ball.
2. Pitching has gotten so good through advanced science that there is no such thing as a fastball count, pitchers can locate breaking pitches during any count so hitters truly have no idea what to expect. Now combine that with point number 1.
3. Pitchers are able to get more spin on the ball through science and some legal sticky shyt the mlb lets pitchers use now, allowing them to throw essentially unhittable breaking pitches. Now combine that shyt with points 1 and 2.
4. Hitters only have one swing, a homerun swing. Once pitchers figure out your swing arc its easier to avoid it because batters are taught not to deviate. Analytics say its better to strike out than to do anything other than swing for the fences, so thats what hitters do.
Sounds like bullshyt
Its bullshyt that the average speed of a fastball has increased?
You didnt read any of the article did you?
If you didnt want the reasons for this, why did you start the topic?
No, it’s the Ball. They modified the ball this year so it doesn’t fly as far and it seems to be giving pitchers better control.
MLB to alter baseballs for '21 season
MLB to alter baseballs for '21 season
That increase is hard to believe. It is A LOT.
Still, changing speeds will always matter more than raw velocity.
Edit - the quote got all cut off. But from 89-94 is crazy.
Pitching is just way better
Yeah its a HUGE difference. But what i think a lot of non-baseball heads dont understand is that within certain speeds you can look for off-speed and then adjust to a fastball and still make contact. When a fastball gets 95, 96, 97, you cant sit and adjust up to it. Its a complete shift in mentality when you at the plate and know someone cant throw something past you, so you can focus on making solid contact on a hung breaking pitch.
Its bullshyt that the average speed of a fastball has increased?
You didnt read any of the article did you?
If you didnt want the reasons for this, why did you start the topic?
Unless most pitchers are consistently throwing 95 mph fastballs, its bullshyt. And the speed hasn't drastically gone up.
The strike zone is bigger. Umps have been inconsistent. The talent pool isn't what it once was in terms of hitting. Batters aren't as versatile. There are a bunch of other factors besides the fastball.
