• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Typical MLB pitcher: What % of their pitches are intentional balls/strikes?

BillGates

BillGates

Diamond Member
Random thought - but when a typical pitcher throws a ball or strike, or to any particular spot, was it intentionally thrown to that particular spot 100% of the time?

ie, do they have absolute control over where their pitches end up, or is it more of a crap shoot, aiming for a general area and hoping for the best, etc?
 
Most major league pitchers have excellent control. They'll try to stay away from the middle of the plate and away from each particular hitters strengths.

When pitchers tire, usually the first thing that suffers is that control, so when a manager starts to see that he'll want to yank him out before he accidently leaves a pitch out over the plate.
 
I would imagine some of it would have to do with the umpires as well. I was watching the Giants-Phillies game the other night and the commentators kept mentioning the umpires strike zone, how it was a bit higher, so the pitchers were keeping stuff up, so it's not quite so absolute.

Kind of drives me nuts actually, but what can you do.

KT
 
KeithTalent said:
I would imagine some of it would have to do with the umpires as well. I was watching the Giants-Phillies game the other night and the commentators kept mentioning the umpires strike zone, how it was a bit higher, so the pitchers were keeping stuff up, so it's not quite so absolute.

Kind of drives me nuts actually, but what can you do.

KT
Click to expand...

What drives me nuts is that the MLB doesn't use instant replay. Frustrating to see someone called out when they were safe and vice versa
 
dabuddha said:
What drives me nuts is that the MLB doesn't use instant replay. Frustrating to see someone called out when they were safe and vice versa
Click to expand...

Yeah exactly. It is so easily correctable these days, but Baseball seems to be mired in "tradition" or whatever.

KT
 
A major league pitcher needs to have excellent control, although it may only be for a couple of pitches. But it also depends on the pitch. A slider is going to take more finesse than a 105 mph fastball. But if you're just getting someone to try and swing at a junk pitch, it can end up in the dirt at the batter's feet, which is hardly the picture of perfect accuracy.

Ultimately, I'd say the top pros can routinely hit an area within a fraction of an inch of where they're aiming.
 
Well, of course it varies. When Halladay throws a pitch, I'd be willing to bet that 90% of the time it's within a 3 inch by 3 inch area centered on the spot he was aiming for. When Random 5th starter throws a pitch, he probably only gets it within a 6 inch by 6 inch area centered on the spot he was aiming for 70% of the time.

More often than not though, yes, they hit their spots. And those spots aren't always in the strike zone.
 
I would say around 90% or more. Usually, when it doesn't go where the pitcher wants it (dismissing hanging curves and such), it is obvious.


Greg Maddux, though? 100% of his pitches were always where he wanted them to be.
 
KeithTalent said:
Yeah exactly. It is so easily correctable these days, but Baseball seems to be mired in "tradition" or whatever.

KT
Click to expand...

Yeah...the thing about that, though, is umpires tend to be extremely accurate with their calls, and when there is a dispute, they confer and tend to always come out with the right call.

Balls and Strikes--umpires are ridiculously accurate from game to game, so long as you consider the particular strike zone that the umpire happens to be calling that game.

There have only been a handful of glaring errors where instant replay would have helped; of course, the one that everyone now thinks of is the perfect game wasted by that bad call 2 years ago (1 year ago?).

I think that for pro sports league, and very old leagues that bury their heads in tradition, you have to see more serious numbers to enact such a change. Then again, I can see people arguing that for baseball--a single bad call ruining a perfect only once in the entire history of the league, is enough to force such a change....because the perfect game is so sacred.
:\
 
slayer202 said:
no they are not 100% accurate. it would be impossible to throw out a realistic estimate of what the actual % is
Click to expand...

Pure conjecture, but I would say that if you divided the strike zone into four quadrants: low outside, high outside, low inside, high inside, most major league pitchers would be able to hit a specific quanrant with his hardest thrown pitch around 70% of the time. A finess pitcher is probably up around 90%.

Breaking balls usually don't need to be quite as accurate. Sliders, for example, can start anywhere as long as it's low in the zone.
 
zinfamous said:
Yeah...the thing about that, though, is umpires tend to be extremely accurate with their calls, and when there is a dispute, they confer and tend to always come out with the right call.

Balls and Strikes--umpires are ridiculously accurate from game to game, so long as you consider the particular strike zone that the umpire happens to be calling that game.

There have only been a handful of glaring errors where instant replay would have helped; of course, the one that everyone now thinks of is the perfect game wasted by that bad call 2 years ago (1 year ago?).

I think that for pro sports league, and very old leagues that bury their heads in tradition, you have to see more serious numbers to enact such a change. Then again, I can see people arguing that for baseball--a single bad call ruining a perfect only once in the entire history of the league, is enough to force such a change....because the perfect game is so sacred.
:\
Click to expand...

You don't see that as a problem?

KT
 
Accuracy isn't the only thing a pitch relies on. Some pitches rely less on accuracy and more on movement/speed to fool the batter.
 
zinfamous said:
the strike zone is rather arbitrary as it is, without individual umpires showing preference: "from the batter's knees to his shoulders," will always depend on each batter's stance.
Click to expand...

I suppose that's true, but it has always bothered me how the most important thing in a game can be so arbitrary.

KT
 
BillGates said:
Random thought - but when a typical pitcher throws a ball or strike, or to any particular spot, was it intentionally thrown to that particular spot 100% of the time?

ie, do they have absolute control over where their pitches end up, or is it more of a crap shoot, aiming for a general area and hoping for the best, etc?
Click to expand...

Absolute control - no.
Great control - yes.

The strike zone is broken up into 5 points and looks like like a 5 on a dice.
Upper right and left. Lower right and left. Middle.

Any major league pitcher can hit one of those target zones with any pitch.
A lot of times they are aiming to the very edge of the strike/ball zone. Rarely do you want to groove one over the plate. At that level hitters will make you pay.

This is evident in college ball and above.
 
The deliberate balls can be determined.
The pitcher would prefer to throw strikes.
those that are not deliberate balls or strikes are accidental contact with the bat or attempted strikes (ball)
 
If you want to know how good a catcher's control is, watch where the catcher sets up vs where the pitch actually goes. 4 times out of 5 I'd say it's there. The 1~ time it's not is how runs are scored (i.e. .200).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top