184 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Shields vs. Arrieta

Shields: 5-1, 3.23 era, 47.1 ip, 43 hits, 7 hr’s, 15 bb’s, 43 k’s, .697 OPS against, 1.52 G/F
Pitch F/X: http://pitchfx.texas...pitcher/448306/

[You Play to Win the Game]

I was out watching game 7 last night with a bunch of friends, so I wasn't able to be in the game thread. Today I will be at the 'rents house for Mother's Day, but will try to chime in from time to time.

Just a couple bothersome notes:
-Over his last 5 games, Chris Davis is 2-20 with 11 k's and a .243 OPS.
-Over his last 8 games, Matt Wieters is 5-30 with and a .498 OPS.

We expected this a bit from Davis, but Wieters has been ice cold for over a week now, so he appears to be in a slump. Of course, the 17 inning game in Boston didn't help, as he caught every inning. So I looked at Pitch FX to see if maybe the league is adjusting.

From OD until May 4th (right before the cold streak started) - http://pitchfx.texas...er ... 2F4/2012



May 5th through current - http://pitchfx.texas...er ... F11/2012



There isn't anything too revealing here, at least not from what I can tell. The only thing I would say is that it seems like Wieters is seeing slightly less off-speed stuff, and slightly more fastballs.

The current slump, while over a week long, is still a pretty small sample size, and the changes in pitch trends is relatively insignificant. So my "league adjustment" theory may be popped, unless it's in the location of the pitches and not the mix.

In the links, there are also blot charts that show location of pitches, but I hate looking at those things - I just can't see much in those things, so if anyone else has anything to add, it would be appreciated.

At the end of the day, I'm sure it's just a bad week and he'll be fine. I can't tell any noticeable difference in his stance or approach at the plate. I just figured this would be a fun exercise to look at all the data available these days.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Just saw a tweet from Britt that Avery will be in LF and batting lead off for the O's today. Buck has had some strange ideas about that lead off spot this season. In his MLB debut, Avery will be asked to set the table against James Shields. Good luck with that.

[furryburres]

Just saw a tweet from Britt that Avery will be in LF and batting lead off for the O's today. Buck has had some strange ideas about that lead off spot this season. In his MLB debut, Avery will be asked to set the table against James Shields. Good luck with that.

The objective side of me is pissed. Why throw this guy into the fire like that? All you're doing is setting him up to fail by showing him you absolutely have heightened expectations, as he's gotta know about Baltimore's lead-off problem. All you're doing is giving him the first at-bat of the game to be completely overmatched by Shields. All you're doing is ridiculous, because Andino could play a perfectly fine leadoff man today.

The fanboy in me is giddy, though! Let's see what this kid can do!

[BSLChrisStoner]

Orioles
Avery LF
Hardy SS
Markakis RF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Johnson DH
Davis 1B
Andino 2B
Flaherty 3B

Tampa Bay
Zobrist RF
Upton CF
Joyce LF
Scott DH
Pena 1B
Keppinger 3B
Rhymes 2B
Gimenez C
Johnson SS

[BSLChrisStoner]

Stronger lineup for Tampa today. Without Pomeranz, pen is a little thin. 7 from Arrieta would be huge.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Arrieta falls behind Zobrist 3-0.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Zobrist walks leading off the game for the 2nd straight game.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Arrieta comes back to get Upton. Gets strike 2 on a great slider, puts him away with 95 on the black. 1 out.

[furryburres]

I haven't gotten the stream yet. How's he look?

[BSLChrisStoner]

Joyce singles by the shift. Zobrist to 3rd.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Arrieta gets even (2-2) on a good slider to Scott. Arrieta gets his 2nd k on the following pitch with a great curve. 2 out.

[You Play to Win the Game]

I haven't gotten the stream yet. How's he look?

Stuff looks filthy today, command an issue early on but he appears to be settling in.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Arrieta strikes out the side, as Pena goes up and out of the zone.

20 pitches for Arrieta, to the bottom of the 1st.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Stuff looks filthy today, command an issue early on but he appears to be settling in.

Overpowering.

Avery up for his first ML ab.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Avery grounds out to Rhymes at 2nd. 1 down.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Not a bad AB at all by XMan there! Liked the patience after falling behind 0-2.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Hardy walks.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Not a bad AB at all by XMan there! Liked the patience after falling behind 0-2.

Yep, good points.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Markakis k's on the high fastball. 2 down.