Comments on: Thoughts on Chris Young http://friarforecast.com/?p=7 A Blog About the San Diego Padres Fri, 10 Sep 2010 19:53:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: mb22414 http://friarforecast.com/?p=7#comment-32 mb22414 Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:39:24 +0000 http://friarforecast.com/?p=7#comment-32 Yes, I agree it would be a great question. But it sucks that 99% of the reporters wouldn't ask it because they either don't know about it or dont think it's important or what have you. I haven't really seen anyone asked about anything like BABiP...hold on a sec...did someone write an article (Krasovic?) about Young's low BABiP or what that just his BAA? I don't know. Anyway, yea, I'd like to see him asked stuff like that. I do think he's an interesting guy. Smart, tall, hides ball well, extreme fly ball guy, etc. He's not normal by any means. Still, there have been a lot of tall/smart/extreme pitchers who haven't got "lucky" like Young has. Though, I do think there's some skill involved. As I've mentioned before, I think some interesting analysis with Young would be to use that new pitch data that's available from mlb gameday (you can see location, velocity, release point). Of course, I'm not going to be able to do something like that because I don't know how the heck to use it. But I'm sure someone will get around to it. Yes, I agree it would be a great question. But it sucks that 99% of the reporters wouldn’t ask it because they either don’t know about it or dont think it’s important or what have you. I haven’t really seen anyone asked about anything like BABiP…hold on a sec…did someone write an article (Krasovic?) about Young’s low BABiP or what that just his BAA? I don’t know. Anyway, yea, I’d like to see him asked stuff like that.

I do think he’s an interesting guy. Smart, tall, hides ball well, extreme fly ball guy, etc. He’s not normal by any means. Still, there have been a lot of tall/smart/extreme pitchers who haven’t got “lucky” like Young has. Though, I do think there’s some skill involved.

As I’ve mentioned before, I think some interesting analysis with Young would be to use that new pitch data that’s available from mlb gameday (you can see location, velocity, release point). Of course, I’m not going to be able to do something like that because I don’t know how the heck to use it. But I’m sure someone will get around to it.

]]> By: Fred http://friarforecast.com/?p=7#comment-31 Fred Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:17:38 +0000 http://friarforecast.com/?p=7#comment-31 I guess what I'm saying is that pitchers who bely the regression to the mean are able to use many other variables (effectively), simultaneously, to supplant normal rules of BABIP. And the kicker, obviously, is to know what those variables are. I wonder if Young even knows what variables make him so successful on BABIP...maybe he's aware of a few, maybe he's not!. That would be a cool question to ask of Young, wouldn't it? I guess what I’m saying is that pitchers who bely the regression to the mean are able to use many other variables (effectively), simultaneously, to supplant normal rules of BABIP. And the kicker, obviously, is to know what those variables are. I wonder if Young even knows what variables make him so successful on BABIP…maybe he’s aware of a few, maybe he’s not!. That would be a cool question to ask of Young, wouldn’t it?

]]> By: Fred http://friarforecast.com/?p=7#comment-30 Fred Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:07:23 +0000 http://friarforecast.com/?p=7#comment-30 I like the "too many variables" explanation for some pitchers... for guys like Young at least (in explaining his ongoing success against the rule of BABIP). I would think pitched-ball movement along with a certain unpredictability factor thrown in (effective;y wild is the phrase) as well as keeping the ball hidden from batters as long as possible are just a few key elements that help someone overcome the laws of BABIP. How much is pitch selection towards a given batter worth? What if pitcher A knows the weaknesses of a teams lineup more than pitcher B? And in that light, wouldn't pitchers who can focus in pressure situations be rewarded more than those pitchers who are less cerebral? Of course an intelligent and studied (about hitters tendencies) catcher might also help in best pitch/situation recognition. Throwin stuff out there. Am I off? I like the “too many variables” explanation for some pitchers… for guys like Young at least (in explaining his ongoing success against the rule of BABIP). I would think pitched-ball movement along with a certain unpredictability factor thrown in (effective;y wild is the phrase) as well as keeping the ball hidden from batters as long as possible are just a few key elements that help someone overcome the laws of BABIP. How much is pitch selection towards a given batter worth? What if pitcher A knows the weaknesses of a teams lineup more than pitcher B? And in that light, wouldn’t pitchers who can focus in pressure situations be rewarded more than those pitchers who are less cerebral? Of course an intelligent and studied (about hitters tendencies) catcher might also help in best pitch/situation recognition.

Throwin stuff out there. Am I off?

]]>