Spring pitching velocity

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

Please post velocity readings of Twins pitchers during spring training, if anyone sees them or finds them somewhere, or in an article/interview. Please post the fastball readings along with that pitchers average fastball readings from last year (from the Fangraphs site.) the link bellow brings you to the Twins pitcher velocities from last year- it's the first number.

 

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&type=10&season=2014&month=0&season1=2014&ind=0&team=8&rost=0&age=0

 

 

For example:

 

Seth Stohs: spring= 71.4 mph, '14 =72.6 mph.

 

I have read that these changes often do show early in spring and often stick as positives gains or losses during the season. They also can show guys that might have an underlying arm problem and be predictive to future injury. That can all be argued, but regardless it would be fun to update and follow.

 

I wish there were more articles and updates on this, but only seem to find a few mlb articles a week on this topic of certain guys. Red Sox Matt Barens velocity is way up and Jeff Weavers is even lower than the past few years I have read.

 

Please post them as they are known, even if just hearsay. Thank you.

[twinscowboysbulls]

twinscowboysbulls: Spring=71.3 FB , August '14=73.2 FB

 

Rumor is a nagging shoulder injury.

[Brock Beauchamp]

My fastball can only touch the upper 60s but has good late movement once gravity grabs hold of the ball and bounces it off the plate.

[James]

I've haven't had a speed check on my fastball. but I'm left handed and can place the ball within 6 feet of the strike zone at any given time.  

 

So, at least I have that going for me.

[h2oface]

..... and now everyone thinks they are a comedian. Great request, though.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

Lol, nice stats gentlemen. However, not a single actual Twins pitcher velocity.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

No interest here, or just lack of information?

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

No interest here, or just lack of information?

I think it's a lack of information. It's an interesting idea but I see a problem...

 

Amount of data. Let's say Phil Hughes throws a 91 MPH fastball. Well, that's down 1 mph from 2014. Was he taking it easy? Were the next three pitches 93/92/93? The great thing about FanGraphs is that it's an average. It'd be incredibly hard to do that in ST. There is very little to be gleaned from a single pitch or even three pitches because we have no way to frame the context of those pitches. The guy could be throwing all-out, he could be having a bad day, or he could be loafing a bit.

[HitInAPinch]

 

I think it's a lack of information. It's an interesting idea but I see a problem...

 

Amount of data. Let's say Phil Hughes throws a 91 MPH fastball. Well, that's down 1 mph from 2014. Was he taking it easy? Were the next three pitches 93/92/93? The great thing about FanGraphs is that it's an average. It'd be incredibly hard to do that in ST. There is very little to be gleaned from a single pitch or even three pitches because we have no way to frame the context of those pitches. The guy could be throwing all-out, he could be having a bad day, or he could be loafing a bit.

 

I'll toss this in:  It's Spring Training and pitchers are typically getting back in the pitching groove, physically.  I'd only be concerned if they we not pitching anywhere near the plate than speed.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I'll toss this in:  It's Spring Training and pitchers are typically getting back in the pitching groove, physically.  I'd only be concerned if they we not pitching anywhere near the plate than speed.

Yep. Guys are testing out different grips, arm slots, whatever. It's hard to say whether the fastball data is worth anything without loads of additional data about what the pitcher is trying to accomplish that day.

 

Maybe once we get past March 20th and guys are in playing shape and tuning up for the season, the data might mean something but I wouldn't put much stock in it right now.

[Brock Beauchamp]

With that said, the one useful bit of information we might find out is if anybody is throwing faster than they did last season... That's probably worth noting.

 

Throwing slower could be for any number of reasons but throwing faster would definitely be a good sign, particularly for guys like Pelfrey.

[SweetOne69]

I'll throw out another bit of information regarding the lack of data.

 

I believe that some (many) of the ST facilities don't have Radar guns.  IIRC, Hammond stadium is one such place that doesn't utilize a radar gun.

[jay]

 

I think it's a lack of information. It's an interesting idea but I see a problem...

 

Amount of data.

 

I would tend to believe the data we get on velocity from the first week of real games (through a site like FG) would be more useful and meaningful than anything we get now. 

 

...but I want it now!

[Squirrel]

I'll throw out another bit of information regarding the lack of data.

 

I believe that some (many) of the ST facilities don't have Radar guns. IIRC, Hammond stadium is one such place that doesn't utilize a radar gun.

They do flash pitch speed up on the board at Hammond.

[James]

I'll be at the games on Friday and Saturday.  If I remember, I'll try to post some velocities.  

[Halsey Hall]

Seems to me Pelfrey was hitting 90-94.

[twinscowboysbulls]

Heard Milone has been touching 97 MPH.

[twinscowboysbulls]

Oops, wrong button. 77 MPH.

[SweetOne69]

 

They do flash pitch speed up on the board at Hammond.

Thanks for the correction

 

[ashbury]

Apropos to nothing, I was watching the minor league games versus the Rays this afternoon, and I overheard Rays AA pitching coach R. C. Lichtenstein ask the person holding their radar gun, "was that a changeup?" "No, fastball." Any of several possible explanations, but I still wouldn't want to be the kid on the mound in that instance.