A Winning Formula
Dave · July 6, 2009 at 9:35 pm · Filed Under Mariners
Ridiculously Good Command + Flyball Lefty + Safeco Field + Terrific Outfield Defense = Awesome.
Congratulations, Jarrod. That was one well pitched game.
Congratulations, Death To Flying Things and his two wingmen. You guys rock.
Congratulations, Safeco Field. You might be picky, but at least you know how to reward those you like.
In addition to what Dave said, baseball players say things like this ALL THE TIME to explain sudden improvement that is actually due mostly to luck. (Remember when Silva supposedly found a new pitch?)
Your default position should be to disbelieve them, although there is some small truth in this particular case.
The talking heads on the tee-vee last night were going on about a change in Washburn’s posture. I assume he’s beginning his delivery with a straighter back, as opposed to having more of a hunch. Can anyone verify this?
BTW: Correct me if I’m wrong, but the O’s drew only two or three three-ball counts all game last night. Wow.
How much of the drop in BABIP can be attributed to the aforementioned increase in movement amongst his pitches? On pitches hit to the exact same spot in the field, the one squared up and hit harder will be a hit more often. I also imagine that pitches thrown with more movement are less likely to be hit and hit hard consistently (both his in zone and out of zone contact percentages are lower this year).
It’s obvious that the improved defense, especially in the outfield, has greatly benefitted him this year. Endy/Langerhans-DTFT-Ichiro! > Raul-random-Ichiro!. That’s a given. But does the increase in pitch movement and the advent of the two seamer in his repertoire indicate that the decrease in BABIP is more sustainable than it’s being given credit for?
I guess my question would be better phrased by asking whether a portion of the decrease is sustainable, since not all of it can be attributed to Washburn.
But does the increase in pitch movement and the advent of the two seamer in his repertoire indicate that the decrease in BABIP is more sustainable than it’s being given credit for?
No.
You know what stood out to me? How ALL the players and coaches responded to Wash after the game. It seemed everybody was hugging the guy and were all happy for him. He must be a likable guy in the clubhouse and a leader. Am I reading too much into it? Seemed that way to me, anyway.
After all the games where the team gave him NO run support, I was glad for Jerrod. I hope the team can continue to find ways to score. I really think this coaching staff has taught the team how to believe in themselves and each other. JZ and Wak were too excellent hires this off-season. I believe that the more I watch this team this year.
Future looks bright indeed!
Make that TWO excellent hires.
I just had shoulder surgery and my typing is too awkward to describe right now!! You can’t believe how many times I have to go back and correct stuff. Sorry folks.
WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
The Orioles give credit, where credit is due:
“Let’s give credit where credit is due,” Trembley said when asked whether he was satisfied with his lineup’s approach. “Washburn pitched a great game. He completely dominated the game. That’s as good of a game I’ve seen pitched against us all year.”
“He pitched one of the best games in major league baseball all season,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “I give him credit. He was on his game. Boy, he certainly pitched a gem.”
“If it wasn’t for Nick’s little hit out to left, he’s got a perfect game. He was that good,” Orioles designated hitter Aubrey Huff said. “I saw one pitch to hit, and I hit it to left.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-orioles0706,0,5973043.story
Today would be a good day to trade him for a shortstop. Tomorrow too. JJ Hardy would be nice, heh heh.
Haven’t you heard? It’s not a two-seam fastball, it’s the Dolphin.
Hey Derek…thanks for the in depth analysis. What does that mean? Is he not liked? Looked like the guys were all excited for him and looked to genuinely like the guy.
Sigh!…I’ll get used to this site yet! ;-D
Well, at least Wash has the attractive Shannon Drayer’s seal of approval:
http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=374&sid=186475
Not to speak for Derek, but you said “He must be a likable guy in the clubhouse and a leader.” The reason that Washburn is known as “the bus” around here is because of the way he threw his teammates* (most notably Kenji) under the bus last year in attempts to explain *his* struggles. The kind of comments he was making are the antithesis of “clubhouse leadership” as it is usually touted. Hence the laughter (presumably).
*Of course, he SHOULD have been griping about Ral in the outfield… but that is beside the point.
According to Washburn, Rick Adair said “stick out your butt”– that by doing that before the wind-up he somehow aligns his hips properly and gets the mechanics correct.
Ah, okay I get it. Thanks, Ron for an actual explanation. Did you watch post-game? Maybe they’ve gotten past all that. I don’t know. But it looked like just about everybody gave the guy a big hug afterward. Of course, now that I think about it, I never saw Kenji hug him. Hmmmm….
LOL!
He’s a little bit better than he was last year. His teammates are a lot better than they were last year.
And of course, Washburn in postgame interviews gave ZERO credit to his teammates. If I was Washburn, I would most certainly toot my own horn. But come on – this great team leader couldn’t say something about the team effort that contributed to his near perfect game?
The above I don’t think I’m reading too much into – I may be reading too much into the following: the two most difficult LOOKING (this doesn’t include balls that only Gutierrez would have been magically right under) catches I saw in the game (and I didn’t see the whole thing) were made by Ichiro and Langerhans. Washburn’s response (unlike with Woodward’s plays) was not to indicate some sort of props, but instead to grimace at the line drive allowed.
So, to my mind, either he should both grimace, and acknowledge the help, or, given that his body language indicates he’s AWARE that he hasn’t become suddenly so lights out, he could acknowledge those teammates after the game.
“I knew early on I had good stuff and good command, and I was just concentrating on keeping it that way,” he said. “The guys played great defense behind me tonight. Rob called a great game. I think I only shook him off five or six times the whole game.”