Spittin' Hairs

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 12, 2008 1:55 PM EDT

I'm not quite over that game, however the off-day is a nice time to relax.

One thing about Matt Garza has kept me up at nights. No, not his loading of the scapula or the anger issues, although I would feel better if it were. You see, I've been beating myself up wondering if he spits harder than he throws. As we all know he loves to spit, in fact I'm guessing he misinterpreted what "making it rain" means, because the guy is a camel on the mound.

I finally decided to use math and figure this out for myself. Garza stands 6'4" per the official site. That's roughly 76 inches, plus cleats. As we all know Garza, like most humans, spits from his mouth, which is a few inches from the top of his head. We cannot be sure on exactly how many, but I would guess between 6-9 inches separate the top of his head and the top of his mouth.

Taking this into account Garza's most fiercest of spit flies down around 6 feet and lands within a second. I reviewed a start from my Tivo taking notes on the visible spit, and with the help from a stop watch, recorded the time it took each to pound the mound. Happy with my sample size I plugged the numbers into Excel. After turning the numbers from feet per second (average: 12) I converted that into miles per hour. Here's a look at Garza's velocity throughout the game:

Garzaspit_medium

I'm a bit concerned about the velocity drop off, but it could be something as simple as not enough water intake the day before a start, or perhaps too many seeds in the dugout, soaking up his saliva. That's correctable at least.

Here's a look at how Garza's average "spitch" compares to his average pitches.

Garzaspitch_medium

Obviously his spitch is not as fast as his other pitches, but that's to be expected. Unfortunately for Garza he's no Nolan Ryan or Joe Camel, but there's no shame in that.

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by R.J. Anderson on Oct 12, 2008 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

Crucial step for Garza to continue spitting....

Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls, Riggans Your Thingans

BELIEVE in 08!

by SRQman on Oct 12, 2008 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

Is that Jaso in the back?

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 12, 2008 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

SRQman for your this is garza sign you should have some spit flying out of his mouth for next year

YOUR 2008 AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS.... THE TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!

by RaysOfHope on Oct 12, 2008 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Did you measure the number of frames on the spitch and compare the windup and release point versus his other pitches? Or other player's spitches?

by kericr on Oct 12, 2008 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

I had the horizontal breaks ready to go, but the sample size was too small.

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 12, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

terrible

Errybody knows spits per start is a useless stat. Where the SLD (salavial line drive) %?

by zeng8r on Oct 12, 2008 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

WTF @ Edwin.... LOL @ Floyd

Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls, Riggans Your Thingans

BELIEVE in 08!

by SRQman on Oct 12, 2008 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

Floyd is like...LOOK AT ME! I'M HERE TOO!!!!

by TheUltimateBucFan on Oct 12, 2008 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

More like...

I’d love to get in there but my knees are killing me!

by floridaroar on Oct 12, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

floyd has knees? who knew

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

oh my god

most hilarious satirical post i’ve seen all season

by bejaman on Oct 12, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

do you mean he is a llama on the mound?

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

Another subject

I’m positive that Bradford had some foreign substance on the bill of his cap. He kept adjusting the bill of his cap repeatedly and rubbing his fingers together.

by atlantaray on Oct 12, 2008 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

He rubs a little jalapeno on there to get his nose running.

by Albertrayon on Oct 12, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

watching this

as I type this

Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Oct 12, 2008 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I watched it last weekend

Had the Sandlot on yesterday.

by rayweaver on Oct 12, 2008 8:47 PM EDT up reply actions

You're killing me Smalls.

by RATW on Oct 12, 2008 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

who's baby ruth?

YOUR 2008 AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS.... THE TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!

by RaysOfHope on Oct 12, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

He rubs a little jalapeno on there to get his nose running.

I saw a touch of bardol and vagisil as well…Price is said to use crisco.

by utvolsfan11 on Oct 12, 2008 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I would be interested to see a linear regression for his velocity.

Is there any pitch f/x data to see how he locates his spitches as the game progresses?

At least we don't have Zito's contract.

by ColeFitz on Oct 12, 2008 4:55 PM EDT reply actions

This might be a sensative subject probably better left for the offseason, but does anyone else think CC is going to be traded in the offseason? Am I wrong to think Fernie can come close to CC's production for $11.5 million less?

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 6:44 PM EDT reply actions

i dont think he will get traded

but i do think that when his contract extension talks come up (i think this offseason), he is going to have to take a pay cut, because if this is who he is going to be for the next couple of years no way he gets 12 and above for this season that he had

YOUR 2008 AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS.... THE TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!

by RaysOfHope on Oct 12, 2008 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

have you ever seen a player take a paycut under the age of 35?

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions

hanley ramirez did for the marlins

6yrs/70 million he could get a hell of alot more than that if he was on the market

YOUR 2008 AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS.... THE TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!

by RaysOfHope on Oct 12, 2008 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

wrong.

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

he signed 6/$70 but he isn't even eligible for arbitration until after this year.

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

ya but he couldve gotten more that if he wanted

people have talked about him being the next 200 million dollar player, which he may be after that contract, he is the best ss in the league in my opinion

YOUR 2008 AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS.... THE TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!

by RaysOfHope on Oct 12, 2008 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

no he couldn't have! not for another 3 years anyway

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

if he didn't sign that deal, he'd most likely be making far less for the the next three years...but he'd be making much more for the following three cause the marlins bought out 3 years of FA. Crawford has already finished his "six years"

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

ya i understand that

for this years abr he wouldve been been upped some, year 2 to about 5-7 mil, and year 3 he would most likely have been upped above 10 million, so during those 3 years he wouldnt have been making that much less than his 6/70 deal is making him, but after those abr years are over he wouldve most likely made about close to 25 million+ for the other 3 years so he wouldve made alot more money if he decided to not sign that 6/70 deal

YOUR 2008 AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS.... THE TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!

by RaysOfHope on Oct 12, 2008 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions

yea. i agree. but when you are making $400k and someone offers you a $70 million deal, it is not a pay-cut

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

when you are making $12 million a year, and they say they want to bring you back at $9 million, that is a paycut.

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions

ya i agree

i dont think that cc will get 12 million a year when they talk contract with him

YOUR 2008 AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS.... THE TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!

by RaysOfHope on Oct 12, 2008 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

ya i was really surprised that they resigned him

i was worried that the marlins were going to lose him in a couple of years, but now i dont have to worry about it for a while since im also a marlins fan.

most players with his talents, wouldve just gone year to year and let teams bid on them when they are FA eligible

YOUR 2008 AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS.... THE TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!

by RaysOfHope on Oct 12, 2008 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

and that's not a pay cut. he was making far less.

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

team has a 12 mill option on him for next two years, i believe.

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions

his option for next year is kicked in already

and they have to decide by april 1st of next year if they are going to kick in his 2010 option or not, so after 2010 he could be a FA

YOUR 2008 AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS.... THE TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!

by RaysOfHope on Oct 12, 2008 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Just by TIVOing the game

how do you know you actually captured all the spittle he ejected that day? I’m sure the TV wasn’t on him 24/7 so you probably missed a few droplets. That would skew your empirical evidence.

by raysnbran on Oct 12, 2008 6:53 PM EDT reply actions

Garza could flood the Sahara with all his spittle

by Jason Collette on Oct 12, 2008 7:04 PM EDT reply actions

so was that why the mississippi flooded a couple of times when he was in MN?

YOUR 2008 AL EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS.... THE TAMPA BAY RAYS!!!

by RaysOfHope on Oct 12, 2008 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

yes.

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions

"We err on the side of aggressiveness" -Fernando Perez

by walkoffwalk on Oct 12, 2008 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

Glad I stayed at home for game 2

I was at game 1 section 130 bout fifteen rows up behind the Rays pen. Great seats but I was disappointed with the outcome. For game 2, I pulled out all of the stops and followed my superstitions to a T. I wont be arrogant and claim I helped in any way but … I also don’t think I hurt.

On a side note. Some Rays fans are just as bad as Red Sox fans. Three drunk guys sitting behind me on Friday night were Rays fans and would not stop antagonizing the spattering of Boston fans sitting around us. They were not typical Boston fans either, ie loud drunk obnoxious pink hatters. They were more like an older gentlemen in his 70’s and his wife. I think they were probably retirees that moved to this area. No need to harass someone for their laundry they clapped when Boston did something good just as Rays fans cheered when Rays did something good. Finally they had enough of the badgering from the drunk guys behind us and left in the 7th inning… it was still a no hitter too when they left. As the guy left I shook his hand and said not all Rays fans are assholes. Don’t let them ruin your chance of seeing a no hitter for your team on the road. They guy said its ok… we just can’t take anymore of the gentleman behind you and I said I’m sorry you paid so much to have your game ruined by drunken loud mouthed idiots.

Some Rays fans embarrass me, some Red Sox fans are classier than others.

My final synopsis… Asshole behavior from fans comes from all teams.

I went to watch a good game it sucked the Rays came out on the wrong side. It sucked even more that I had to put up with general asshattery from drunken Rays fans.

by PewterPirate55 on Oct 12, 2008 9:57 PM EDT reply actions