I’d like to him factor the adjustments based on type of pitcher. I would venture to guess the marginal differences are greater for high heat guys and gimmick pitch hurlers. An artist like the poor man’s Maddux, Sonanstine who relies on mixing speeds and location probably could not expect to see the increases mentioned in the study.

Andy has held opponents to a batting average of .269 between his 1-15 pitch count. That is a little higher then the opponents average between 46-60 pitch count where Andy is holding opponents down to a .239 batting average. If you take a guy like JP Howell who was money for the first 45 pitches or so then he got lit up. What this tells me is that Andy is not ready to hold down a middle relief role.

Niemann has a small sample size, so it’s hard to tell what he brings to the table, on the major league level. He was showing last year that first 15 pitches he held opponents to a .250 BA which shrunk to .238 when Niemann threw 16-31 pitches. But, after that Nieman got lit up of course. Right now, I think Niemann is bett suited for a starting role. Just look with your own eyes the game Niemann pitcfhed against Seattle. He was mixing his pitches. He was doing everything correct.

Bottom line, i feel that EVENTUALLY Sonny could fit into a middle reliever role with is propensitiy to throw strikes. However, I don’t think Sonny is at that point just yet. It would not surprise me if the Rays dealt Sonny to a team prbably around the trade deadline.

Fox Sports on MSN, via career split.

Keep in mind you want to move the pitcher that will give you the best team. For example, even if Sonny would gain more from a move to the pen, you’d keep him in the rotation, as his FIP (which is what we’re using for a measure of talent here) is much lower. You want your better pitchers in the rotation, most of the time, because they’ll pitch many more innings.