I have seen a number of people on the board mention that it seems like every Rays pitcher's velocity is down this season. So I decided to investigate a) whether this is true and b) possible reasons for the decline. To test the former I gathered fastball velocity data for all current rays pitchers from this year and last year -- even if they weren't on the team last season. In order to more fully understand why there has been a decline in velocity among Rays pitchers I also gathered velocity info for rays 2008 pitchers who have moved on to different teams. The results presented below are pretty striking.

For a much nicer version of this spreadsheet please navigate to: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=d2qgvjr_20dqg7bkfm

For some reason I can't seem to paste the image into the post.

All three pitchers to have gained velocity or stayed the same from last year to this year are ones who are no longer on the team (Jackson, Miller, Hammell). Every pitcher that the Rays acquired or those that stayed with the team lost velocity. There does not seem to be an obvious difference between newly acquired pitchers versus those who were here last year. For instance, Balfour, Nelson, and Kazmir have all lost at least 1.9mph of velocity. Again for a nice version of this spreadsheet go to: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=d2qgvjr_20dqg7bkfm

Possible explanations:

1. The pitch f/x gun at the Trop is slow. This would mean that there should be obvious differences in home/away splits for both Rays and visiting pitchers. I am working on getting this data.

2. Pitchers weren't used enough during spring training. If this is the case, staff velocity should pick up as the season progresses.

3. Direct instruction from the pitching coaches to throw softer. This seems unlikely.

Explanations that can be ruled out:

1. The extended run into the postseason tired the staff out. If this was the case velocity should be down in returning pitchers and those who left the team, but not new acquisitions.

Any thoughts?