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A (Not So) Wild Scott Kazmir Appears!

Entering the game, most people wanted to see the following things from Scott Kazmir:

- Improved velocity

- Better fastball command

- Whiffs

Let's see what he provided.

Velocity

Uncharacteristically, Kazmir's average fastball sat a touch below 90 MPH entering this game. On some nights, hitting 93 was an accomplishment and rarity. Tonight, Kazmir sat mostly 91-92 and geared one up to 93 miles per hour. 45 of his pitches were fastballs, so the sample size is decent. An average of 91.2 MPH is still a bit below last year, but not by much. Kazmir's slider and change were also thrown faster, albeit marginally.

Hist_php_medium

via brooksbaseball.net

Star-divide

Command

Getting ahead in the count represented a challenge, but Kazmir did maintain 60%+ strike ratios on each of his three main pitches. The pitch Kazmir didn't have command of was his two-seamer, or at least what Gameday classifies as his two-seamer. Less than 45% of those went for strikes, and he threw 16 of them.

Whiffs

11(!) tonight on 92 pitches with most coming on sliders.  12% empty swings is phenomenal. The Marlins are a middle of the road team in plate discipline, but are near the worst in the league at striking out. That makes it hard to tell whether this was more on Kazmir or a lineup that uses thinner bats. As for his quality of stuff, I must say, the change-up is impressive. Below, you'll see a pair of flight paths, compare the fastball and change-up paths, then note that Kazmir's change-up sat ~12 MPH slower. It looks like a fastball, until the bottom falls out. Beautiful.

Virtualtop_php_medium

via brooksbaseball.net

Virtualside_php_medium

 

A lot of people don't realize that sliders are actually more straight than fastballs. This is the case with Kazmir as well. Look at the late separation point. The pitches are one and the same until the halfway point, at which the hitter has about two-tenths of a second to decide which pitch it is and whether to swing or not.  Major league hitters are good, but not quite that good.

All told, each of Kazmir's pitch types showed more movement than in his first few starts.  Add in the velocity gains and I'm content with the processes flashed tonight.

Results

5 IP, 20 BF, 5 K, 1 BB, 1 HR, 5 GB, 7 FB, 61/92 strikes.

That works out to a tRA of 4.21. If Kazmir could replicate that performance every single time out, he would be the rotation's leader in tRA.

Kazmir pitched quite well. Hopefully it continues.

0 recs  |  Comment 22 comments |

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*throws master ball*

I am not letting this particular pitcher go

Rotation: 1. James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3. David Price 4. Scott Kazmir 5. Jeff Niemann

by joeybw on Jun 27, 2009 10:24 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Hey! I just now got all the Pokemon jokes!

…So I guess this is where nerds go when they grow up.

Gross for an everyday position! (no offense, Kapler)

by B Ray on Jun 28, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

A lot of pitches fouled off

If it weren’t for the long at-bats, he would’ve easily gone 6 innings.

by acablue on Jun 27, 2009 10:34 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I see his slider

look like a slow fastball. Which isn’t bad because he has similar spin to the fastball so it is like a changeup except better because it looks similar to a hitter.

by therayspartyleader on Jun 27, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Marlins with a 327 OBP and only 254 BB

are probably the ideal team for Kaz to throw against. Having said that he still is able to go only 5 IP

by Raymondo on Jun 27, 2009 10:45 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

dude

he was on a strict pitch count, he was squeezed and Hanley fouled off like 300 pitches

Rotation: 1. James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3. David Price 4. Scott Kazmir 5. Jeff Niemann

by joeybw on Jun 27, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It took him 5 innings to throw 100 pitches

Hey i like Kaz, but that performance ain’t gonna fly v the Sox and Yanks

by Raymondo on Jun 27, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

funny you mention those 2

cuz even when he sucks, he steps it up against them, especially the Sox

Rotation: 1. James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3. David Price 4. Scott Kazmir 5. Jeff Niemann

by joeybw on Jun 27, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Give me this year's numbers v them

I know his 1st game v BOS was good, not sure after that

by Raymondo on Jun 27, 2009 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's wild, he's Kazmir

vs. BOS 2 – 0 3.27 ERA 6BB 6K

Wild but he wins

vs NYY 1-0 4.05 ERA ZERO walks 6 K’s ( he had only one start)

3 starts against them, 3-0

Rotation: 1. James Shields 2. Matt Garza 3. David Price 4. Scott Kazmir 5. Jeff Niemann

by joeybw on Jun 27, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

..

I hope the Price is right tomorrow

"Doesn't Manny Ramirez look like the monster from Predator??" - Will Farrell as Harry Carey

by Gone Phishing on Jun 27, 2009 11:39 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

RJ...

How accurate are the Pitch F/X velocity readings? He was 92-93 pretty consistently early in the game when I was looking at the readings, and I believe he hit 94.

His velo was definitely better then earlier in the year, and his command appeared much better as well.

by td32 on Jun 28, 2009 9:33 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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