Comments on: Felix Hernandez’s New Look

By: SABR Matt

SABR Matt — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:37:57 +0000

You don’t need any of those sites though to watch King Felix dominate the Indians and smile like a kid watching him make guys look silly.

By: SABR Matt

SABR Matt — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:36:54 +0000

I’m just used to B-Ref’s layouts or I’d go elsewhere to for minor league data and gamelogs. I like the pitch count info you can get all the way back to the 50s with B-Ref

By: Jon Shields

Jon Shields — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 06:09:35 +0000

With FanGraphs having game logs now I rarely find mindself at B-R anymore. I still use them for major league splits, though.

For minor league stats I prefer FirstInning.com and MinorLeagueSplits.com

By: SABR Matt

SABR Matt — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:54:01 +0000

Basically:

I use B-Ref when I’m hunting for split data to pinpoint reasons for performance

I use Fangraphs when I want fielding analysis, pitch data, run created and value metrics and leverage index stuff.

I use Hardball Times when I am interested in comparing the various fielding metrics and pitching metrics

I use B-Ref when looking for well-organized minor league data

I use my own PCA database when I want to look up historically comparable players.

For park and umpire info I turn to my Play by Play and Gamelog database with the Fiato/Souders Matrix.

And for new and information, I use the blog network, MLB.com and MarinerCentral.

By: SABR Matt

SABR Matt — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:50:07 +0000

oh B-Ref is much improved. They have GREAT splits and gamelogs and pitch data and the like now too. Seriously check it out…lots of goodies there.

By: Dustin Shires

Dustin Shires — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:46:04 +0000

Moreso FanGraphs. B-Ref has a bunch of basic stuff, but then again I haven’t been there in a long time, so I might have missed some new additions.

By: SABR Matt

SABR Matt — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:53:38 +0000

FanGraphs and B-Ref = Cocaine and Heroin.

By: Dustin Shires

Dustin Shires — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:24:32 +0000

So, SABR Matt is another FanGraphs addict, it seems. haha

By: SABR Matt

SABR Matt — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:16:20 +0000

Sullivan has checked Felix’ pitch F/X data looking desperately for signs of increased movement and found nothing…so no…Felix’ pitches aren’t any snappier than they were befor…the curve he’s throwing more often again and his 2-seamer is getting used a higher percentage of the time compared to the straightball, but otherwise, he’s got the same stuff…just a little more zip on the fastball and much better deception as shown by his increased O-Sw%, decreased Z-Contact%, and returning high GB%, high IFF% and high SwK%

By: Dustin Shires

Dustin Shires — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:04:03 +0000

Would this also give Felix more movement? Check the little snap of the movement of the ball against Elvis Andrus. That looks like a nasty amount of movement, some sick movement I don’t recall seeing before, at least not that pronounced.

For what it’s worth, I noticed this in his May 24 start, I just figured it was a one game thing.

By: SABR Matt

SABR Matt — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:40:25 +0000

This is like the debate over scapular loading. Some pitchers really have an exaggerated super-flexation of the muscles between their shoulder blades to generate the spring like action they need for that extra juice. Some pitchers are a little less extreme. Some mechanical gurus think deep scapular loading is dangerous…some think it’s necessary to protect the elbow for max-effort pitchers. Felix doesn’t overload his shoulder blades as much now that he’s rotating his hips more…pick your poison. I’d rather he have the motion that may when he’s 32 cause hip degradation than the motion that may blow out his shoulder.

By: Kyle Boddy

Kyle Boddy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:20:58 +0000

Reverse rotation can cause a timing flaw, but it also can increase the distance and time over which force is applied, possibly explaining the higher velocities this year.

By: Mariner Melee

Mariner Melee — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:32:36 +0000

Well this is soothing. I still worry about it, but I think I will just put it into the back of my mind.

By: SABR Matt

SABR Matt — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:29:57 +0000

The head jerking disappeared last year. He’s had a very stable and impressive upper body position…very quiet in terms of needless motions…since early 2008. Probably why he’s getting better at locating his fastball.

By: Lonnie

Lonnie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:56:02 +0000

I picked up on the rotation last night also, for some odd reason it looked to be more pronounced.

Something else I just noticed. Where is that violent head movement he used to have?

Good job digging into the dirt on this one Jon, and thanks for taking the time to do it!

Lonnie