The Dolphin

by ~ July 24th, 2009 at 9:15 am

After the one hitter:

Washburn has found increasing confidence in a looping curve ball he calls “flipper.” So catcher Rob Johnson renamed it “The Dolphin.”

The Dolphin, eh?

Washburn, Jarrod - Comparison Dolphin vs. Normal Curve

Click to enlarge

No change in release point, just a ~5 foot gap between the ball release and the start of the data.  The slower curve is literally lobbed up there.

This loopy curve is more or less a throw away pitch, but that doesn’t mean it’s not effective.  He tosses it low and away in an effort to get the hitter off balance.  Yesterday he blew a high-80s heater by Miguel Cabrera right down the middle for strike three after setting him up with a couple of these “dolphin” curves.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much room for error.  If he accidentally leaves one of these out over the plate it’s going to be hit a long way.  And based on the way he nibbles with it, I’d say he knows it.

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  • SABR Matt

    Where’s the bird’s eye view? :) I liked that look better for comparing the regular curve to the flipper. You could see the lack of break better.

  • http://proballnw.com Jon Shields

    Neither has much horizontal break anyway. They’re both 12-6 type deals.

  • SABR Matt

    The normal curve has SOME hook on it though…it moves in about 5-7 inches in PFX and about 8-10″ in BRK. The flipper has 1-3″ of PFX and 8-10″ of BRK. The Fastball has 6-8″ of PFX and 0-3″ of BRK unless he throws the sinker which has 2-3″ of BRK as well as 8-10″ of PFX.