Kirby seemed to have figured things out for 2023 too. Crazy how some teams seem to be very good at helping pitchers tinker to become much better and other teams struggle
What’s that specific style? Commanding the ball and throwing hard? I think it’s a lot more nuanced than that, but do generally like the idea that he could be flipping fastball usage on a whim to stay fresh
Awesome Video! Thanks for covering Kirby too as a Mariners fan 😅 I wonder how do you juggle researching your topics to youtube with your main job in Marquee Sports (if i'm not mistaken)? Are your main job research which you found personally interesting you took as RUclips vidoe idea maybe?
Thanks! There’s definitely some overlap. I would say that Marquee takes up most of my time (on-air, video editing for shows, etc). And then most of my free time out of work is spent watching or looks at stats / thinking about topics. Every night I’ll sit down and put together my substack post, which is where the majority of my thoughts originate. It’s kind of a network effect out from there to these video topics and Marquee stuff.
As a pitcher myself who has been pitching quite a long time, I’ve seen tinkering (especially at lower levels) end up worse more often than not. Pitching is such a fine motor skill that most guys struggle a lot with change. If you are successful stick with what’s makes you successful. In the case of someone who doesn’t have the results or velocity I agree with the aggressive style, I was once a soft thrower and I had to change up my pitches until my velocity caught up because I wasn’t affective otherwise. Throwing high 70’s dead zone 4 seams and high 60’s loopy curves was not a recipe for success. Lastly I think guys should look to attack one thing at a time it’s very tough to make multiple changes at one time… just my thoughts
Whatever the pitchers are doing is working well, the hitting league wide this year is not great, meaning its a pitcher's league right now, meaning the pitchers are doing it right to the point where the MLB is looking at ways to make it harder for them and easier for hitters.
I think Kirby needs a more sinker centric approach his sinker is clearly his best pitch throw for contact I bet he figures it out real quick and then his swing miss rate will go up cuz that sinker is nasty
The sinker for him generally doesn’t miss a ton of bats. I do agree it’s a nasty pitch, but if he’s going to get back the swing-miss, I think it has to come from the breaking balls
@@LanceBroz never pitched idk what pitch could pair well with his sinker that breaks in a different direction but if he gets one it’s over he gonna do big things
So we know extension increase is usually a positive thing for pitchers, at least on fastballs. Is there any evidence to suggest that less extension is better for slower breaking balls such as sweepers and curveballs?
Don’t believe there is? And if it did have an impact I bet it would be small. Too many other things more important (velo, shape, fastball interaction).
I am really enjoying the indepth pitching analysis we have been seeing on your channel lately! IDK how this channel has blown up yet!
Thanks! 🫡
Kirby seemed to have figured things out for 2023 too. Crazy how some teams seem to be very good at helping pitchers tinker to become much better and other teams struggle
Kirby had a very specific style which worked well until teams learnt how to break it. If you don’t adapt you’ll drown.
What’s that specific style? Commanding the ball and throwing hard?
I think it’s a lot more nuanced than that, but do generally like the idea that he could be flipping fastball usage on a whim to stay fresh
@@LanceBroz first pitch strike + a complete phobia of walks
yoo Taleb referenced in the pitching vid, just more proof these are some of the more thoughtful and reasoned MLB analyses on the web
Awesome Video! Thanks for covering Kirby too as a Mariners fan 😅
I wonder how do you juggle researching your topics to youtube with your main job in Marquee Sports (if i'm not mistaken)? Are your main job research which you found personally interesting you took as RUclips vidoe idea maybe?
Thanks! There’s definitely some overlap. I would say that Marquee takes up most of my time (on-air, video editing for shows, etc). And then most of my free time out of work is spent watching or looks at stats / thinking about topics.
Every night I’ll sit down and put together my substack post, which is where the majority of my thoughts originate. It’s kind of a network effect out from there to these video topics and Marquee stuff.
As a pitcher myself who has been pitching quite a long time, I’ve seen tinkering (especially at lower levels) end up worse more often than not. Pitching is such a fine motor skill that most guys struggle a lot with change. If you are successful stick with what’s makes you successful. In the case of someone who doesn’t have the results or velocity I agree with the aggressive style, I was once a soft thrower and I had to change up my pitches until my velocity caught up because I wasn’t affective otherwise. Throwing high 70’s dead zone 4 seams and high 60’s loopy curves was not a recipe for success. Lastly I think guys should look to attack one thing at a time it’s very tough to make multiple changes at one time… just my thoughts
Appreciate your perspective 👍
Hunter had a great start yesterday! Sucks he didnt get much run support but glad to see he's doing much better as of late.
I think also clubhouse culture might be a part of it for kirby, logan gilbert is a well known tinkerer and bryce miller is known to as well
Yeah, that staff is absolutely loaded
Whatever the pitchers are doing is working well, the hitting league wide this year is not great, meaning its a pitcher's league right now, meaning the pitchers are doing it right to the point where the MLB is looking at ways to make it harder for them and easier for hitters.
I think Kirby needs a more sinker centric approach his sinker is clearly his best pitch throw for contact I bet he figures it out real quick and then his swing miss rate will go up cuz that sinker is nasty
The sinker for him generally doesn’t miss a ton of bats. I do agree it’s a nasty pitch, but if he’s going to get back the swing-miss, I think it has to come from the breaking balls
@@LanceBroz never pitched idk what pitch could pair well with his sinker that breaks in a different direction but if he gets one it’s over he gonna do big things
So we know extension increase is usually a positive thing for pitchers, at least on fastballs. Is there any evidence to suggest that less extension is better for slower breaking balls such as sweepers and curveballs?
Don’t believe there is? And if it did have an impact I bet it would be small. Too many other things more important (velo, shape, fastball interaction).