I’m Japanese and watch both NPB and MLB games and contents. I agree with you that there are different philosophies for pitch movements. In Japan, where one team only plays against 5 other teams in their division, it’s about slightly changing appearance of the pitch every time to outsmart batters. It’s about observing the hitters reaction and not giving them same looks as they begin to adjust throughout the season. In contrast, in mlb, you only face one certain batter only couple times in a season. So rather than adjusting the pitch, your best bet is to throw the best version of specific pitch and challenge hitters. Hence, the importance on consistently delivering your best pitch.
Maeda mentioned that he intentionally changes pitch shape of off speeds to induce weak contacts. Since velocity is not his strong suit, he said he is constantly playing with vertical and horizontal movements and even speeds of sliders and changeups.
Nice the " The Throwing Philosopher", is alot like the Great Maddux "the Professor" he uses the plate very similar to him and has same speed on fast ball
He has interesting stuff, but if he doesn't adjust his fastball location - particularly against righties - that 15 HR ZIPS projection will turn out to have been very optimistic.
Yeah he’s going to have ditch the inside fastball to righties if he’s not going to incorporate a better horizontal pitch with the cutter/slider. Especially low and in. He can really kill spin with the splitter and really like the fastball to his arm side. The sweeper can be a good pitch too, but imo he’ll need to add 1 more above average pitch with more horizontal to be a 3.2-3.5 ERA 150+ innings guy
from what I've seen/read/heard from people who have deltagraphs, Imanaga sat 91.8 last year which was a career high. But I am curious just on when he gets to a new team if he works in a different training situation because he was up to 96 in the WBC which was higher than you'd expect for a sub 92 average. Could be a better average velo in the tank
I agree he needs a cutter/gyro vs righties. Curious why you dont like his current cutter given its higher velo (well over 85+) and that its near the zero line. Is it due to high vert compared to the average cutter? The cutter seems fine if is able to pair it with a sinker/2 seam option that allows for more horizontal separation against righties.
Cutters are weird. Still don’t think I have mastery of that pitch type from an understanding perspective, so I was leaning a bit on Stuff+, which sees it more as lukewarm because of the lack of glove-side. Often time Stuff+ wants glove side movement to make it +, which is basically just saying “throw a slider instead.” So I feel like I always have to apply some subjective thoughts and see if it has contact neutralizing qualities, which I don’t think we have enough of a sample to do with Imanaga.
Thanks for the reply! Definitely agree that an n of 2 means almost nothing. Those "cutters" could have just been 4 seams he got on the side of. My understanding of the cutter is that it's typically a pitch to the bridge the gap between the 4 seam and sweeper but something that can also be thrown in zone and induce weak contact. The xwOBA on the pitch in general goes way down on the pitch if it's 85+ and gets near the zero line. Imanaga might need to fight for more + horizontal like you said given that his four seam has very little horizontal, but I think going more gyro might take away from the above average vert he gets on the pitch which will help him get in on the hands of righties and induce weak contact as opposed to swing and miss. I think a good cutter for Imanaga is Nestor's as it has both plus horizontal and vert and we already know it plays well with his fastball. Adding a harder curveball like you mentioned would also be huge but maybe not necessary if the cutter plays.
You mentioned that a team might want to emphasize the cutter more against righties, and later in the video doubled down that another pitch vs righties is almost necessary. But you also don’t really love his cutter. What about his curve ball? A big lefty hook is one of the prettiest pitches in baseball imo.
Yeah, I don’t mind the curve, I just think it’s too slow? I think it’ll be there like 5% as a pace changer and strike stealer. But I’d want something a bit harder that is like 10-15% usage, and I think gyro can get him whiff and ball on ground. Would be curious to see him go with like a spike gyro like Logan Gilbert / George Kirby and see what happens to the shape. So by “adjust the cutter” think I really meant replace Very curious to see where he goes. Perhaps there’s a path where there’s more incentive for contact limiting in a different cutter, rather than chasing more swing/miss with a gyro. I’m open to being wrong here, tough situation to peg
A preferable MLB pitch placement and that of NPB was proven different by his former teammate T Bauer. They seem to have been communicating well during last season so Imanaga must have learned something from there.
Imanaga isn't bad, but he's not particularly good either. He is attractive because he can strike out, but he also has a lot of home runs. He has too much of a gentle personality to succeed in MLB.
Welcome to the Chicago Cubs
Beat me to it!
He is welcomed indeed. Just a little signing like that made my night
I’m Japanese and watch both NPB and MLB games and contents. I agree with you that there are different philosophies for pitch movements.
In Japan, where one team only plays against 5 other teams in their division, it’s about slightly changing appearance of the pitch every time to outsmart batters. It’s about observing the hitters reaction and not giving them same looks as they begin to adjust throughout the season.
In contrast, in mlb, you only face one certain batter only couple times in a season. So rather than adjusting the pitch, your best bet is to throw the best version of specific pitch and challenge hitters. Hence, the importance on consistently delivering your best pitch.
Maeda mentioned that he intentionally changes pitch shape of off speeds to induce weak contacts. Since velocity is not his strong suit, he said he is constantly playing with vertical and horizontal movements and even speeds of sliders and changeups.
I come from the future. Imanaga is HIM!
Great content. Looking forward to more of your videos!
Fantastic video
I wish his success in MLB!!
Awesome video Lance
Well, now you get to see how he pans out up close!
WELCOME TO THE CUBS
Great analysis. It will be interesting to see if he how he adjusts his pitch location
awesome break down
Nice the " The Throwing Philosopher", is alot like the Great Maddux "the Professor" he uses the plate very similar to him and has same speed on fast ball
Thank you 🙏🏼
Let’s go cubs !
And now he's a Cub!
Cubs with 13 per, what a score.
He has interesting stuff, but if he doesn't adjust his fastball location - particularly against righties - that 15 HR ZIPS projection will turn out to have been very optimistic.
I think Pete Walker can get him where he needs to be. The only question is does the split grip on an MLB ball hold his elbow up?
He reminds me of Ted Lilly with a splitter.
Yeah he’s going to have ditch the inside fastball to righties if he’s not going to incorporate a better horizontal pitch with the cutter/slider. Especially low and in. He can really kill spin with the splitter and really like the fastball to his arm side. The sweeper can be a good pitch too, but imo he’ll need to add 1 more above average pitch with more horizontal to be a 3.2-3.5 ERA 150+ innings guy
from what I've seen/read/heard from people who have deltagraphs, Imanaga sat 91.8 last year which was a career high. But I am curious just on when he gets to a new team if he works in a different training situation because he was up to 96 in the WBC which was higher than you'd expect for a sub 92 average. Could be a better average velo in the tank
No doubt, I’m curious to see where he ends up in MLB velo wise as well 👍
He did come out of the pen in wbc so id say the 92 average sounds about right
I agree he needs a cutter/gyro vs righties. Curious why you dont like his current cutter given its higher velo (well over 85+) and that its near the zero line. Is it due to high vert compared to the average cutter? The cutter seems fine if is able to pair it with a sinker/2 seam option that allows for more horizontal separation against righties.
Cutters are weird. Still don’t think I have mastery of that pitch type from an understanding perspective, so I was leaning a bit on Stuff+, which sees it more as lukewarm because of the lack of glove-side.
Often time Stuff+ wants glove side movement to make it +, which is basically just saying “throw a slider instead.” So I feel like I always have to apply some subjective thoughts and see if it has contact neutralizing qualities, which I don’t think we have enough of a sample to do with Imanaga.
Thanks for the reply!
Definitely agree that an n of 2 means almost nothing. Those "cutters" could have just been 4 seams he got on the side of.
My understanding of the cutter is that it's typically a pitch to the bridge the gap between the 4 seam and sweeper but something that can also be thrown in zone and induce weak contact. The xwOBA on the pitch in general goes way down on the pitch if it's 85+ and gets near the zero line. Imanaga might need to fight for more + horizontal like you said given that his four seam has very little horizontal, but I think going more gyro might take away from the above average vert he gets on the pitch which will help him get in on the hands of righties and induce weak contact as opposed to swing and miss.
I think a good cutter for Imanaga is Nestor's as it has both plus horizontal and vert and we already know it plays well with his fastball. Adding a harder curveball like you mentioned would also be huge but maybe not necessary if the cutter plays.
W JED HOYER
Interesting to see where he will land this off season.
Cubs.
The guy averages 91. That could be scary in the MLB.
fantastic data and perspective. glad you look at the whole range of outcomes. I hope the red sox get him to replace Sale.
What’s that view at 2:33? Does mlb have something like this other than the 3d models from statcast that look like stick figures?
I actually just found it online and thought it was cool so I included it, unsure how it’s done. And honestly not sure if MLB has something similar.
You mentioned that a team might want to emphasize the cutter more against righties, and later in the video doubled down that another pitch vs righties is almost necessary. But you also don’t really love his cutter. What about his curve ball? A big lefty hook is one of the prettiest pitches in baseball imo.
Yeah, I don’t mind the curve, I just think it’s too slow? I think it’ll be there like 5% as a pace changer and strike stealer. But I’d want something a bit harder that is like 10-15% usage, and I think gyro can get him whiff and ball on ground. Would be curious to see him go with like a spike gyro like Logan Gilbert / George Kirby and see what happens to the shape.
So by “adjust the cutter” think I really meant replace
Very curious to see where he goes. Perhaps there’s a path where there’s more incentive for contact limiting in a different cutter, rather than chasing more swing/miss with a gyro.
I’m open to being wrong here, tough situation to peg
A preferable MLB pitch placement and that of NPB was proven different by his former teammate T Bauer. They seem to have been communicating well during last season so Imanaga must have learned something from there.
The San Francisco Giants would take that splitter/fastball combo and make it more 60% fastball and 40% sink
They're out on him now
Great podcast!! I'm seeing a BP guy here. Not a mlb, starter. Love the lhp, splitter.
Imanaga isn't bad, but he's not particularly good either. He is attractive because he can strike out, but he also has a lot of home runs. He has too much of a gentle personality to succeed in MLB.
Another Japanese bust.