as a high school player 6-7 years ago, i always wished i could use a pitching machine that was actually realistic so it’s exciting that tech in the game is getting to that point. i agree that live ab’s are still more valuable, but hitters being able to see shapes - especially unique shapes is absolutely a game changer. i study sports psych in school now and those repetitions of just seeing the ball trajectory should do wonders for hitters. hope to see publicized studies on this stuff soon.
Your channel is truly amazing. I love keeping up to track with sabermetrics, and your deep analytical dives into players, team philosophies, and technology is unparalleled on this platform. Thank you for the great content.
Great video, love the description of how Trajeckt can actually create gryo where as machines like iPitch cant, which is why pitches like sliders are so hard to replicate. I have also heard that changeups are super difficult to replicate on machine because its hard for a machine to kill spin while throwing at 80+ mph(any iPitch RHP change up looks like a LHP slider and is impossible to hit). I also wonder(and have heard) that Trajeckt is able to replicate seam orientation which seems like it could replicate pitches with seam effects contributing to movement, and not only magnus force along with gyro spin. Not 100% sure that is the case, but would be another big innovation for hitters if true.
Great video, as for my thoughts on the machine and video in general? I think the part of what Matt Strahm was fair in that he was just pointing out the double standard that teams can’t have an active TrackMan in the bullpen during games. That seems like even if it requires Wifi MLB could come up with some kind of solution where it’s the only thing allowed to be displayed on an iPad (league issued and enforced guided access during a game or something, I’m not entirely sure lmao), as for for the machine? I remember hearing a story last Summer about Ryan Jeffers of the Twins inputting the Trajekt release point high and with a loopy slider from the left side, the first pitch he saw when he entered with the game was a loopy slider from Will Smith and hit it out. He has been practicing for that exact moment and that exact pitch for the previous 2 innings. I think some interesting Trajekt data you could potentially look at could include some statistics about how pinch hitters perform in certain situations against like a signature breaking or offspeed pitch from a notable closer/high leverage relief arm.
Pinch hitter idea is an interesting point. I just think you’d need the sample to be so big to be confident that it’s not just noise. Perhaps looking team level over 2-3 years with somewhat consistent bats could show some signal? Tough question but I see where you’re coming from
I came up playing in the late 90's, early 00's. For us, if you hit a pitching machine it would throw you so far off. We'd go into slumps, they'd mess with us bad. We always assumed it was because there was no arm motion. It became a huge no-no and we avoided pitching machines
The hitter still has to take the reps. And it's not like high schools or colleges are implementing this tech. This is literally at the highest level, where the best 300-400 pitchers in existence are throwing harder and nastier pitches all the time.
I think the tool is really cool, something like it is the first thing I thought of when I started seeing the pitch shape machines around. From a training philosophy standpoint though, it bumps up against the same limitations as something like live ABs does. Swinging a bat to hit a big league or near-big league level pitch is a max effort event which the body can only do so much of and get training returns from, and the amount of effective volume that the tool allows for is probably not much higher than a batter taking live ABs. While it is very good specific skills practice at a high intensity, if we are thinking about the overall level of volume that a hitter needs, just in general, to progress in the skill I am not sure it is moving the needle as much on less proficient hitters.
Yeah, you make some great points here. Well said. I do think that physical limitations are probably the main reason a lot of fringe guys are fringe (ie, can't hit the ball hard enough) and this isn't going to help that. And therefore the guys who might need the volume on a machine like this from a tracking standpoint are those who don't have physical limitations, probably higher level prospects, and I wonder if teams would be less willing to experiment on them. How much it helps to simply track pitches on a Trajekt is probably the question I'd like the answer to most. And I fear that might be slightly limited by the 2D element of the projection. It just seems crazy to me that this wouldn't move the needle at least a bit!
@@LanceBroz Agreed, for "AAAA" hitters or big prospects about to make the last step it could really help them dial in their skill refinement. While the 2D projection of the pitcher motion probably leaves something to be desired, the 3D tracking of the baseballs with MLB movement characteristics is still there so I think it serves its purpose at least. I think possibly the next step is finding a lower impact way to train on MLB (or even MLB++ movement characteristics) to find a way to "progressively overload" these ball tracking skills, in a way.
3rd time through the order has a 2nd prong to it though. How much of increased hitter success is from a pitcher getting tired and missing spots and not throwing as high quality pitches? Maybe data says they still are throwing the same? Also. What is MLB Batters batting stats in at bat 1 vs 2 vs 3 vs 4 in general? What if hitters just get more comfortable seeing live pitching no matter who is on the mound?
Not really sure how Apple would help with this. Most hitters don’t want to practice with something on their face because it’s easy to fog up the lenses when you’re taking a lot of hacks.
I’m super surprised they don’t have a computer for pitching machines that can replicate every pitcher in the mlb. You facing nasty Nestor in two days? Why not hit off a sim of him for a day. Also the exact opposite tech for a pitcher to use. Although they probably wouldn’t benefit as much being able to throw to a sim of the top 3 bats and see what pitches are likely to do may help.
This is an incredible tool for hitters. I can't fathom the engineering behind it. Lance, thanks for this video!
as a high school player 6-7 years ago, i always wished i could use a pitching machine that was actually realistic so it’s exciting that tech in the game is getting to that point. i agree that live ab’s are still more valuable, but hitters being able to see shapes - especially unique shapes is absolutely a game changer. i study sports psych in school now and those repetitions of just seeing the ball trajectory should do wonders for hitters. hope to see publicized studies on this stuff soon.
The hitter strikes back :)
Super cool video. Adding a trajekt to my christmas list
This machine is wild! Good stuff, Lance
Your channel is truly amazing. I love keeping up to track with sabermetrics, and your deep analytical dives into players, team philosophies, and technology is unparalleled on this platform. Thank you for the great content.
Appreciate that a lot. Thanks for following along 🫡
Great informative content as always!
Great video, love the description of how Trajeckt can actually create gryo where as machines like iPitch cant, which is why pitches like sliders are so hard to replicate. I have also heard that changeups are super difficult to replicate on machine because its hard for a machine to kill spin while throwing at 80+ mph(any iPitch RHP change up looks like a LHP slider and is impossible to hit). I also wonder(and have heard) that Trajeckt is able to replicate seam orientation which seems like it could replicate pitches with seam effects contributing to movement, and not only magnus force along with gyro spin. Not 100% sure that is the case, but would be another big innovation for hitters if true.
Great video, as for my thoughts on the machine and video in general? I think the part of what Matt Strahm was fair in that he was just pointing out the double standard that teams can’t have an active TrackMan in the bullpen during games. That seems like even if it requires Wifi MLB could come up with some kind of solution where it’s the only thing allowed to be displayed on an iPad (league issued and enforced guided access during a game or something, I’m not entirely sure lmao), as for for the machine? I remember hearing a story last Summer about Ryan Jeffers of the Twins inputting the Trajekt release point high and with a loopy slider from the left side, the first pitch he saw when he entered with the game was a loopy slider from Will Smith and hit it out. He has been practicing for that exact moment and that exact pitch for the previous 2 innings. I think some interesting Trajekt data you could potentially look at could include some statistics about how pinch hitters perform in certain situations against like a signature breaking or offspeed pitch from a notable closer/high leverage relief arm.
Pinch hitter idea is an interesting point. I just think you’d need the sample to be so big to be confident that it’s not just noise.
Perhaps looking team level over 2-3 years with somewhat consistent bats could show some signal? Tough question but I see where you’re coming from
how does his channel only have 5k subs??? great video
I came up playing in the late 90's, early 00's. For us, if you hit a pitching machine it would throw you so far off. We'd go into slumps, they'd mess with us bad. We always assumed it was because there was no arm motion. It became a huge no-no and we avoided pitching machines
Shrinking the strike zone would help a lot I think
We truly live in a world where money is the greatest factor when I comes to developing skill smh
The hitter still has to take the reps. And it's not like high schools or colleges are implementing this tech. This is literally at the highest level, where the best 300-400 pitchers in existence are throwing harder and nastier pitches all the time.
I think the tool is really cool, something like it is the first thing I thought of when I started seeing the pitch shape machines around. From a training philosophy standpoint though, it bumps up against the same limitations as something like live ABs does. Swinging a bat to hit a big league or near-big league level pitch is a max effort event which the body can only do so much of and get training returns from, and the amount of effective volume that the tool allows for is probably not much higher than a batter taking live ABs. While it is very good specific skills practice at a high intensity, if we are thinking about the overall level of volume that a hitter needs, just in general, to progress in the skill I am not sure it is moving the needle as much on less proficient hitters.
Yeah, you make some great points here. Well said. I do think that physical limitations are probably the main reason a lot of fringe guys are fringe (ie, can't hit the ball hard enough) and this isn't going to help that. And therefore the guys who might need the volume on a machine like this from a tracking standpoint are those who don't have physical limitations, probably higher level prospects, and I wonder if teams would be less willing to experiment on them.
How much it helps to simply track pitches on a Trajekt is probably the question I'd like the answer to most. And I fear that might be slightly limited by the 2D element of the projection.
It just seems crazy to me that this wouldn't move the needle at least a bit!
@@LanceBroz Agreed, for "AAAA" hitters or big prospects about to make the last step it could really help them dial in their skill refinement. While the 2D projection of the pitcher motion probably leaves something to be desired, the 3D tracking of the baseballs with MLB movement characteristics is still there so I think it serves its purpose at least. I think possibly the next step is finding a lower impact way to train on MLB (or even MLB++ movement characteristics) to find a way to "progressively overload" these ball tracking skills, in a way.
3rd time through the order has a 2nd prong to it though. How much of increased hitter success is from a pitcher getting tired and missing spots and not throwing as high quality pitches? Maybe data says they still are throwing the same?
Also.
What is MLB Batters batting stats in at bat 1 vs 2 vs 3 vs 4 in general? What if hitters just get more comfortable seeing live pitching no matter who is on the mound?
Does it also move for each pitchers release height like can it simulate tyler rogers
Cant wait until they integrate apple vision with this tech. wouldnt be to hard tbh.
Would be cool!
Not really sure how Apple would help with this. Most hitters don’t want to practice with something on their face because it’s easy to fog up the lenses when you’re taking a lot of hacks.
I’m super surprised they don’t have a computer for pitching machines that can replicate every pitcher in the mlb. You facing nasty Nestor in two days? Why not hit off a sim of him for a day. Also the exact opposite tech for a pitcher to use. Although they probably wouldn’t benefit as much being able to throw to a sim of the top 3 bats and see what pitches are likely to do may help.
The balls this year look completely dead, and I think this is because the balls flew off the bat last year
can you PLEASE make a video on ben joyce???
If a 3rd of MLB teams are using Trajekt, then why is offense still so down?
Watch the final ~4m of the video lol
As a cubs fan you can tell it ain’t working