Should You Be Modifying Your Pitching Stats?

Total Reading Time: 4 minutes

This issue will explore the 4 key qualities to look for in pitchers along with a different way to look at pitching stats. My passion is helping people and I hope this newsletter helps you!

The 4 Keys to Every Good Pitcher

This is something I learned this past week at the yearly NFCA (National Coaches Fastpitch Association) convention in Dallas from Lance Glasoe - Univ of Washington pitching coach.

Lance says there are 4 qualities to pitching and pitchers need to have at least 3 of them:

• VELO

• COMMAND (both IN and OUTSIDE of the zone)

• WIGGLE

• DECEPTION

Pitchers don’t need to be high in all 4, but if they’re low in one, they need to higher in the others.

It sounds simple, but it’s a great way to better assess pitchers when you’re out on the recruiting trail.

Very rarely will you ever find that 4-star pitcher high in all of 4 these qualities, but that doesn’t mean you can’t recruit those with 3 stars. Just make sure they’re high enough in the other qualities to overcome what they’re low in.

Should You Be Modifying Your Pitching Stats?

Analytics is everywhere these days and to me they’re simply stats on steroids. Stats are a great way to objectively notice your pitcher’s progress, track progress, more accurately access their performance in a game, and see things you might be missing.

That said, not all stats are equal as none of your pitchers are equal.

This is another thing I picked up from Lance at Washington.

In our Pitching Fireside Chat session, Lance shared some stats he finds important for his pitchers, AND more importantly, how the numbers will be different based on the type of pitcher: either Strikeout or Command pitcher.

Here’s a look at the stats that Lance finds helpful:

There’s nothing earth-shattering here, although I do like the addition of # of 3 Ball Counts. But what I loved hearing from Lance, was the distinction he made between Strikeout Pitchers and Command Pitchers.

Strikeout pitchers will throw lots of pitches in their efforts to get the out via a strikeout, while Command pitchers will get outs earlier in the count usually via the ground out or flyout, thus throwing significantly less pitches.

Let’s check out the Stat list and see how they’ll vary based on whether it’s a Strikeout or Command pitcher:

I love the distinction Lance makes for # of 3 Ball Counts. It was obvious once he said it should be different based on the 2 types of pitchers, but I’d never considered that.

Thanks for sharing Lance - I LOVE learning new things!

Hope you enjoyed this Issue. If there’s something specific you want to read about send that to me at [email protected] or text me at: 813-368-2048

See You Next Week!