Just tell me what it means!
Here you go:
Baseball is inundated with data at all levels of the game – youth and high school baseball are no exception. There are so many devices and gadgets that collect “baseball” data and most people (including the ones collecting it) have no idea what to do with any of it. Frankly, most people are using the tech because someone told them they need to.
That is beside the point.
What we have here is an informal Q+A on Rapsodo pitching metrics. Don’t worry, there will be a follow-up on Rapsodo hitting metrics soon…
Give this a read. Hopefully you learn a few things. And don’t be afraid of data.
Is velocity important?
The easy answer is yes.
But, it’s not an easy question.
From a common-sense lens: at every level of competitive baseball, average pitch velocities increase. So, it must be important.
It is possible (though less probable) to compete with velocity that is below average for whatever level of competition your playing at. However, to be competitive with below average velocity, it’s not just throwing strikes: it’s movement, deception, and how a mix of pitches play together.
Example: Greg Maddux didn’t throw that hard, but how about that movement and mix?
How did this guy ever give up a hit?
Example: Zack Greinke is still getting big leaguers out at 39-years-old with an 88 mph fastball… deception has been critical to his longevity.
Probably helps that the two pitches look identical until about half-way to the plate…
Yes, velocity is important. But here’s a better question:
How do you increase velocity?
Well, good news for Slammers athletes, Slammers has a pretty good idea of what to do. Give this a read:
It breaks down what factors contribute to velocity and how Slammers athletes reaped the rewards of the program this past offseason.
What does spin rate mean and what does it do?
How fast the ball spins when it is pitched. Pretty simple, but why does the rate of spin matter? Because it makes the ball move of course!
In physics there is a concept called the “Magnus effect.” As simply as possible: it’s the effect that spin has on the trajectory of a ball. Check out this gif:
The more spin, the more violent the break (and the harder it is to hit). High-spin curveballs and sliders are always in demand. A high-spin fastball is the one that hitters swing under (4-seam) or that blows up their bat (2-seam).
Now, there is a ton of nuance to pitching. A good change up is typically low-spin and a sinker (type of fastball) is also typically low-spin. Less spin = less of a fight against gravity = more sink or drop. That’s why (on the extreme end of the spectrum), a well-thrown knuckleball can be so effective, because it doesn’t spin at all!
How do you increase spin rate?
Spin is one of the great mysteries (and maybe the next frontier) of baseball pitching development.
To date, there isn’t a legal way to train spin.
But, that’s why it’s important for pitchers to understand their spin (and associated movement). For example, if you have a high-spin fastball, it’ll appear to rise to the hitter and may play best at the top of the strike zone. Conversely, if you have a low-spin fastball, it’ll sink and will play best at the bottom of the strike zone.
I would be remiss not to mention this…
If you watch baseball, you’ve seen pitchers get a full pat down and check for “sticky stuff.” Sticky stuff increases spin and MLB has been cracking down on it for over a year.
Transitive property here:
For a lot of pitchers, more spin = more movement.
More movement = harder to hit.
Harder to hit = better performance.
So, more spin = better performance.
****Disclaimer: don’t use sticky stuff to increase spin. It’s cheating.****
What does vertical break mean on a fastball?
Vertical break = movement up-and-down.
This was touched on briefly before. There is a correlation between fastball spin rate and vertical break.
The more vertical break a fastball has, the more the hitter perceives it to rise and the harder it is to square up.
Often times, hitters will swing under a high spin fastball because the trajectory of a fastball with average spin is typically lower (it fights gravity less and sinks a little more, relatively).
It’s all a mirage. And a successful pitcher is a master of deception.
How do you increase or decrease vertical break?
You should know by now that more spin = more vertical break. But, that’s not all! Per the Magnus effect (touched on earlier), the ball is going to move in the direction that it is spinning… DUH. So, that being said, mechanics can play a huge part in getting the ball spinning in the upward direction (perfect backspin). Think of a clock, the closer the spin is to midnight, the more it’s going to spin in an upward direction.
If you’re mechanics aren’t conducive to creating spin in the upward direction, this type of fastball isn’t for you. If you are a lower arm slot pitcher, it is harder to get your wrist into a position to backspin the baseball. But that’s okay, you can still be Dustin May:
Dustin has a lower arm slot, so his wrist angle creates left-to-right fastball movement.
Is vertical break better than horizontal break?
Not necessarily. It all depends on what type of pitcher you are and what type of pitches you throw. The gif of Dustin May above is a perfect example of a fastball with not so much vertical break and a ton of horizontal break.
Horizontal break can be diabolical. It can run away from hitters, splinter bats, and dodge barrels with the best of ‘em.
Again, it is extremely important to understand what type of pitcher you are based on your mechanics and your spin. When you understand that, you can optimize your pitch mix and your movement profiles. If you try and develop pitches that aren’t a match for your mechanics and who you are as a pitcher, you may end up frustrated like Sonny Gray on the Yankees…