A statistical snapshot of K-Rod's issues
July, 3, 2010
7/03/10
9:33
PM ET
By ESPN Stats and Information
The issues that Francisco Rodriguez has been dealing with can be summed up in a chart and a few notes, provided here via John Fisher of ESPN Stats and Information, and our Inside Edge video analysis data.
The highlights:
• Rodriguez’s fastball velocity is down nearly four miles-per-hour from where it was in 2006. His average fastball currently: 91 miles-per-hour, which doesn’t rate high on the closer scale. Via Fangraphs.com, the only current pitchers whose fastball averages that velocity who are closing games at the moment: Jon Rauch (Twins), Brian Fuentes (Angels), Huston Street/Manny Corpas (Rockies), and Ryan Franklin (Cardinals).
• Decreased use of the curve and slider have led to increased use of the changeup. He’s throwing about half as many breaking balls as he did in 2006.
• When hitters make contact, they’re pummeling him this season, to the tune of a .340 batting average on balls in play. The typical major leaguers BABIP hovers around .300. There are usually three reasons why a pitchers BABIP may rise, the one most-often cited is bad luck, though that is far from always being the answer. The other two possibilities: Defensive issues by the team around him or just general ineffectiveness that makes a pitcher easily hittable.
The highlights:
• Rodriguez’s fastball velocity is down nearly four miles-per-hour from where it was in 2006. His average fastball currently: 91 miles-per-hour, which doesn’t rate high on the closer scale. Via Fangraphs.com, the only current pitchers whose fastball averages that velocity who are closing games at the moment: Jon Rauch (Twins), Brian Fuentes (Angels), Huston Street/Manny Corpas (Rockies), and Ryan Franklin (Cardinals).
• Decreased use of the curve and slider have led to increased use of the changeup. He’s throwing about half as many breaking balls as he did in 2006.
• When hitters make contact, they’re pummeling him this season, to the tune of a .340 batting average on balls in play. The typical major leaguers BABIP hovers around .300. There are usually three reasons why a pitchers BABIP may rise, the one most-often cited is bad luck, though that is far from always being the answer. The other two possibilities: Defensive issues by the team around him or just general ineffectiveness that makes a pitcher easily hittable.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rubin
Adam Rubin has covered the Mets since 2003. He's a graduate of Mepham High School on Long Island and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He joined ESPNNewYork after spending 10 years at the New York Daily News.
Andrew Marchand
Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork.com. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, 1050 ESPN New York and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years as a sports writer at the New York Post.
Mark Simon
Mark Simon is ESPN Stats & Information's Baseball Research Specialist. He's also one of several Mets historians working at ESPN and a co-host of the Baseball Today podcast. He joined ESPN in 2002 after 6 1/2 years as a sports writer at the Trenton Times.
TWITTER
UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | 17-30 | 12-16 | 5-14 | L1 | |
| NYM | 25-21 | 13-9 | 12-12 | W1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | 17-30 | 12-16 | 5-14 | L1 | |
| NYM | 25-21 | 13-9 | 12-12 | W1 |
| W-L | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | 17-30 | 12-16 | 5-14 | L1 | |
| NYM | 25-21 | 13-9 | 12-12 | W1 |
TEAM LEADERS
| WINS LEADER | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
R.A. Dickey
|
|||||||||||
| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| BA | D. Wright | .397 | ||||||||||
| HR | D. Wright | 5 | ||||||||||
| RBI | D. Wright | 28 | ||||||||||
| R | D. Wright | 30 | ||||||||||
| OPS | D. Wright | 1.110 | ||||||||||
| ERA | J. Santana | 3.24 | ||||||||||
| SO | J. Santana | 53 | ||||||||||
You must be signed in to post a comment