Ty France, Seattle Mariners.
This weekly article will look at some poorly performing pitches that MLB batters take full advantage of. Not every selection is going to be a home run. It can be extra-base hits or hard-hit singles. Our criteria are that the pitch didn’t go as planned, with negative consequences.
We do our best to provide you with some information on the pitcher and the pitch. For example, how the pitch should have been executed and performed. Also, if possible, we’ll provide the spin rate of the pitch.
Does the pitcher have control issues, or is this a new pitch he’s working on, or did he just miss? We’ll also point out the location of the pitch, where the catcher wants it, and where it ends up.
Let’s get into it.
Ty France earned Co-Player of the Week for Week 3 of the MLB season. Here’s one example of why he won the award. Facing Carlos Hernandez of Kansas City in the bottom of the first inning. France has himself in a 1-0 count and squaring off against Hernandez’s third pitch of the game. Kansas City’s catcher, Cam Gallagher, calls for a curveball low and away to France. Hernandez throws the curveball up and in for France to send out beyond the left-field fence. As of right now, Hernandez’s curveball’s spin rate (2248), and whiff (14.3), percentage are all down from last year (spin rate 2394 and whiff 30%). However, Hernandez’s put away percentage is up this year (28.6) compared to last year (19.1). So this may just be Hernandez not fully ready for the start of the year.
When’s the last time you saw a check-swing go for a triple? Yeah, me neither. So here’s the situation. LA Angels Mike Trout is facing Cleveland’s Shane Bieber for the third time in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bieber has Trout 0-2 on the night and is currently ahead in the count 1-2. At this point, Bieber’s thrown 77 pitches already so he’s been fairly economical in the game.
Cleveland’s catcher calls for the 78th pitch to be an 86 mph cutter low and on the outer third of the plate. Instead, the cutter ends up low and off the outside part of the plate. However, it gets Trout to put a “check swing” on the pitch. Trout “accidentally” makes contact with the cutter and sends a bloop over the diving attempt of the first baseman. Trout busts it out of the box thinking “#ForgetThisPitch. I’m going for extra bases.” Thanks to the snail’s pace of Cleveland’s right fielder Trout slides into third with no throw.
Next: Page 2 – More Craziness and the first Repeat Customer
Dominic Smith represents the possible last batter for the NY Mets against St. Louis. New York has two runners on, at second and third, with the go-ahead run at second. St. Louis has their closer, Giovanny Gallegos in the game to shut the door. He’s thrown 20 pitches in his appearance and has Smith in a 1-1 count. St. Louis’ catcher calls for a 94 mph fastball middle-high to finish off the game. Instead, Smith says “#ForgetThisPitch” to the fastball being middle middle and pulls a hard grounder down the first baseline.
Paul Goldschmidt slides to snag the ball and then flips the ball to Gallegos running to cover the bag. However, Smith is busting it down the line and slides headfirst into the bag to beat Gallegos. Jeff McNeil who is the runner on second never stops running and beats Gallegos’ throw to home plate to take the lead. Gallego’s 21st pitch of his appearance changes the outcome of the game.
Kevin Kiermaier is up to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning facing the payoff pitch in a full count. Yohan Ramirez is asked to throw a 94 mph fastball on the outside part of the plate. However, with his 49th pitch, Ramirez throws the fastball over the middle of the plate. Keirmaier who isn’t the best or most consistent hitter says “#ForgetThisPitch” and sends the ball over the right-field fence for a two-run home run.
We have a first-ever this week. A repeat customer. And that guy is J.P. Crawford?! Not who you were guessing I’m sure but when a player puts a Ken Griffey Jr. type swing on a home run ball. Yeah, that’s going to get my attention every time. I mean Griffey has the most beautiful swing of all time. So, in the top of the seventh inning facing reliever Colin Poche who has put Crawford in the driver’s seat with a 3-1 count. Tampa Bay’s Rene Pinto wants Poche’s ninth pitch to be up and middle of the zone fastball.
Instead, a 92 mph fastball comes in up and in against Crawford who decides to show off his impression of a Griffey swing. Coincidently it’s Crawford’s first hit of the game. Until next week.