Matsuzaka Mechanics
Baseball Prospectus: Unfiltered —
... I’ve been talking about the piece I did on mechanics for MLB.com for a week now. The first (of three) is up now, looking at the mechanics of Daisuke Matsuzaka (who pitches Thursday, not today as I said in UTK … I forgot that weird Tuesday off-day.) I think you’ll see quickly why I was so excited about this piece, which is available at the Matsuzaka page - it’s on the mid-right hand side. I’m very curious to hear what you think and really looking forward to the next two, which are a bit more “educational” than analytical.
Under The Knife: A Cold Start by Will Carroll
Baseball Prospectus —
... , who matched Matsuzaka pitch for pitch over the course of the start. It was one of those games where it's a shame someone had to lose, and a matchup I think we'll look back on at the end of the season and say "wow, those two had it going from the beginning of the season, didn't they?" My mechanical analysis of Matsuzaka is still available on MLB.com (dated 4/4, in the right-hand column) , so be sure to check that out. The panic seems to have passed in St. Louis, as
Open Season (Part I)
The Futility Infielder —
... his first big-league start since September 2005 after missing most of last season due to what was termed a social anxiety disorder. For seven innings this turned out to be a hell of a pitcher's duel, though the 36-degree weather and ump Jeff Nelson's wide strike zone had something to do with that. The Sox scratched out a run in the top of the first against Greinke, with Manny Ramirez doubling home Kevin Youkilis. But even then, Greinke looked promising; the double was sandwiched by backwards-K strikeouts of both David Ortiz and J.D. Drew, with Big Papi especially stunned. Matsuzaka, after surrendering a leadoff single to David DeJesus and then his only walk of the afternoon, needed a double play to escape the first unscathed. He got his first major-league strikeout on a 94-MPH fastball that fooled Ross Gload to end the second, and wound up ringing up 10 hitters, including the entire side in the fourth on a mere 14 pitches. Matsuzaka's motion (dissected by Will Carroll over at
