COMPARING HIGH VS. LOW SPIN RATE PITCHERS

Simple Sabermetrics
20 Jan 202107:44
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video delves into the concept of spin rate in baseball, emphasizing its significance in pitch movement and effectiveness. It contrasts two pitchers, Trevor Bauer with a high spin rate and Kyle Hendricks with a low spin rate, to illustrate how understanding and utilizing one's spin rate can optimize pitch execution. The video also introduces 'Bauer units,' a metric combining spin rate with velocity, to normalize pitch performance across different speeds. Ultimately, it highlights that spin rate is not inherently better when high or low, but its strategic application varies for each pitcher's success.

Takeaways
  • 📏 Spin rate is a crucial metric in baseball, measuring the speed of a ball's rotation in revolutions per minute (RPM).
  • 🏆 The video compares two successful pitchers, Trevor Bauer with a high spin rate and Kyle Hendricks with a low spin rate, to illustrate the importance of understanding spin rate.
  • 🔢 Average Major League fastball spin rate is around 2300 RPM, with higher spin rates generally leading to more pitch movement.
  • 📈 Spin rate affects pitch movement and decision-making for in-game pitch execution, with high spin rate pitchers typically throwing higher in the zone and low spin rate pitchers throwing lower.
  • 🚀 Bauer's high spin rate (nearly 2800 RPM) and above-average power units (29.7) contribute to his pitching success.
  • 🌀 Hendricks' low spin rate (just above 1900 RPM) and below-average power units reflect his strategic approach to pitching.
  • 📊 Understanding a pitcher's spin rate helps in maximizing performance with their pitching arsenal and identifying their strengths.
  • 🔄 High spin rate is not inherently better than low spin rate; it's about using the metric to find the most effective pitching strategy.
  • ⚾️ Pitchers like Bauer and Hendricks demonstrate that success comes from applying their respective spin rates effectively, not just from the rates themselves.
  • 🔍 The video encourages viewers to explore more baseball analytics and provides resources for further learning on the topic.
Q & A

  • What is spin rate in baseball?

    -Spin rate in baseball is the measure of how fast the ball is spinning, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). It indicates the number of complete rotations a pitch makes around its axis from release to impact.

  • Why is understanding spin rate important for pitchers?

    -Understanding spin rate is crucial because it affects the movement of the pitches. A higher spin rate typically results in more movement, which can influence where the pitch ends up and the batter's ability to hit it effectively.

  • What is the average spin rate for a Major League fastball?

    -The average spin rate for a Major League fastball is around 2,300 RPMs.

  • How does spin rate correlate with pitch movement?

    -The higher the spin rate, the more movement a pitch will create. This can lead to a greater likelihood of swings and misses for high spin rate pitchers, while lower spin rate pitchers may produce more ground balls.

  • What are Bauer Units and how do they relate to spin rate?

    -Bauer Units are an advanced metric that normalizes spin rate data by taking velocity out of the equation. They are calculated by dividing a pitch's spin rate number by its velocity, allowing for a comparison of spin effectiveness across pitchers with different velocities.

  • What are the typical Bauer Unit ranges for fastballs and breaking balls?

    -For fastballs, a low Bauer Unit is below 22.5, average is around 24, and above average is at 25.5 or higher. For breaking balls, the numbers are typically higher, with lower units between 26 and 28, average between 28 and 30, and above average up to and surpassing 33.

  • Why are changeups not typically included in spin rate analysis?

    -Changeups do not play a significant role in spin rate analysis because their effectiveness is not as closely tied to spin rate. Pitchers can have success with both high and low spin rate changeups, and the range of effective spin rates for this pitch type is too broad to be beneficial for detailed analysis.

  • How do pitchers like Trevor Bauer and Kyle Hendricks exemplify the importance of spin rate?

    -Trevor Bauer, with a high spin rate, and Kyle Hendricks, with a low spin rate, demonstrate that understanding and utilizing one's spin rate effectively can lead to success. Bauer's high spin rate allows for more movement and swings and misses, while Hendricks' low spin rate results in more ground balls.

  • What are the implications of spin rate for pitch location strategy?

    -High spin rate pitchers should target the upper part of the strike zone, while low spin rate pitchers should aim lower. This strategy maximizes the effectiveness of their pitches based on their spin rate characteristics.

  • What is the main takeaway from the video regarding spin rate and Bauer Units?

    -The main takeaway is that while spin rate and Bauer Units are important, they are only one piece of the puzzle in understanding a pitcher's success. It's essential to understand each pitcher's spin rate and where they will have the most success in the strike zone, rather than simply assuming that a higher spin rate is always better.

Outlines
00:00
📊 Introduction to Spin Rate and Its Significance

This paragraph introduces the topic of spin rate and its importance in baseball, particularly for two big leaguers, Trevor Bauer and Kyle Hendricks, who represent opposite ends of the spin rate spectrum. It emphasizes the need to understand spin rate to analyze and compare these pitchers effectively. The video creator also encourages viewers to subscribe for more content and provides a brief explanation of spin rate as the measure of how fast a ball spins, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). The paragraph mentions the use of technology like Trackman, Rap Sodo, and Diamond Kinetics for measuring spin rate and notes that higher spin rates result in more movement on pitches.

05:00
📈 Analyzing Pitcher's Spin Rate and Bower Units

The second paragraph delves deeper into the analysis of spin rate and introduces Bower units as an advanced metric that accounts for the relationship between velocity and spin rate. It explains how Bower units are calculated by dividing spin rate by pitch velocity, allowing for a more normalized comparison across pitchers. The paragraph provides specific Bower unit ranges for fastballs and breaking balls, highlighting the importance of understanding these metrics for strategic pitch placement. It then compares the 2020 statistics of Bauer and Hendricks, showing their average fastball spin rate, velocity, and calculated Bower units, and discusses the strategic implications of their respective spin rates and Bower units on pitch location and effectiveness.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Spin Rate
Spin rate refers to the speed at which a baseball rotates around its axis after being thrown. It is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). In the context of the video, understanding a pitcher's spin rate is crucial as it directly affects the movement and trajectory of the pitch, thereby influencing the pitcher's performance and strategic decisions on where to place their pitches during a game. For example, the video compares two pitchers, Trevor Bauer and Kyle Hendricks, who have significantly different spin rates, leading to different pitch behaviors and outcomes.
💡Trevor Bauer
Trevor Bauer is a professional baseball pitcher known for having a high spin rate on his fastball. In the video, he is used as an example of a 'high spin rate' pitcher. Bauer's high spin rate, combined with his average velocity of 93 miles per hour, results in a power unit value that is significantly above average, indicating a high level of performance and effectiveness in his pitching. His strategic approach involves throwing his fastballs in the upper part of the strike zone to maximize the benefits of his high spin rate.
💡Kyle Hendricks
Kyle Hendricks is another professional baseball pitcher featured in the video, representing the 'low spin rate' end of the spectrum. His average fastball spin rate is just above 1900 RPMs, which is below average, and his average velocity is slower than Bauer's at 87.1 miles per hour. This combination results in below-average power units for Hendricks, indicating a different pitching strategy that involves throwing his fastballs lower in the strike zone to compensate for his lower spin rate.
💡Pitch Movement
Pitch movement refers to the trajectory and behavior of a baseball as it travels from the pitcher to the batter. The spin rate of the pitch has a significant impact on its movement, with higher spin rates generally leading to more pronounced movement. This is a critical factor for pitchers as it affects their ability to deceive batters and control the outcome of each pitch. Understanding pitch movement allows pitchers and analysts to make informed decisions on pitch location and strategy.
💡Trackman
Trackman is a sophisticated tracking system used in professional baseball to collect data on every aspect of a pitch, including spin rate, velocity, and trajectory. It is one of the technologies mentioned in the video that helps measure the spin rate of each pitch thrown in a game. Trackman, along with other systems like Rapsodo and Diamond Kinetics, provides valuable data that can be used to analyze and improve a pitcher's performance.
💡Rap Sodo
Rapsodo is a technology platform used for tracking and analyzing sports performance, including baseball. Similar to Trackman, it provides detailed data on pitch characteristics such as spin rate, velocity, and movement. The video mentions Rapsodo as one of the technologies that enable the accurate measurement of spin rate for each pitch, aiding in the analysis and strategic planning of pitchers' performances.
💡Diamond Kinetics
Diamond Kinetics is a technology company that specializes in providing data-driven insights and training tools for baseball players, including measuring spin rate. It is one of the technologies mentioned in the video that assists in the accurate measurement of a pitch's spin rate, which is crucial for understanding and improving a pitcher's performance.
💡Bauer Units
Bauer Units, named after Trevor Bauer, is a metric that normalizes spin rate data by taking into account the velocity of the pitch. It is calculated by dividing the spin rate by the pitch's velocity. This advanced metric helps to compare pitchers' spin effectiveness across different velocities, providing a more accurate representation of a pitcher's ability to generate movement on their pitches. Bauer Units are particularly useful in understanding how a pitcher's spin rate translates into actual performance on the field.
💡Pitch Execution
Pitch execution refers to the ability of a pitcher to place their pitches in the intended location within the strike zone. It is a critical aspect of a pitcher's skill set and directly impacts the outcome of at-bats. Understanding a pitcher's spin rate and how it affects pitch movement is essential for effective pitch execution. The video emphasizes that knowing where a pitcher's spin rate profile is most effective allows them to make the best decisions on pitch location during a game, leading to better performance.
💡Pitching Strategy
Pitching strategy encompasses the tactical decisions a pitcher makes during a game, such as pitch selection, location, and sequence, based on their strengths and the batter's tendencies. The video highlights the importance of understanding spin rate in formulating an effective pitching strategy. By knowing how spin rate affects pitch movement, pitchers can better decide where to locate their pitches to increase the chances of success, whether that's inducing swings and misses or generating ground balls.
💡Baseball Savant
Baseball Savant is a website that provides advanced statistics and data visualization for baseball. It is a resource used by analysts, coaches, and players to study and understand various aspects of the game, including pitch movement and location. In the video, Baseball Savant is used to analyze the pitch locations of Bauer and Hendricks, confirming their strategic approach to pitch execution based on their spin rate characteristics.
Highlights

The video discusses the importance of understanding spin rate in baseball, particularly by comparing two successful big league pitchers, Trevor Bauer and Kyle Hendricks, who have contrasting spin rates.

Spin rate is measured in revolutions per minute and is a key factor in determining the movement and effectiveness of a pitch.

Technology like TrackMan, Rapsodo, and Diamond Kinetics helps measure spin rate for every pitch thrown in professional baseball.

The average spin rate for a Major League fastball is around 2300 RPMs, with higher spin rates leading to more pitch movement.

Pitchers with different spin rates should target different areas of the strike zone to maximize their performance.

Bauer Units (BU) is an advanced metric that normalizes spin rate data by taking velocity out of the equation.

For fastballs, a low BU is below 22.5, average is around 24, and above average is at 25.5.

Breaking balls typically have higher BU numbers due to higher spin rates and lower velocities.

Changeups are not discussed in terms of spin rate effectiveness as they do not follow the same trends as other pitch types.

Trevor Bauer led the MLB with the highest fastball spin rate of nearly 2800 RPMs in 2020.

Bauer's average fastball velocity was 93 miles per hour, resulting in a BU of 29.7, which is significantly above average.

Kyle Hendricks had an average fastball spin rate of just above 1900 RPMs with an average velocity of 87.1 miles per hour.

Hendricks' spin rate, when adjusted for velocity, was both below average in RPMs and in BU calculation.

Bauer's high spin rate and BU suggest he should target the upper part of the strike zone, while Hendricks' lower rates indicate a focus on the lower part.

The video emphasizes that understanding and applying a pitcher's spin rate effectively is crucial for their success in the game.

The misconception that a high spin rate is always better than a low spin rate is debunked, highlighting the importance of understanding each pitcher's unique strengths.

High spin rate pitchers tend to have higher swing and miss percentages, while low spin rate pitchers generate more ground balls, each valuable in its own way.

The video encourages viewers to subscribe for more content and provides links to related videos and playlists for further learning.

Transcripts

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