My Pair of Cardinals Articles

Nutlaw · 07-21-2009, 12:59 PM

After spending so much time studying pitching for the OOTP 10 beta, I started picking up on a few things here and there. I wrote an article about a week and a half ago and another this weekend, and I'm trying to collect some feedback and constructive criticism, so I figured that I'd link to them here and see what people might have to say.

Wellemeyer vs. Thompson as Cards? fifth starter | The Cardinal Nation blog

Wainwright?s increasingly effective curve | The Cardinal Nation blog

Do they make sense? Are they interesting at all?

dsvitak · 07-21-2009, 01:54 PM

I am as big a Cardinal's fan as there are out there, and I carefully read both articles.

I liked the content, and I liked the writing. All in all, I was very impressed with both of them.

....and I didn't learn anything I didn't already know!!

No, seriously, Wellemeyer or Thompson as the fifth starter doesn't really matter. The Cards have 11 days off, from now to the end of the year. They have 70 games, or about 14 trips through the rotation.

If you assume that each day off will lose the requirement for a fifth starter, then you are left with just 3 or 4 starts by your #5 guy.

As the #5 guy throws about 6 innings, if he's lucky, then you are talking about 24 inning's worth of pitching, out of the remaining 630 or so. Call it less than 4%

So, what is the difference between Wellemeyer and Thompson, over a 24 inning stretch? A single run, maybe?

Show me where my logic is wrong here.

Nutlaw · 07-21-2009, 05:53 PM

Sure, if no one else gets hurt or needs to rest that extra day. Unfortunately, I doubt that that will happen. There's also a question then of which one would work better out of the pen.

TribeFanInNC · 07-22-2009, 12:56 PM

I found them interesting. The two pitch charts for Wainwright are pretty telling. He has really been able to keep the ball down and away to righties, but is all over the place with lefties. There were a few offspeed pitches right down the middle.

I remember agreeing with one part of the Wellemeyer/Thompson article and less so with another part when I read it. But I forget what now.

Good stuff Nutlaw.

dsvitak · 07-22-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutlaw

Sure, if no one else gets hurt or needs to rest that extra day. Unfortunately, I doubt that that will happen. There's also a question then of which one would work better out of the pen.

Wainwright, Piniero, Lohse, and Carpenter, when all are healthy, are the finest staff in baseball, with just one or two exceptions. Maybe.

Nutlaw · 07-23-2009, 12:11 PM

Yeah, Pineiro's sinker has been outstanding this season. No complaints whatsoever with starters 1-4.

07-21-2009, 12:59 PM	#1
Nutlaw Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,538	My Pair of Cardinals Articles After spending so much time studying pitching for the OOTP 10 beta, I started picking up on a few things here and there. I wrote an article about a week and a half ago and another this weekend, and I'm trying to collect some feedback and constructive criticism, so I figured that I'd link to them here and see what people might have to say. Wellemeyer vs. Thompson as Cards? fifth starter \| The Cardinal Nation blog Wainwright?s increasingly effective curve \| The Cardinal Nation blog Do they make sense? Are they interesting at all?

07-21-2009, 01:54 PM	#2
dsvitak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 4,870	I am as big a Cardinal's fan as there are out there, and I carefully read both articles. I liked the content, and I liked the writing. All in all, I was very impressed with both of them. ....and I didn't learn anything I didn't already know!! No, seriously, Wellemeyer or Thompson as the fifth starter doesn't really matter. The Cards have 11 days off, from now to the end of the year. They have 70 games, or about 14 trips through the rotation. If you assume that each day off will lose the requirement for a fifth starter, then you are left with just 3 or 4 starts by your #5 guy. As the #5 guy throws about 6 innings, if he's lucky, then you are talking about 24 inning's worth of pitching, out of the remaining 630 or so. Call it less than 4% So, what is the difference between Wellemeyer and Thompson, over a 24 inning stretch? A single run, maybe? Show me where my logic is wrong here.

07-21-2009, 05:53 PM	#3
Nutlaw Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,538	Sure, if no one else gets hurt or needs to rest that extra day. Unfortunately, I doubt that that will happen. There's also a question then of which one would work better out of the pen.

07-22-2009, 12:56 PM	#4
TribeFanInNC Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,019	I found them interesting. The two pitch charts for Wainwright are pretty telling. He has really been able to keep the ball down and away to righties, but is all over the place with lefties. There were a few offspeed pitches right down the middle. I remember agreeing with one part of the Wellemeyer/Thompson article and less so with another part when I read it. But I forget what now. Good stuff Nutlaw.

07-23-2009, 12:11 PM	#6
Nutlaw Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,538	Yeah, Pineiro's sinker has been outstanding this season. No complaints whatsoever with starters 1-4.