Exploring the Arsenal will run prior to each series, providing you with a brief scouting report on the starting pitchers expected to oppose the Pirates. The charts below show the horizontal and vertical movement of every pitch thrown by that particular pitcher in 2011. These charts are from the catcher’s point of view. For a general guide to pitch types for a right-handed pitcher, please check out this image created by Sons of Sam Horn. Graphs are courtesy of FanGraphs.
| Pitch Types | ||
|---|---|---|
| FA: Four-Seam Fastball | FT: Two-Seam Fastball | FC: Cutter |
| CU: Curveball | SL: Slider | CH: Changeup |
| FS: Splitter |
Friday, 8:05 PM – Brett Myers
(click to enlarge)
Myers’ fastball, which has historically sat in the 89-90 MPH range as a starting pitcher, has lost a few ticks of velocity this season. For most of the year, he has averaged right around 87-88 MPH, and has struggled to crack the 90 MPH mark. That velocity has begun to creep up a bit in his past few starts, so maybe he is starting to figure things out. His big-breaking mid-70’s curveball is his only real swing-and-miss pitch, and he goes to it often. He also throws a slider and a change, both of which sit in the low 80’s. It looks like Myers has added a cutter this year, which he throws about 20% of the time.
Saturday, 7:05 PM – Bud Norris
(click to enlarge)
Norris throws his fastball in the low 90’s and touches 96 MPH. His velocity was down a tick early in the season, but it has crept back up as the temperature has increased. In his start last week at PNC Park, he sat comfortably in the 92-94 range and touched 95. He also throws a slider in the mid 80’s and a changeup in the low 80’s. The slider is his big swing-and-miss pitch, although he is capable of missing bats with each of his pitches. Norris has one of the top strikeout rates among all starting pitchers, but he only managed to strikeout three Pirates in his effective start last week. His walk rate has dropped a bit this year, which has played a large role in his improved numbers.
Sunday, 2:05 PM – Wandy Rodriguez
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Rodriguez throws his fastball in the 89-90 range, and can touch as high as 92. He moves the pitch all over the strike zone, and effectively mixes in both cutting and arm-side movement. His best swing-and-miss pitch is his slurvy breaking ball, which sits in the mid 70’s. Rodriguez also throws a low-80’s changeup, which he uses to keep right-handed batters honest. He will occasionally drop his release point into a low three-quarters arm slot to give hitters a different look.
