javasource
6-4-3 = 2
I was thinking about something this morning...
I watched the Auburn/Florida game last evening... and around the 3rd at bat... figured I would rewind the DVR and start charting pitches. Easier to do from the comfort of your couch/living room... granted... but after that game was over, I was pretty blown away by the performance/numbers.
I don't want to turn this thread into a legal/illegal pitch conversation... instead, I figured I would start a thread subject that is seldom discussed on this pitching forum: Charting Pitches.
For years, I've been using this template I devised... bits and pieces borrowed from other people... nevertheless, I find it useful. Having said that, when you do something the same way a gazillion times, it's tough to see it another way. So... I thought I'd ask you all what you do, share what I do... and perhaps give people who stumble on this thread something to add to... or think on... and learn from.
Secondly... I'd also like this thread to delve into the topic of calling pitches (as a result of charting), maybe even discuss offensive/defensive strategies, as it pertains to charted analysis, results, theories, etc.
The purposes are many-fold... I would hope all of you bucket-parents/coaches that call pitches might find this useful, perhaps some pitchers could use the thoughts we exchange as a way to improve/prepare for opponents, perhaps offenses could use it to improve, etc.
Ok... Here's a chart I find myself using when I chart games... couldn't find my finalized template when I started watching... so I mocked this one up with the missing pieces of my template. I filled it out with just Florida's pitching performance versus Auburn... it will appear greek at first glance, but I'll explain it after I attach the files:
It's two pages for a game... which is about as condensed as I can get with what I expect to see when analyzing a performance or an opponent on video.
The top line may look like braile... but when going through the 2,000 emails I've received from Bristow over the years, I came across this little system she talked about... and I really liked the concept. For a detailed read, here's the write-up.
Quick version: A strike gets one dot above the last dot... or to start, above the line. A ball... one dot below the last... or to start, below the line. When a pitcher is in command of a batter, she is above the line. As you can see... Barnhill started above on nearly all batters.... and for the most part stayed there. The letters above the dots are (R) rise, (D) drop, (k) strikeout, (F) fastball, etc.. I love the wealth of info you can get on a pitcher in such a small space.
The charted batters part should be pretty self-explanatory... The strike zone is divided into three levels: Level 1 is lower half of strike zone (or lower), Level 2 is the upper part of the strike zone, Level 3 is above the zone. There are also two little batter boxes... the dots with the long line represent the starting position of the batters feet in the box, the connected shorter line/dot is where their feet are after the stride. Pitches are located and numbered as they are thrown. Legend is at the bottom of the page.
So... looking over the Barnhill Vs. Auburn chart... here are a couple things that pop-out:
1) Of the 89 total pitches she throws... only 12 of them were 'below the line'.
2) Of the 89 pitches thrown... only 13 were in Level 1... 52 in Level 2... and 24 in Level 3.
3) Of the 89 pitches thrown, a MINIMUM of 75 were riseballs. No change-ups. 5 drop balls... The remaining 9 pitches were either missed riseballs or some sort of FB/screw into the lower zones.
4) 73% of her pitches were thrown strikes.
5) 20 of the 25 batters she faced started with a first-pitch strike
6) Of the 89 pitches... Auburn would only swing the bat 40 times... 45% of the time... when 73% were thrown into the strike zone.
7) Auburn made contact on 22 of 89 pitches... 5 putouts, 15 fouls, and 2 hits.
8) On average, each Auburn batter saw 3.5 pitches per at bat.
9) 89% of the pitches were at or above the waist.
10) All batters started in the back of the box, all game.
Anyway... there is a lot more to take from this chart than these... but I'm hoping to spark interest... not put you to sleep!
Hope to hear your questions, comments, thoughts, additions, etc...
I watched the Auburn/Florida game last evening... and around the 3rd at bat... figured I would rewind the DVR and start charting pitches. Easier to do from the comfort of your couch/living room... granted... but after that game was over, I was pretty blown away by the performance/numbers.
I don't want to turn this thread into a legal/illegal pitch conversation... instead, I figured I would start a thread subject that is seldom discussed on this pitching forum: Charting Pitches.
For years, I've been using this template I devised... bits and pieces borrowed from other people... nevertheless, I find it useful. Having said that, when you do something the same way a gazillion times, it's tough to see it another way. So... I thought I'd ask you all what you do, share what I do... and perhaps give people who stumble on this thread something to add to... or think on... and learn from.
Secondly... I'd also like this thread to delve into the topic of calling pitches (as a result of charting), maybe even discuss offensive/defensive strategies, as it pertains to charted analysis, results, theories, etc.
The purposes are many-fold... I would hope all of you bucket-parents/coaches that call pitches might find this useful, perhaps some pitchers could use the thoughts we exchange as a way to improve/prepare for opponents, perhaps offenses could use it to improve, etc.
Ok... Here's a chart I find myself using when I chart games... couldn't find my finalized template when I started watching... so I mocked this one up with the missing pieces of my template. I filled it out with just Florida's pitching performance versus Auburn... it will appear greek at first glance, but I'll explain it after I attach the files:
It's two pages for a game... which is about as condensed as I can get with what I expect to see when analyzing a performance or an opponent on video.
The top line may look like braile... but when going through the 2,000 emails I've received from Bristow over the years, I came across this little system she talked about... and I really liked the concept. For a detailed read, here's the write-up.
Quick version: A strike gets one dot above the last dot... or to start, above the line. A ball... one dot below the last... or to start, below the line. When a pitcher is in command of a batter, she is above the line. As you can see... Barnhill started above on nearly all batters.... and for the most part stayed there. The letters above the dots are (R) rise, (D) drop, (k) strikeout, (F) fastball, etc.. I love the wealth of info you can get on a pitcher in such a small space.
The charted batters part should be pretty self-explanatory... The strike zone is divided into three levels: Level 1 is lower half of strike zone (or lower), Level 2 is the upper part of the strike zone, Level 3 is above the zone. There are also two little batter boxes... the dots with the long line represent the starting position of the batters feet in the box, the connected shorter line/dot is where their feet are after the stride. Pitches are located and numbered as they are thrown. Legend is at the bottom of the page.
So... looking over the Barnhill Vs. Auburn chart... here are a couple things that pop-out:
1) Of the 89 total pitches she throws... only 12 of them were 'below the line'.
2) Of the 89 pitches thrown... only 13 were in Level 1... 52 in Level 2... and 24 in Level 3.
3) Of the 89 pitches thrown, a MINIMUM of 75 were riseballs. No change-ups. 5 drop balls... The remaining 9 pitches were either missed riseballs or some sort of FB/screw into the lower zones.
4) 73% of her pitches were thrown strikes.
5) 20 of the 25 batters she faced started with a first-pitch strike
6) Of the 89 pitches... Auburn would only swing the bat 40 times... 45% of the time... when 73% were thrown into the strike zone.
7) Auburn made contact on 22 of 89 pitches... 5 putouts, 15 fouls, and 2 hits.
8) On average, each Auburn batter saw 3.5 pitches per at bat.
9) 89% of the pitches were at or above the waist.
10) All batters started in the back of the box, all game.
Anyway... there is a lot more to take from this chart than these... but I'm hoping to spark interest... not put you to sleep!
Hope to hear your questions, comments, thoughts, additions, etc...