THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Pitches per events, historically

From 1993-2008:

3.29 pitches per ball in play
4.82 per K
5.60 per BB (excluding IBB)
3.07 per HBP
2.57 per inning-ending plays, with batter still at plate

From 1953-1964 (Dodgers mostly):

3.08 pitches per ball in play
4.67per K
5.48 per BB
2.66 per HBP (probably ALOT more one-pitch HBP)
2.52 per inning-ending plays, with batter still at plate

Both had 4.07 pitches per IBB

So we see that, per event, today’s pitchers throw 0.1 to 0.2 more pitches. 

Per PA, today’s pitchers throw 3.73 pitches, while those of 50 years ago throw 3.52 pitches (or a difference of 0.21 pitches per PA).  Starters back then also threw around the same number of pitches as today per start.  So, today’s pitchers, throwing 100 pitches, can get through 26.8 batters, while pitchers back then can get through 28.4 batters.  Pitchers back then also were taken out before 70 pitches, or left to throw 130 pitches alot, as opposed to these days when pitchers are paced at the 90-110 mark, game after game.  This means that, back then, they got to complete more games, because they would have the benefit of being rested on short starts.

But, don’t let the facts stop us from saying that pitchers of yesteryear could move mountains, as if they were genetically superior and mentally tougher.  That’s nothing but b.s.  The pitches of the 1970s, however, now THOSE guys threw alot more per start than the 1960s or 1980s/90s pitchers.