FOLLOWING WHAT MATTERS TO YOU.

DETROIT TIGERS
Smyly-thriving-in-relief-role 5/14/13 - Smyly thriving in relief role
BACK
Add the Detroit Tigers to My HUB

Justin Verlander's late-game velocity explained

May 2nd, 2012 1:05 PM
  • Justin-Verlanders-late-game-velocity-explained
  • Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

    • Why is Justin Verlander able to throw harder as the game goes on? It’s pretty simple: he’s a freak.

    Unlike nearly every other pitcher on the planet, Verlander is able to increase the velocity of his fastball late in games, often topping 100 mph in the 8th or 9th inning, hours after he started things off by throwing in the low 90s. Part of this, of course, is because he’s become a master at pacing himself throughout the game, not throwing as hard as he can early on when it’s not necessary, thereby saving his arm strength for big moments later on. He also throws a lower percentage of fastballs in the later innings, dropping from 70% fastballs in the first down to 50% in the 8th. And during that time, the average velocity of those fastballs increases from 95.1 to 97.1.

    However, this is something that most MLB pitchers do, yet they aren’t able to pull it off with such profound disparity as Verlander does simply because he has a natural gift in his right shoulder that no one else has. He’s a physical freak, and it’s allowed him to become the most feared pitcher in the game.

    “It’s just the way I’ve always been,” he said. “For as long as I can remember.”

    Adding to the aura of his arm, Verlander has also improved over the past several seasons while not only throwing more innings than he did earlier in his career, but throwing more than anyone else in the game. From 2006-08, Verlander averaged just over 196 innings per year. In the three years following, he threw 240, 224.1, and 251, with each of those top two numbers leading the league. And of course, last season’s career-high in innings also coincided with his MVP and Cy Young awards as he also led the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP.

    All around baseball, pitchers are breaking down, having pitch counts tracked rigorously or growing tired in the late innings. Except, that is, Justin Verlander. Joe Lemire explains.

    Read the original post from si.com

    What did you think? Leave a comment

    TOPICS

    RELATED STORIES
    More

    Fan Hub Action

    LATEST CHATTER

    Mariano Rivera Is Having a True Hero's Exit

    • Jeanne-Marie Jansen Lowell May 23rd

      Greatest relief pitcher EVER! Someday we can all tell our grandchildren we got to see him pitch. A true legend!

    • Charlie Lobosco May 23rd

      Ask Craig; I’ll say it again; not the best relief pitcher ever; the best MLB player ever. Yes, that includes everyone.

    • Jim Lowell May 23rd

      Great tribute to a great player, a great Yankee, and a great man.Thank you!

    • Frank Lowell May 23rd

      Great job, Ryan! As a life-long Yankee hater since the 1950’s in the closing days of the Brooklyn Dodgers, I can only sit back and…

    Belly putter ban to is an attempt to hinder the evolution of golf
    Rangers, Bruins ready to resume hostilities
    The irony - and bravery - of Jason Collins's decision

    • Charlie Lobosco May 1st

      This is a very compelling story because Mr. Collins is a very passionate, tough, intelligent, athelete taking on some additional responsibliity to help others as…

    • Scott Cohen May 1st

      Charlie.. very well said.. he does have guts

    POPULAR NOW

    Mariano Rivera Is Having a True Hero's Exit

    May 22nd, 2013 2:56 PM

    3
    Belly putter ban is an attempt to hinder the evolution of golf

    May 23rd, 2013 1:49 PM

    1
    Learning to settle with second-rate fights

    May 20th, 2013 9:09 AM

    ALL TIME FAVES

    Despite tragedy, Boston and its marathon will endure

    April 16th, 2013 12:15 PM

    6
    Tiger on top is the best thing for golf

    April 9th, 2013 11:57 AM

    18
    The irony of Kobe Bryant's injury

    April 16th, 2013 3:48 PM

    15
    Questions about sexuality arise at combine

    March 1st, 2013 8:37 AM

    10

    Twitter Chatter