Checking in on the Pace of the Mets' Pitchers

by Chris McShane on Jul 6, 2011 1:00 PM EDT

Last November, Fangraphs started posting data about the amount of time a pitcher took between pitches, a new category known simply as "Pace." I took a look at the pace of each of the Mets at the end of the year to see who was working quickly and who took seemingly forever to throw his next pitch.

There's no correlation between pace and performance, but some guys certainly move the game along while others slow it down. What fans notice the most is undoubtedly how a pitcher performs, but every once in a while, someone like Steve Trachsel comes around and combines an extremely slow pace with poor performance and puts everyone to sleep.

Let's have a look at how the Mets' pitchers rate so far in 2011:

(click to embiggen)

There are three groups here: the fast, the average, and the very slow. The pitchers who generally throw at the end of the game take a whole lot longer than those who throw early in games. If you like a pitcher who gets the ball and throws his next pitch as quickly as possible, Jon Niese and R.A. Dickey are your guys. If you enjoy drawn-out at-bats, Francisco Rodriguez is a master, even though he's actually a bit quicker between pitches this year than last year.

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Wouldn't pitchers who allow more baserunners take longer?

just ‘cause they’re checking the runners, or, in Pelfrey’s case, not checking the runners?

by tmu on Jul 6, 2011 1:06 PM EDT reply actions

probably

It would have to be. One of the things pitchers are supposed to do is not get into a rhythm with guys on so that Reyes knows if you get to 10seconds you’re about to deliver to the plate.

-Ceetar, the Optimistic Mets Fan

by Ceetar on Jul 6, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus it's in The Rules

With the bases empty, a pitcher is on a “shot clock” of sorts. With people on, he can do the whole Gaylord Perry “sun’s becoming a ball of ice” thing all he wants. One of the quirks of the game. I’d rather have a “do something” clock for all situations, but I can accept arguments from people who say it’s not a good idea.

by WWORDuke on Jul 6, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Is there really a shot clock when no one is on?

I heard them speaking of this a while ago, but I’ve never seen or heard it called , so I assumed it never went into effect.

A deadline has a wonderful way of concentrating the mind.-Professor James Moriarty
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.- Former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

by Blame-everyone-else on Jul 6, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

12 seconds from the time the batter enters the box.

Some versions say from the time he gets settled in the box.

by Curtis3331 on Jul 6, 2011 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Point being, it would make more sense to control for that

or at least look at the splits.

by tmu on Jul 6, 2011 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder

if there would be any way to check the stats on team defense in relation to the pace of the pitcher on the mound. I mean, I know it’s generally accepted that a pitcher who works quicker on the mound will help his team defense because the fielders are always on their toes. But I wonder if this has ever been proven with solid research or if it’s more of an anecdotal thing.

Maybe this would be to difficult to quantify, what with all of the variables involved.

by Fmaxpont on Jul 6, 2011 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

Loosely you can look at babip

I remember an article back in the day that said there was no significant relationship, but I can’t find it now. You can eyeball it at fangraphs.

by robotoverlord on Jul 6, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Just did, looks like there's a weak correlation

Still, probably not significant.

by robotoverlord on Jul 6, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh and also there's some autocorrelation

Since poor fielding might lead to more baserunners, and slower pace.

by robotoverlord on Jul 6, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

reverse

could the reverse be true? could there be rythyms and routines that the fielders do and the quick turn around of a pitch could be deterimental and surprise them? Like how Jose Reyes tends to take off his glove between pitches?

-Ceetar, the Optimistic Mets Fan

by Ceetar on Jul 6, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

I remember the first time I noticed he did that I kept freaking out “Jose you’re not gonna get it on before the pitch” but he always does. I need to remember that he’s been playing baseball for a little while

by revans on Jul 6, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

There definitely is supposed to be some positioning

or at least anticipation of the infielders based on the pitch being thrown. So shorter time between pitches may affect that.

A deadline has a wonderful way of concentrating the mind.-Professor James Moriarty
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.- Former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

by Blame-everyone-else on Jul 6, 2011 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

From that camera angle

Niese looks like he is about 7’ tall. I thought it was Chris Young at first.

the artist formerly known as TeufelCat
@jeffpaternostro

by Jeffrey Paternostro on Jul 6, 2011 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

You could take nap between Steve Traschel's pitches

by bob c on Jul 6, 2011 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

I'm shocked

Pelfrey isn’t lower on the list. With men on (which is most of the time) the guy seems like molasses. Maybe it’s because there are often so many foul balls that it seems longer, but I feel like I spend half the game watching him push his hat back on his head and rub a new ball up.

by afrosupreme on Jul 6, 2011 5:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions