Tommy Hanson Flight Paths

by VictorW on Jun 7, 2009 9:08 PM EDT

Flight Paths for Mr Hanson's first big league start. He only threw one changeup so take that data with a grain of salt compared to the rest. Thanks to Harry Pavlidis for the template.

Here is the first base view. If you notice, Tommy Throws the fastball and slider down while throwing the curveball straight forward. Click the images for bigger versions.

via img198.imageshack.us

He starts the slider a little more outside than the fastball and curve so it ends up crossing at about the same point as the fastball.

via img196.imageshack.us

Here you can see the different release points and the massive hump of the curveball. It looks like he's purposely changing the release points of these pitches and it's probably tipping them. I wonder if he always does this or if it's just first start jitters.

via img191.imageshack.us

Enjoy the pretty graphs.

This FanPost does not express the views or opinions of Talking Chop.

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Comments

Francoeur sucks.

Oh, Bobby.

by sdp on Jun 7, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

LOL

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jun 7, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I really enjoyed the game, but FYF killed every big inning for the Braves.

How does Bobby keep playing him?

by Sparhawk on Jun 8, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I think FYF was pissed he came in second last year for the LVP. I think he’s got all contenders beat this year.

by BravesFan on Jun 8, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

amen

"Baseball Before Hoes"

by That a boy on Jun 7, 2009 10:20 PM EDT reply actions

i think it may be first game jitters or at least i hope it was

by drumzalicious on Jun 7, 2009 10:28 PM EDT reply actions

I don't think anyone thought he'd win the Cy this year...

So after spending the first half of his start pitching like Nuke Laloosh, he spent the last half pitching like Adam LaRoche. Okay that’s definitely hyperbole, but still. Like Prince Fielder said, the Brewers sat back a bit the first time through the lineup to make sure Tommy was throwing strikes, then got more aggressive the next time through. Braun smoked him twice, although the second wasn’t that bad of a pitch. He looked positively dominant at times. The fastball popped (damn.) the curveball dropped (double damn.) and he made some legitimate major league hitters look bad, but he’s also still got a LOT of learning to do. Still though, if he keeps his ERA under 5.50 for the rest of the year, he’s gonna knock of Matt Ryan as the primo man-crush in the Atlanta area.

15 years from now we’ll all be talking about where we were when we saw Tommy Hanson blow away Prince Fielder for that first K.

"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"

by The Keith Lockhart Era on Jun 8, 2009 12:46 AM EDT reply actions

Still though, if he keeps his ERA under 5.50 for the rest of the year, he’s gonna knock of Matt Ryan as the primo man-crush in the Atlanta area.

Haha…[swoon]

"If I had a little humility, I would be perfect" - Ted Turner

by Little Lady on Jun 8, 2009 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Hells to the yeah.

by Sparhawk on Jun 8, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions

From what I could tell

All 3 of the HR’s came on fastballs that appeared to move from the edge back to the middle of the plate. The pictures here seem to indicate that the fastball moves back towards RH hitters. If he can start that pitch off the plate, and have it move back to the corner, then that would be devastating, especially with his velocity. Would probably freak out LH’s as well, as that heater starts coming right at you and ends up as a strike on the inside corner. Couple that with the slider, which moves opposite the fastball (away from RH), and you’ve got a perfect out pitch.

Agree with the release points though — he especially needs to get the changeup to the same spot as the fastball. I can wait for more data though, considering he threw 1 of them all day?

by fphjr01 on Jun 8, 2009 8:46 AM EDT reply actions

I thought this post was about what airports I could expect to find Hanson in…

"Here comes Bream! Here's the throw to the plate! He is...safe! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win! Braves win!...Braves win!"

by jug on Jun 8, 2009 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

loser

No wonder nobody likes you, Tuttle... everything's a (Pujols) damn debate.

by royhobbs on Jun 8, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

ha

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 8, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I’d like to see that FB a bit down in the zone. He has a rep for fly balls and I can see why. You can’t throw that FB belt high near the strike zone to premier hitters. He does have beautiful “stuff.” Lots of movement that froze hitters on a number of occasions. Smoltz got got knocked around his first half a season with similar stuff until he learned where to pitch. Tommy almost throws too many strikes when its not necessary. A handful of bad locations to very good hitters cost him but the future is bright.

by braves99 on Jun 8, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions