0-2, 2 on, 2 out pitch to Matt Kemp last night...

by sdot on Aug 3, 2009 2:57 PM EDT

I don't want to fault a pitcher-catcher duo for calling for a high out of the zone fastball to strike a batter out, but really? Matt Kemp? Jair had been missing high all night, continuing to do so afterward (see the 10 hits), and Matt Kemp is one of the best fastball hitters in baseball. Trying to sneak a fastball by him when you have and 0-2 count, in a scoreless game, where if you miss at all the entire complexion of the game changes (as it did) is ridiculous. What reasoning do Bobby or Mac have for calling that pitch, and how is it justifiable? Thoughts appreciated.

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Mac called for a shoulder high Fastball, JJ just left it down in the zone too low. Im sure Jair would have liked that one back

I thought hurricane season was over........

by bravesguy311 on Aug 3, 2009 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

That’s what Steve Phillips said during the replay. But, what I saw was JJ hit Mac’s glove exactly where it was set up. I think Phillips just made all that up to sound smart.

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

by justincredubil02 on Aug 3, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions

AGREE

I told my girlfriend( Met Fan) that Matt Kemp before his AP was going to hit a homerun. Matt is ther best hitter and ne missed a HR on his last AB. Dont understand why B-Mac would call for the high fastball when JJ was starting miss his spots (after his AB I think JJ might of tweaked something). I was yelling at the TV to “throw the pitch on the dirt” let him swing at something outside of the Strike zone, especially when ur in front 0-2 with 2 outs. That really boggled my mind and the game was over in the 4th inning on ESPN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How embarresing

by AlRoBraves95 on Aug 3, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

i could be misunderstanding your issue, because it’s not immediately evident to me that the call is problematic (despite the results) as you seem to believe. the goal was not to sneak a fastball by him. with an 0-2 count, the high fastball wasn’t supposed to be hittable. if placed correctly (much higher) the result would either have been a whiff or a 1-2 count.

by brndn on Aug 3, 2009 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

The Issue...

It’s a lot easier to make a game altering mistake pitch with a high fastball than it is anything else low in the zone. If you’re trying to throw an out-pitch, why not go with a low change out of the zone?

My point is that it’s a lot easier to blow open a game by screwing up a high fastball, especially to a dead fastball hitter.

take, that

by sdot on Aug 3, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

understood. i’m sure PITCHf/x data could tell us something more concrete, but for now all i can offer is my personal opinion (and for the record, i think your post brings up a fair point and discussion topic). in an 0-2 count i see two common ways to simultaneously avoid any real contact and vie for the strikeout — bounce an off-speed pitch in the dirt or throw a fastball that approaches eye level.

in jair’s previous performance he was successful with the high heat. also, since the pitch is meant to be hard and not fall anywhere close to the zone, horizontal location doesn’t really matter much and that’s one less thing to worry about. maybe the results are better with the change, but i just don’t think you can unequivocally say the high heat was a bad choice — kemp is a good fastball hitter, but no one is a 94-mph-at-the-eyes-fastball hitter… well, maybe the pinata swinging matt diaz, but that’s it!

by brndn on Aug 3, 2009 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Jair's been money all year.

He had a bad game. Move along.

Oh, Bobby.

by sdp on Aug 3, 2009 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

He wasn't criticizing the performance...

Just the decision.

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

by MichaelProcton on Aug 3, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, he was making him look bad with change ups on the outside. He should have thrown him another. But like they say about hindsight…

"A Tar Heel Born and a Tar Heel bred, and when i die ill be a Tar Heel dead."

by mad_dog_maddux on Aug 3, 2009 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

That was THE PITCH that changed the game………….

by gobraves3940 on Aug 3, 2009 4:05 PM EDT reply actions

Not for nothing, but we didnt score a damn run all game. even if JJ had thrown a diff pitch, we STILL would have lost. Need to score runs in order to win ballgames

I thought hurricane season was over........

by bravesguy311 on Aug 3, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

I think that the pitch he froze Manny with would have been perfect in this situation too…but for some reason, I always have perfect vision when I am looking back on things.

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

by justincredubil02 on Aug 3, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions