Please excuse the cliché metaphor: analyzing pitchers is akin to pealing an onion. On the surface, we can use stats like strikeout-to-walk ratio and ground ball rate to analyze a pitcher’s results. But if we want to dig deeper into the how or why of the results, we need to peel back different layers. One level deeper is usually marked by examining the pitcher’s pitch repertoire and then, perhaps, the characteristics of an individual pitch. The bravest souls will continue peeling deeper, entering the murky analysis of pitch sequencing or pitch tunneling. Each layer that’s peeled back adds some amount of nuance to any conclusions reached.
Mike Leake’s secret weapon
