As the resident pitching expert here at DRaysBay (Ian’s words, not mine), I am obviously fascinated by all things pitching. Since I started covering the Rays here, I have made many a post in the realms of things such as player previews, mechanical breakdowns and other analytical deep dives.
Today I want to try something new, and talk about in-game pitch sequencing. This is the stuff that really gets me going—the cat and mouse game, to me, that’s what really makes baseball a game like no other.
In the bottom of the ninth inning of last night’s game between the Rays and Mets, I became particularly invested in a certain 11-pitch duel between Rays relief ace Nick Anderson and Mets veteran and active great Robinson Cano.