In the last few seasons, the Diamondbacks changed what type of pitcher they acquired. Often, their pitching acquisitions could be described by three metrics, which I presented many times. Those metrics were:
- Whiffs/pitch greater than 13%.
- Strikeouts per batter faced greater than 25%
- Balls-in-play less than 26.5% of strikes thrown.
Perhaps a new emphasis will be placed on induced vertical break on four-seam fastballs. My enthusiasm for the idea was ignited by the first line in an article, “The Red Sox, you might have heard, have largely stopped throwing fastballs,…” Although they did NOT stop throwing fastballs, they threw less fastballs and the ones they threw were better (more vertical movement compared to the movement caused by gravity).