Nolan Arenado - After Five Weeks With The Cardinals

Posted: 2021-05-07 08:12:36 (ET)    [ 791 views ]

Coming this weekend, I will break down Arenado's numbers.  Is it tied to air density?  How about pitch-mix?

Okay, so the two seam fastball is essentially gone in terms of identification.  Why?  Well, as I have stated in other parts of this website, a pure two seamer is easy for hitters to pick up quickly, because the two seams forming lines on each side of the ball are very clear.  Therefore, pitchers have chosen to grip the ball half-way between the 4-seamer and two seamer so that the spin and identification is tougher on the hitter. 

This type of grip can then be used for more than one pitch and it only takes a small adjustment to create either a cutter or what may appear to be a slider, although not a true slider in most pitchers' estimation.  But identifying it would be tough for observers and even cameras.  

So, I give in!  The fact it is being no longer identified is less bothersome than is the lack of up-front explanation of how it was being handled. 

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