Paul Konerko and Sliders

by jscape2000 on Jun 30, 2011 6:51 AM CDT

So this starts with a shameless plug for a piece I wrote at The Hometown Fan, but if you already know that Paul Konerko is a really good, really underrated hitter, then there's not a ton of reason for you to click the link.

The question I close that piece with, and I'm hoping you can help here, is what kind of pitches Konerko is seeing this year.

Fangraphs' Pf/x data says that Konerko is seeing fewer sliders this season (a pitch he has normally posted negative numbers on) and instead seeing a slew more split-finger fastballs (a pitch he's generally been average on). If it's true, that would help explain his hot first half.

I don't get to watch him everyday the way you guys do. Have you noticed fewer sliders this season? Or is this a case of the Pf/x system getting a little more refined in its pitch identification?

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i thought this was going to be about white castle.

by larry on Jun 30, 2011 9:21 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Sorry to disappoint.
Let me see what I can do.

"Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
Pinstripe Alley | The Hometown Fan | @jscape2000

by jscape2000 on Jun 30, 2011 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions

if we believe fangraphs

i’d say the difference is fastballs. i’ve discussed on here before that, as a team, the white sox are supposedly seeing more fastballs. konerko kills fastballs.

by larry on Jun 30, 2011 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions

I hadn’t really considered that because he’s seeing about the same number of fastballs as in years past, and doing damage about in line with his pre-2010 best years.
Of course, pitch sequence is often more important than pitch type, and in that regard I’m just guessing/ assuming pitchers are approaching him the same as ever.

"Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
Pinstripe Alley | The Hometown Fan | @jscape2000

by jscape2000 on Jun 30, 2011 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

nobody throws a split anymore

outside of the Japanese guys and, what, like Papelbon? the stories about it leading to arm trouble killed that pitch. i guess Jesse Crain has learned one for this year.

He was lookin’ for the Express and got the Local

by colintj on Jun 30, 2011 11:54 AM CDT reply actions

Split and Japanese in the same sentence.

Racist.

by winningugly on Jun 30, 2011 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions

They have sideways splits, don't they?

by joewho112 on Jul 5, 2011 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes.

Yes, they do.

by winningugly on Jul 6, 2011 7:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Quite a few guys still throw it with regularity

Lincecum and Zambrano, for example. I’m pretty sure Crain had it with the Twins. I know Freddy has heavily employed one since his fastball velo dropped. There are plenty more that you proabably don’t notice but I would think relievers would be more likely to use them. Samardzija throws one.

by Daniel Berlyn on Jul 2, 2011 2:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Crain just started learning it

He was lookin’ for the Express and got the Local

by colintj on Jul 2, 2011 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions

and seriously? it's called hyperbole. it's not a frequently thrown pitch.

He was lookin’ for the Express and got the Local

by colintj on Jul 2, 2011 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I understand

but I feel it’s thrown more than you suggest. Seems to be a popular choice among relievers.

by Daniel Berlyn on Jul 5, 2011 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions

more than the obviously qualitative "infrequent" ?

ooooook

He was lookin’ for the Express and got the Local

by colintj on Jul 5, 2011 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions

i throw one.

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on Jul 2, 2011 11:55 PM CDT up reply actions

you're a regular babe ruth

I'd just as soon never hear another word from that fluttering asswheel. - RWShow

by blackoutsox on Jul 3, 2011 1:30 AM CDT up reply actions

An alcoholic who no longer plays baseball?

by joewho112 on Jul 5, 2011 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Dead and buried.

by winningugly on Jul 6, 2011 7:17 AM CDT up reply actions

go to PT for your shoulder

works miracles

"Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone.'"

by U-God on Jul 3, 2011 7:17 AM CDT up reply actions

my shoulder feels good sometimes.

i’ll throw 50 times and it will feel normal. then on the 51st i get shooting pains and can’t lift my arm above my head for 2 days. I do miss pitching though. i haven’t toed the rubber since 2007. i want to make a comeback dammit- especially now that my kid can watch (although it may not be pretty) haha.

Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.

by KenWo4LiFe on Jul 6, 2011 1:02 AM CDT up reply actions