Most Squeezed Pitchers

by eclou on May 10, 2011 2:40 PM CDT

I found an interesting link which compiles the list of pitchers being squeezed this year: XsqueezeMe

Ceej seems to have suffered the most by this list, given his tendency to go for the lower part of the zone. I don't think that he should change the way he pitches to suit the umpire, but no one pays me for my opinion on baseball anyway.

Jedi Master's pain

lower strike zone calls refrain

Ceej will not abstain

Tweet Comment 42 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Apparently it isn't just us then!

At least I get to see the Rangers when they play the Twins now.

by TargetField on May 10, 2011 2:48 PM CDT reply actions

This is cool

This day is slightly marred by the fact that John Rhadigan sucks a flaming bag of shit. - LiamP

by cmkelly29 on May 10, 2011 2:51 PM CDT reply actions

I tweeted that to C.J. earlier

His response – “Interesting but not surprising”

-- Micah
"I like this show… boy, it’s got a lot of weiners in it." -- benmor78 on 4.13.11

Baseball Is My Boyfriend

by The Best Micah on May 10, 2011 2:54 PM CDT reply actions

Also

Some guy on Twitter will not give up his argument that “C.J. just needs to adjust like other pitchers do.”

-- Micah
"I like this show… boy, it’s got a lot of weiners in it." -- benmor78 on 4.13.11

Baseball Is My Boyfriend

by The Best Micah on May 10, 2011 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Unfortunately he kinda does need to adjust

Just like batters have to expand their normal zone when a ump is calling a wide zone a pitcher needs to adjust when the ump isn’t calling the low strike.

If that pitch isn’t getting called a strike and the other team is laying off it then stop trying to throw it in important counts.

by bigsteve on May 10, 2011 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes, he should adjust

But it’s still crappy when the other pitcher is getting calls that he isn’t. But I suppose that’s probably never going to change.

-- Micah
"I like this show… boy, it’s got a lot of weiners in it." -- benmor78 on 4.13.11

Baseball Is My Boyfriend

by The Best Micah on May 10, 2011 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Was the other pitcher getting calls though?

I remember last nights “chart” was pretty consistent at the bottom of the zone. neither pitcher getting the borderline low strike and both pitchers have pitches that have a lot of downward movement.

It would be interesting to look at the umps with the tightest zones and then see which pitchers have pitched while they were behind the plate to see if those guys correlate with this list here.

by bigsteve on May 10, 2011 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions

This is a "most squeezed" list.

613photo

by Black Francis on May 10, 2011 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess im just wondering if there are some other pitchers who have similar stuff but due to the umps they have throw to haven't been squeezed nearly as much

Basically I wonder how much of its the pitcher and how much of it is the ump

I also wonder what type of data the Rangers have on umps and how much that goes into the game planning for pitchers. CJ does a lot of his own scouting work and such, I wonder if he has or uses the data the Rangers have and if maybe that is something holding him back. Obviously he can’t know whos going to be umping if hes pitching in game 1 of the series until just before but if he’s pitching in the 2nd or 3rd game of a series he should be able to know a couple days ahead of time whos going to ump his start and should have a idea how the strike zone will be called so he can game plan for that

by bigsteve on May 10, 2011 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions

If you look at the numbers it's not holding him back too much.

To at least some degree, he has to pitch his game. To some degree, he has to adjust, which I think he probably is doing (judging by the results).

I suppose the same types of things that fool a batter can have an effect on the up. If a hitter can’t pick up the ball against Wilson, the umpire will likely have even more trouble. Or course it’s a little easier for the umpire because all he has to do is call a ball or strike…he doesn’t have to worry about the count or other situations in the game. But, still, if he can’t see it he can’t it.

613photo

by Black Francis on May 10, 2011 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

the low strike is NOT getting called.

by SteveP on May 10, 2011 2:58 PM CDT reply actions

Yay!

Now I don’t feel so crazy for being so mad last night.

SB Nation DFW - Come Read Robbie Griffin's Articles!

by ghostofErikThompson on May 10, 2011 2:59 PM CDT reply actions

Wow. Everyone posted everything I thought while looking at the chart.

I have nothing.

Oh, how about this… has anyone tweeted this to Selig?

Promote Mike Olt to Round Rock!

by rooster on May 10, 2011 3:12 PM CDT reply actions

Nice mix of good and bad pitchers

"Life's tough... It's even tougher if you're stupid." - John Wayne

by Texas Jihad on May 10, 2011 3:17 PM CDT reply actions

Seems like the best usage for this chart

is to have the Rangers be more patient with the guys that are on it. Those pitchers have a ton of movement on their pitches but it’s been documented that it’s too much movement for the umpire to accurately assess.

by ab03 on May 10, 2011 3:23 PM CDT reply actions

love the site name, reviving a beaten-to-death funny-for-like-a-minute expression

by Schoolly_D on May 10, 2011 3:28 PM CDT reply actions

MDLS to the DL with shoulder conditions

Tommy Hunter with Grade 1 groin strain.. wont pitch 2-3 weeks per Newberg.

by I am Neftali Feliz on May 10, 2011 3:47 PM CDT reply actions

This really blows

You’d think pitchers should be rewarded for keeping the ball down, not punished.

by OhFudge on May 10, 2011 4:02 PM CDT reply actions

So McCarthy is pitching like he is this season

and in the top 10 in most squeezed? And isn’t injured yet?

God dammit.

by wut on May 10, 2011 4:19 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah,

that scapula is due to explode any game now …

by BHill on May 10, 2011 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions

CJ most squeezed pitcher... A's have 3 on the list... hmmmmm

…. CJ stop complaining.

by Sricko on May 10, 2011 4:35 PM CDT reply actions

Has he complained?

613photo

by Black Francis on May 10, 2011 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions

C.J. hasn't said a thing about it...

But, he should and so should the A’s pitchers.

SB Nation DFW - Come Read Robbie Griffin's Articles!

by ghostofErikThompson on May 10, 2011 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

He hasn't complained...

Don't play F A G! Do not play F A G! Don't- (BLAST F). OH MY GOD WHAT ARE YOU (BLAST A) DOING?! I SAID NOT TO (BLAST G)!

by DFWTrojanTuba on May 10, 2011 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions

When is this discussing going to end?

The strike zone is a finite three dimensional area. The ball either passes through it or it doesn’t. We have the technology to instantly detect the ball passing through the zone.

Why do we still rely on some arrogant old man in a mask to “eyeball” it?

"Pawtucket Patriot Beer. If you drink it, hot women will have sex in your backyard."

by Evil Monkey on May 10, 2011 4:56 PM CDT reply actions

Personally I don't trust the technology to be foolproof

the only reason to make a change is if you are going to definitively improve the product on the field and IMO the technology we have is not a definitive upgrade over the current human system we have.

by bigsteve on May 10, 2011 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I would assume it's a similar system to Tennis when checking whether a ball is out or not.

It works fine for them, but still as challenges instead of the norm.

by booyakasha on May 10, 2011 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Itd be cool to be able to challenge like that

Probably only on 2 strike or 3 ball counts

Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.

by Bface on May 10, 2011 5:44 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I think that would be awesome...

SB Nation DFW - Come Read Robbie Griffin's Articles!

by ghostofErikThompson on May 10, 2011 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Ok, John Henry

Nelson Cruz - 2011 MVP

by t ball on May 10, 2011 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Who fucking cares if its foolproof?

It’ll be far more consistent than what we have. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be better.

"I hope the image of my erect penis sears into your brain." by ab03 on Mar 24, 2011 9:13 PM CDT

by Brad on May 10, 2011 7:00 PM CDT up reply actions

And i don't think it would be

by bigsteve on May 10, 2011 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions

How would it not be better?

by AsDevilsRun on May 10, 2011 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't think the technology is quite there to do it perfectly at a reasonable price.

But we could definitely do it better than the umps can.

by Closure GT on May 10, 2011 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions

He's just so darn squeezable though.

by Closure GT on May 10, 2011 5:07 PM CDT reply actions

Several elite lefty starters on that list.

Wonder if there’s a reason they get squeezed more than most righties.

It's wonderful that the invisible magic elves are your special friends. Have fun playing with them.

by LSJ on May 10, 2011 6:28 PM CDT reply actions

moar movement from lhp

"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz

"Baseball's all that's real" - JB

by Ryin A on May 10, 2011 6:49 PM CDT up reply actions

lefties like to throw sliders and sinkers to righty hitters.

Also, it a bit of a generalization, but righty hitters usually like it high while lefty hitters like it low.

I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I am all out of bubble gum.

by Tex Pantego on May 10, 2011 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Some umps call it, some umps don't

I can’t remember the names, but I can think of 3 umps in particular that really really squeeze CJ on the low strike. Wash has to get on the umps that don’t call it. He can’t let CJ or the catcher be the one doing it.

I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I am all out of bubble gum.

by Tex Pantego on May 10, 2011 6:49 PM CDT reply actions