Mat Latos article on Fangraphs

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http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index...e-and-command/

Why three straight fastballs? I’m not sure, but what’s also pretty clear is that Latos has altered his repertoire since coming over to Cincinnati. In his brief career, he has typically used his slider about 27% of the time. It has historically been his best pitch at just over a run above average per 100 pitches in both 2010 and 2011 and generating a whiff rate at about 24%. But he’s dropped his usage of the slider by about 10% in 2012, with increased reliance on his change:

[Brutus]

There may be a lot of truth to what Barr is saying, but I think it's premature to say it's "pretty clear" he's altered his repertoire based on throwing 10% fewer sliders. I don't see that being clear since Latos has only thrown 292 total pitches thus far this season.

[MikeThierry]

His average fastball speed has also decreased from the past couple of years as well.

[Homer Bailey]

His average fastball speed has also decreased from the past couple of years as well.

He's averaging 93 MPH this year. He's averaged 93.4 MPH for his career. So, no, not really.

[MikeThierry]

He's averaging 93 MPH this year. He's averaged 93.4 MPH for his career. So, no, not really.

Every single year, his velocity has been down from the year before. It may have averaged 93.4 in his career but that is down from previous years when he was averaging a faster fast ball. I think last year or the year before last, for example, he averaged 94 mph on his fast ball. 93 MPH is still good but I think there are some warning signs there. He simply does not have the electric fast ball as he had earlier in his career.

[Brutus]

Every single year, his velocity has been down from the year before. It may have averaged 93.4 in his career but that is down from previous years when he was averaging a faster fast ball. I think last year or the year before last, for example, he averaged 94 mph on his fast ball. 93 MPH is still good but I think there are some warning signs there. He simply does not have the electric fast ball as he had earlier in his career.

He only pitched 50 innings his first season. So the drop in velocity from year one to year two may have been a sample issue or it may have been as simple as pitching an entire year's workload. The second year could be any number of things. But losing 1 MPH in a year isn't really that big of a red flag. Some pitchers intentionally use a different grip which alone explains the velocity.

You're really, really grasping at straws.

[Homer Bailey]

Every single year, his velocity has been down from the year before. It may have averaged 93.4 in his career but that is down from previous years when he was averaging a faster fast ball. I think last year or the year before last, for example, he averaged 94 mph on his fast ball. 93 MPH is still good but I think there are some warning signs there. He simply does not have the electric fast ball as he had earlier in his career.

You're reaching. The fastest his fastball has ever been over a full season is 93.7 MPH. The lowest it has ever been over a full season is 92.8 MPH. Less than a 1 MPH variance.

You want to see pitchers with velocity drops, see Jimenez, Santana, and (gradually) Lincecum. There is basically zero correlation to Latos' fastball speed.

[WVRedsFan]

I think it's obvious that he done good tonight, regardless. Spoken in true West Virginian among the common people .

[Homer Bailey]

I think it's obvious that he done good tonight, regardless. Spoken in true West Virginian among the common people .

Me thinks Latos is going to be juuuust fine.

[jojo]

This is actually one of my biggest pet peeves with fangraphs. It's a great sight because it's saber-oriented and provides a wealth of statistical information easily at the fingertips but in an effort to provide daily content so many of the articles suffer from relying upon inappropriately small sample sizes.

[CySeymour]

My one question about the averaging of fastball velocity is that they have to be taken with different guns in different parks, so I would think that in itself would effect the velocity stats.

[dougdirt]

My one question about the averaging of fastball velocity is that they have to be taken with different guns in different parks, so I would think that in itself would effect the velocity stats.

The pitch f/x system does not use a radar gun for velocity.

[_Sir_Charles_]

what in the world can an image like that teach ANYBODY about a pitcher?

I know that more info is usually better, but that much info just becomes noise.

[dougdirt]

what in the world can an image like that teach ANYBODY about a pitcher?

I know that more info is usually better, but that much info just becomes noise.

That one, next to nothing other than don't expect a fastball down and in if you are a lefty or down and away if you are a righty.

[mdccclxix]

I checked out fangraphs page for this info and before posting a new thread found this one. So yeah, what's up with less sliders eh? Same thing happened with Cordero after he got here and before long his 10k/9 was like 6k/9. Are they just protecting his high priced arm? Does it have to do with GABP? Price's general philosophy? His slider was crucial to his dominance, it would appear. His contact rates have gone up, walk rate up, k rate down. For all intents and purposes he's Homer Bailey, not Mat Latos.