Comments on: Guest Harry Pavlidis examines Bard’s breaking ball

By: The Dirty Water Filter 11/14 - Return of the Links

The Dirty Water Filter 11/14 - Return of the Links — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:00:14 +0000

[...] Guest Harry Pavlidis examines Bard’s breaking ball - Fire Brand of the American League [...]

By: Links: Analysis of Bard, Harden « Red Sox Talk

Links: Analysis of Bard, Harden « Red Sox Talk — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:24:57 +0000

[...] Pavlidis breaks down Daniel Bard’s slider. Very in-depth and insightful analysis using PITCHf/x data. He argues that Bard should give up the [...]

By: Gerry

Gerry — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:41:24 +0000

Great stuff, no pun intended. For a guy from AA (like Masterson), Bard looks incredible long term. If he pulls it all together (speed and breaking stuff) are we talking Mariano with 4 pitches? Just don't mess him up yet by putting him into that slot. Pap will revive his breaking stuff. He's a smart pitcher, with smart coaches. What happens if Bard heads the package for AGon? I can't even imagine how good he would be at Petco (for that matter, ditto for Buchholz, Bowden, MDC, Richardson.)

By: _Marcos_

_Marcos_ — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:49:14 +0000

At least Bard throws braking ball. Papelbon thinks his fastball is untouchable.

By: M.A.G.

M.A.G. — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:28:43 +0000

What a great article! Thank you, Mr. Pavlidis. I hope to read more quality analysis like this of another of our arms in the future.

This is one of the reasons why this is the best Red Sox page in the web.

By: harrypav

harrypav — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:50:42 +0000

The run values are based on counts. The run expectancies vary from 0-0 to 0-1 to 1-1 etc. etc.

By: evanbrunell

evanbrunell — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:39:01 +0000

I understand your argument, but it's irrelevant here. "Good" and "bad" sliders in this instance are based on the break, amongst other things. We aren't trying to find performance based on counts. We want to find performance based on Bard's two sliders: his old version and his developing version. Throwing his old version on a 2-0 count is irrelevant. It's old — "bad."

By: Wooden U. Lykteneau

Wooden U. Lykteneau — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:45:41 +0000

Once. Just once, I'd like to see an analysis like this with regards to the count, let alone game situation or –God forbid–location. An 85mph slider that breaks just 2" may not be a "good" pitch, but it can be if it's thrown on 2-0 count with the batter sitting dead-red.