**2nd Annual Official '09 SF GIants reg. season Thread**
- Thread starter DUTCH-F.E
- Start date
The San Francisco Giants have reinstated pitcher Joe Martinez from the disabled list and optioned reliever Waldis Joaquin to Triple-A Fresno. Martinez (1-0, 6.75 ERA) was to make his first major league start Wednesday against the Astros. The Giants also placed right-hander Henry Sosa on the 60-day DL with a torn shoulder muscle. Sosa was playing for Connecticut, but hadn't pitched since June 30.
6) The best pitch in baseball is a changeup, and you’ll never guess who throws it.
Tim Lincecum(notes) came up heralded for his blazing fastball and hammer curveball, and neither is close to his best pitch. Lincecum’s changeup has been 27.5 runs above average this year, the highest total for any pitch and almost double the second-best change, Brian Tallet’s(notes) 14-runs-above special. It’s not like Lincecum piles up the runs above average by throwing the changeup egregiously. His 5.62 runs above per 100 changeups thrown is also the best for that pitch.
Tim Lincecum(notes) came up heralded for his blazing fastball and hammer curveball, and neither is close to his best pitch. Lincecum’s changeup has been 27.5 runs above average this year, the highest total for any pitch and almost double the second-best change, Brian Tallet’s(notes) 14-runs-above special. It’s not like Lincecum piles up the runs above average by throwing the changeup egregiously. His 5.62 runs above per 100 changeups thrown is also the best for that pitch.
23) For the last six years, scouts have pegged Aaron Rowand(notes) totally wrong.
How only 7.5 percent of pitches to Rowand last year were curveballs – and how the number has averaged 8.7 percent the last six years – is inconceivable considering Rowand can’t hit one worth a damn. He’s been above average once in the last eight years, and finally pitchers are throwing him more curves than anyone else – 13.3 percent, highest in baseball – with which he’s doing nothing: 2.31 runs below average per 100.
24) Travis Ishikawa(notes) is like a left-handed, half-Japanese Pedro Cerrano.
Like his Giants teammate Rowand, he cannot hit a curve. His 6.85 runs below per 100 is worst in baseball among hitters with 200 plate appearances.
How only 7.5 percent of pitches to Rowand last year were curveballs – and how the number has averaged 8.7 percent the last six years – is inconceivable considering Rowand can’t hit one worth a damn. He’s been above average once in the last eight years, and finally pitchers are throwing him more curves than anyone else – 13.3 percent, highest in baseball – with which he’s doing nothing: 2.31 runs below average per 100.
24) Travis Ishikawa(notes) is like a left-handed, half-Japanese Pedro Cerrano.
Like his Giants teammate Rowand, he cannot hit a curve. His 6.85 runs below per 100 is worst in baseball among hitters with 200 plate appearances.
