Fan Post: Which teams got the best/worst strike zone in April?

[TwistedLogic]

 

http://i.gyazo.com/41c7576bd1e1561dc078269cc9472b79.png

 

Can't vouch for credibility or accuracy, so I'm not sure if it's of any use, but I've thought for a while that it's something worth looking deeper into, and it's nice to see someone try at it.

 

Doesn't surprise me to see the Jays at the bottom of the list.

[Maahfaace]

is this on the offensive or defensive side of the ball?

[reedjohnsonfan]

All of the starters except Buehrle have been not even close to the plate at times, not the umpire's fault. You're more likely the get the call if the pitch is actually close to the zone.

[Dick_Pole]

Well this list is mixed with big market teams and small market teams throughout, so there goes any conspiracy theory that umpires are supposedly biased to certain teams. Doubt the Pirates would be #1 and Yankees #17 if that were the case. The Jays being #28 are indicative of the team's starter's inconsistency this year.

[TwistedLogic]

is this on the offensive or defensive side of the ball?

 

This is from the pitcher's perspective. The teams at the top have had more pitches outside of the zone called for strikes. The teams at the bottom probably employ somebody like Aaron Sanchez.

 

The teams at the top also probably have better framers, though of course that isn't close to being the only reason, since teams like the Padres and the Jays are a lot lower on the list.

[BlueBirdBro]

Big surprise the ones with the most media hype and the most "trendy" teams get the bigger strike zones. With the exception of maybe the Royals, nobody gives a s*** about the bottom teams but SO much talk about those top teams doing well. I call shenanigans.

[Praxis]

A difference of 5.5% is pretty f***ing huge from the top to the Blue Jays. There have been several games this year where it's already been blatantly obvious that the Jays are simply not getting the calls.

[TwistedLogic]

A difference of 5.5% is pretty f***ing huge from the top to the Blue Jays. There have been several games this year where it's already been blatantly obvious that the Jays are simply not getting the calls.

 

Have to take into account that this simply counts all pitches outside of the zone, it doesn't take into account the proximity that those pitches have to the zone. A team with a ton of wild pitchers (like the Jays) will of course grade low on this list, because you simply can't frame a pitch that's a foot outside of the zone.

 

That said, I have been surprised at the number of close pitches, or pitches I thought that Martin had framed incredibly well, that have not gone for strikes for the Jays pitchers.

[Dick_Pole]

Have to take into account that this simply counts all pitches outside of the zone, it doesn't take into account the proximity that those pitches have to the zone. A team with a ton of wild pitchers (like the Jays) will of course grade low on this list, because you simply can't frame a pitch that's a foot outside of the zone.

 

That said, I have been surprised at the number of close pitches, or pitches I thought that Martin had framed incredibly well, that have not gone for strikes for the Jays pitchers.

 

So wait...then this chart tells us absolutely nothing about "umpire bias" or "framing". Better to take the next chart, pitches called balls inside the strike zone, because we at least know their location - inside the strike zone. In this chart the Jays are middle of the pack.

 

Pitches Called Balls Inside the Zone

 

The following table displays:

Pitches inside the zone called balls (IzB)

Total pitches called balls or strikes inside the zone (tIz)

Percentage (IzB / tIz = bPct)

3-0 counts are included

The list is from lowest percentage to highest. A lower percentage means fewer ball calls.

Rank Team IzB tIz bPct

1 Mets 26 466 5.58%

2 White Sox 24 361 6.65%

3 Astros 31 448 6.92%

4 Cardinals 25 347 7.20%

5 Mariners 33 435 7.59%

6 Giants 31 396 7.83%

7 Royals 34 427 7.96%

8 Brewers 28 344 8.14%

9 Diamondbacks 31 359 8.64%

10 Marlins 39 436 8.94%

11 Indians 33 365 9.04%

12 Yankees 44 481 9.15%

13 Cubs 31 336 9.23%

14 Pirates 34 362 9.39%

15 Blue Jays 44 442 9.95%

16 Rays 42 419 10.02%

17 Angels 36 358 10.06%

18 Athletics 39 382 10.21%

19 Rangers 48 422 11.37%

20 Twins 46 402 11.44%

21 Reds 43 374 11.50%

22 Rockies 43 370 11.62%

23 Tigers 59 490 12.04%

24 Braves 59 478 12.34%

25 Red Sox 51 407 12.53%

26 Orioles 50 389 12.85%

27 Dodgers 53 391 13.55%

28 Nationals 62 452 13.72%

29 Phillies 67 449 14.92%

30 Padres 66 420 15.71%

[Dick_Pole]

Big surprise the ones with the most media hype and the most "trendy" teams get the bigger strike zones. With the exception of maybe the Royals, nobody gives a s*** about the bottom teams but SO much talk about those top teams doing well. I call shenanigans.

 

Yup those Rays and their trendy empty stadium sure trumps 100+ years of Yankees and Red Sox brand value...

[Dick_Pole]

A difference of _____ is pretty f***ing huge from the top to the _____. There have been several games this year where it's already been blatantly obvious that the ____ are simply not getting the calls.

 

...said every home town baseball fan

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

I buy that.... Done! Lol