Z's Pitch Speed

[Wilson A2000]

Seemed a little low on the gun last night. Barely topped 90 except for a few 4 seamers. But he only allowed 1 run and I didn't think he had his good stuff. Any reason for the low velocity?

[snoodmonger]

could've been a slow gun. where was lowe averaging?

[badger1679666666]

Z Throws more effectively when he's throwing 92-93 with his fastball. Much more movement. When he gets amped up and throws 97 the ball goes pretty straight - something he wants to avoid.

[jyoung55]

I saw a couple in the 94 range. But I also saw a lot more in the mid-80s than usual. Probably trying to rein in the control after looking at his past 3 outings. Just too bad that Lowe was just on fire last night.

[Wilson A2000]

Z Throws more effectively when he's throwing 92-93 with his fastball. Much more movement. When he gets amped up and throws 97 the ball goes pretty straight - something he wants to avoid.

 

He wasn't even close to 92-93 with his two-seamer. He wasn throwing anywhere from the mid 80's to 90. Topped 90 with his four-seamer a few times. Didn't throw his slider much at all. But I would rather have Z go 6 innings and give up one run throwing at that speed that throwing 95 and getting taged. With this start is it about impossible for Z to win Cy Young? You gotta have wins to ge the Cy Young right?

[jyoung55]

Z Throws more effectively when he's throwing 92-93 with his fastball. Much more movement. When he gets amped up and throws 97 the ball goes pretty straight - something he wants to avoid.

 

He wasn't even close to 92-93 with his two-seamer. He wasn throwing anywhere from the mid 80's to 90. Topped 90 with his four-seamer a few times. Didn't throw his slider much at all. But I would rather have Z go 6 innings and give up one run throwing at that speed that throwing 95 and getting taged. With this start is it about impossible for Z to win Cy Young? You gotta have wins to ge the Cy Young right?

 

It is April 19th and you are trying to give out the Cy Young already??? You do know the season goes all the way through September right?

 

Who cares about the stupid award anyways, I want to worry about seeing the White Flag.

[jjgman21]

the gun was definitely slow. I don't recall seeing any pitch the entire game above 90 or 91. Howry threw a couple bb's, one of which Kent was late on and smacked to rightfield. that pitch was clocked at 89. Jeff Kent is generally not late on 89 mph fastballs.

 

however, I agree that Z reigned it in a little last night.

[TheDude]

Zambrano hasn't had his best stuff yet this season. But it is encouraging that a guy who is struggling to find himself still has hitters at .226 BAA and a K per inning.

 

Zambrano's bad starts are many other pitchers' good or average starts.

[badgercub]

Those guns aren't the most accurate, anywhere for +/- 5mph I believe.

[Wilson A2000]

Z Throws more effectively when he's throwing 92-93 with his fastball. Much more movement. When he gets amped up and throws 97 the ball goes pretty straight - something he wants to avoid.

 

He wasn't even close to 92-93 with his two-seamer. He wasn throwing anywhere from the mid 80's to 90. Topped 90 with his four-seamer a few times. Didn't throw his slider much at all. But I would rather have Z go 6 innings and give up one run throwing at that speed that throwing 95 and getting taged. With this start is it about impossible for Z to win Cy Young? You gotta have wins to ge the Cy Young right?

 

It is April 19th and you are trying to give out the Cy Young already??? You do know the season goes all the way through September right?

 

Who cares about the stupid award anyways, I want to worry about seeing the White Flag.

 

A good or bad year for Z is most likely a good or bad year for the Cubs

[Bull]

Z Throws more effectively when he's throwing 92-93 with his fastball. Much more movement. When he gets amped up and throws 97 the ball goes pretty straight - something he wants to avoid.

 

He wasn't even close to 92-93 with his two-seamer. He wasn throwing anywhere from the mid 80's to 90. Topped 90 with his four-seamer a few times. Didn't throw his slider much at all. But I would rather have Z go 6 innings and give up one run throwing at that speed that throwing 95 and getting taged. With this start is it about impossible for Z to win Cy Young? You gotta have wins to ge the Cy Young right?

 

It is April 19th and you are trying to give out the Cy Young already??? You do know the season goes all the way through September right?

 

Who cares about the stupid award anyways, I want to worry about seeing the White Flag.

 

A good or bad year for Z is most likely a good or bad year for the Cubs

Z is a key cog, but there are 24 other men on the team.

[Jehrico]

Z's poor start has resulted in an ERA of 3.97. I could only hope to get that out of Rusch or Williams, and would be happy to see Marshall put up anything sub 4.00. But, I would have hoped for better out of our Ace. That said, I'm not too worried about a slow start for him. April was he second worst month last year and in '04, and the month's not over yet.

[badger1679666666]

Z Throws more effectively when he's throwing 92-93 with his fastball. Much more movement. When he gets amped up and throws 97 the ball goes pretty straight - something he wants to avoid.

 

He wasn't even close to 92-93 with his two-seamer. He wasn throwing anywhere from the mid 80's to 90. Topped 90 with his four-seamer a few times. Didn't throw his slider much at all. But I would rather have Z go 6 innings and give up one run throwing at that speed that throwing 95 and getting taged. With this start is it about impossible for Z to win Cy Young? You gotta have wins to ge the Cy Young right?

 

It is April 19th and you are trying to give out the Cy Young already??? You do know the season goes all the way through September right?

 

Who cares about the stupid award anyways, I want to worry about seeing the White Flag.

 

A good or bad year for Z is most likely a good or bad year for the Cubs

 

True, but not having a cy young does not mean Z couldn't end up with a great year, let alone a good year.

[soccer10k]

Z's poor start has resulted in an ERA of 3.97. I could only hope to get that out of Rusch or Williams, and would be happy to see Marshall put up anything sub 4.00. But, I would have hoped for better out of our Ace. That said, I'm not too worried about a slow start for him. April was he second worst month last year and in '04, and the month's not over yet.

 

I don't think he improved at all last night. Many people have said he didn't pitch well in the first four games. What's the difference between his lines from last night and from the St. Louis start?

 

STL: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO, 111 PIT

LAD: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 3 SO, 112 PIT

 

If he wasn't pitching well before, how was last night any different? I know he didn't pitch well in both starts against Cincinnati but he still isn't right. I don't care about the gun speed. His problem is still walks. He's walked 17 in just 4 starts while only striking out 21. He's only given up 19 hits because the opposing team is too busy getting walked to swing at the pitches. His WHIP is 1.59 right now. He has to get his walks down to be an effective pitcher and until he does that consistently, he isn't pitching well. I'm not saying he can't walk anybody, but only walk one or two a game instead of 4 or 5.

[Soul]

*shrugs*

 

Looked better last night to me. He barely had a spring training with the stupid "World Baseball Classic." Everyone loved the WBC, now they're complaining because Z wasn't ready for the season? Poppy [expletive].

 

Can't have it both ways folks. If you want to sit your players on a bench while they watch countrymen play meaningless games for a made-up "championship" instead of getting ready for the season, then don't complain when your ace isn't ready for prime time.

 

Z will get it together. We just have to wait for May when his Spring Training routine is finished, that's all.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Lowe was topping out at 90 - regularly 86-88. Z topped out at 92 and was regularly 87-90. Howry topped out at 93. That was based on the scoreboard gun.

 

I was concerned with Z's FB speed, but I know those scoreboard guns are notorious for being off.

[YearofDaCubs]

I remember Z used to throw his tailing fastball in the 95mph range in 2004. Since then, it seems like he did lose some velocity or that he changed his approach and isn't throwing as hard.