Carlos Zambrano's walk rate

[inari]

I can't be the only one that's noticed this... 23 strikeouts, 3 walks. Does Carlos finally have full command of his pitchers? I don't think he's ever had a stretch like his. Three walks in four starts? Anyone wanna check up on that?

[Rusch33]

I think he's in for a Cy-Young (type) year.

 

If he continues this path, he's going to be extremely dominant down the stretch like he usually is.

[CubColtPacer]

I took a quick look over the game logs to see if I could find his best 4 game stretches in the walk department.

 

Unless I missed something, the last time Z had a 4 game stretch where he walked 5 or less combined guys during those 4 games was in 2002, just a couple weeks after he had broken into the starting rotation for good.

[Jon]

I took a quick look over the game logs to see if I could find his best 4 game stretches in the walk department.

 

Unless I missed something, the last time Z had a 4 game stretch where he walked 5 or less combined guys during those 4 games was in 2002, just a couple weeks after he had broken into the starting rotation for good.

It looks like you're right. The last time he did that was a 4-game stretch in late July and early August of 2002. However, one of those starts was cut short after Z left the game with an arm injury in the 4th inning. And that was only a few starts after he joined the rotation from the bullpen. He's never had a stretch in his entire big league career like this in regards to walks.

 

The last time Z had no walks in a game going into this season was April 28th of last year. He had no such games in 2006, 2 in 2005, 1 in 2004, and 1 in 2003 in the post-season. Amazing.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

in addition to his improved control, it seems all of his pitches have a lot more movement than in years past. or am I crazy?

[Jon]

And just for the heck of it:

 

K/BB ratio

 

2002 - 1.48

2003 - 1.79

2004 - 2.32

2005 - 2.35

2006 - 1.83

2007 - 1.75

2008 - 7.67

 

Of course, his OPSA is sitting at .929 right now, nearly .300 points higher than his career average, with a .395 OBPA. So far, he's given up a lot more hits than he normal does.

[CubInOK]

And just for the heck of it:

 

K/BB ratio

 

2002 - 1.48

2003 - 1.79

2004 - 2.32

2005 - 2.35

2006 - 1.83

2007 - 1.75

2008 - 7.67

 

Of course, his OPSA is sitting at .929 right now, nearly .300 points higher than his career average, with a .395 OBPA. So far, he's given up a lot more hits than he normal does.

 

Small sample size?? :wink:

[CyHawk_Cub]

in addition to his improved control, it seems all of his pitches have a lot more movement than in years past. or am I crazy?

 

That's what I've sen too... I figure it's due to Z being more under control in that his velocity seems down (I am NOT suggesting injury, btw)... It seems most of his fastballs are running up there in the 89-90mph range. I think in the past he tended to overthrow, losing movement & control in the process.

[cubweiser03]

The walks are reallllly encouraging. I know it was 'only' Spring Training but he had low a BB rate then too.

Z is 'saving' 2 pitches per inning this year compared to last. His efficiency/control is in essence allowing him to go 7 innings this year compared to 6 last year.

His BAA is higher than last year but his OBPA is .283 V .329. His OPSA is .700 V .699 last year.

Ill gladly take the higher BAA with the almost .50 reduction in OBPA.

[CoolHandLuke]

And just for the heck of it:

 

K/BB ratio

 

2002 - 1.48

2003 - 1.79

2004 - 2.32

2005 - 2.35

2006 - 1.83

2007 - 1.75

2008 - 7.67

 

Of course, his OPSA is sitting at .929 right now, nearly .300 points higher than his career average, with a .395 OBPA. So far, he's given up a lot more hits than he normal does.

 

Where are you getting your numbers? Per ESPN, I see: .283/.417 and an OPSA of .700

[biittner77]

Speaking of walks, how did Hart manage to walk C-Patt last night?

[Jon]

And just for the heck of it:

 

K/BB ratio

 

2002 - 1.48

2003 - 1.79

2004 - 2.32

2005 - 2.35

2006 - 1.83

2007 - 1.75

2008 - 7.67

 

Of course, his OPSA is sitting at .929 right now, nearly .300 points higher than his career average, with a .395 OBPA. So far, he's given up a lot more hits than he normal does.

 

Where are you getting your numbers? Per ESPN, I see: .283/.417 and an OPSA of .700

After I posted that this morning, I noticed that ESPN's gamelog didn't include last night. I wasn't sure if the stats were updated, as well.

[CoolHandLuke]

And just for the heck of it:

 

K/BB ratio

 

2002 - 1.48

2003 - 1.79

2004 - 2.32

2005 - 2.35

2006 - 1.83

2007 - 1.75

2008 - 7.67

 

Of course, his OPSA is sitting at .929 right now, nearly .300 points higher than his career average, with a .395 OBPA. So far, he's given up a lot more hits than he normal does.

 

Where are you getting your numbers? Per ESPN, I see: .283/.417 and an OPSA of .700

After I posted that this morning, I noticed that ESPN's gamelog didn't include last night. I wasn't sure if the stats were updated, as well.

 

Ahh, after I posted that, thats what I kind of thought.

[Ender]

I have seen rumors in a couple places that suggest Zambrano has a TUE which could be in place for ADHD. If this is true it would explain a lot including why he seems so relaxed this season in interviews and why he hasn't freaked out on the mound yet.

[inari]

I have seen rumors in a couple places that suggest Zambrano has a TUE which could be in place for ADHD. If this is true it would explain a lot including why he seems so relaxed this season in interviews and why he hasn't freaked out on the mound yet.

 

Any link?

[Jon]

Well, not surprisingly, his great walk rate through his first four games didn't last. Over his last four games, he's had 15 Ks to 11 BBs. Oh, and 2 runs.

[Keener98]

Well, not surprisingly, his great walk rate through his first four games didn't last. Over his last four games, he's had 15 Ks to 11 BBs. Oh, and 2 runs.

 

 

Bum, cut him.

[nilodnayr]

And just for the heck of it:

 

K/BB ratio

 

2002 - 1.48

2003 - 1.79

2004 - 2.32

2005 - 2.35

2006 - 1.83

2007 - 1.75

2008 - 7.67

 

Of course, his OPSA is sitting at .929 right now, nearly .300 points higher than his career average, with a .395 OBPA. So far, he's given up a lot more hits than he normal does.

 

Heres the really interesting thing (and bad news)...hes not really throwing any less balls than he has in his career.

 

Balls/Total Pitch

 

2002 - 41.2

2003 - 39.0

2004 - 37.9

2005 - 37.7

2006 - 40.1

2007 - 38.7

2008 - 37.1 (including tonight)

 

Yet the results don't show it in BB/9

2002 - 5.23

2003 - 3.95

2004 - 3.48

2005 - 3.47

2006 - 4.84

2007 - 4.20

2008 - 2.29 (including tonight)

[chuckywang]

I wouldn't be concerned with the number of balls pitchers throw. They use it as a weapon to throw hitters off balance. My guess is that Zambrano has gotten a lot of hitters out on one or two pitches so that his overall pitch count is low, and hence balls take up a greater percentage of them.

[nilodnayr]

I wouldn't be concerned with the number of balls pitchers throw. They use it as a weapon to throw hitters off balance. My guess is that Zambrano has gotten a lot of hitters out on one or two pitches so that his overall pitch count is low, and hence balls take up a greater percentage of them.

 

Guessing is for suckers!!!!

 

Pitches/PA

 

2002 - 3.97

2003 - 3.75

2004 - 3.91

2005 - 3.92

2006 - 3.95

2007 - 3.99

2008 - 3.90 (including tonight)

 

Nope, Pitches/PA is right on with his career average of 3.91.