It’s not me, it’s Yu

[squally1313]

I'm trying to imagine gripping a baseball hard enough to get a blister on your pinky finger like 65 innings in to the season. As someone who pitched (poorly) through high school, I don't think my pinky touched the ball on anything that I throw.

 

Edit: On second look, definitely not his pinky. Please ignore.

[Andy]

Despite last night's extremely annoying loss, I am encouraged by Yu's performance.

 

He looked comfortable and confident out there. I'll take it.

Yu was great, and he should've had 6 shutout innings had we not apparently decided to have Russell play 20 feet from third base for that easy ground ball with 2 outs in the 6th.

[NewUserName]

Despite last night's extremely annoying loss, I am encouraged by Yu's performance.

 

He looked comfortable and confident out there. I'll take it.

Yu was great, and he should've had 6 shutout innings had we not apparently decided to have Russell play 20 feet from third base for that easy ground ball with 2 outs in the 6th.

the triple that followed was not exactly hit well either.

[Cubswin11]

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[Bertz]

Yu's last seven starts:

 

42.2 IP

35 H

12 BB

47 Ks

5 HRs

4.01 ERA

3.81 FIP

3.62 xFIP

 

And this span includes @Dodgers, @Rockies, the Phillies, and that Cincy game where the wind was HOWLING out (and Joe tried to get an 8th inning out of him like a dummy), so it's not some soft schedule mirage. We're another good start or two from me convincing myself that he's fixed and his bad start to the year was just rust or the weird way his ST ended or something.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Darvish pitches by xwoba 2019

 

Cutter: 252

Slider 291 (lowest sample of batted ball events)

Sinker 352

4 seam 453 (highest BBE)

 

Other 2 Pitches dont even merit mentioning based on samples

 

Can he just be a cutter/sinker/slider guy? Maybe throw the curve and eephus just enough to keep them guessing.

 

He was diagnosed as tipping his 4 seam in the WS. The whole league knows when it's coming, IMO. You don't allow a 700 SLG on a 95 average FB unless you are, IMO.

 

Thoughts on him scrapping the 4 seam?

[Bertz]

Yu since May 15th:

 

66.1 IP

17 BB (6.3%)

75 K (27.8%)

12 HR

4.34/4.24/3.56 ERA/FIP/xFIP

 

I don't want to be like "yay he's fixed he's just been juiced balled" because frankly he's a guy who's always allowed a few more dongs than you'd expect. That being said, conservatively I think Yu has worked his way back to league average and realistically a decent bit more.

[Deeg]

Did Yu at least get some appreciation from the fans today, I hope?

 

Apart from the HRs, he’s basically pitching like an ace since May 15. His peripherals are outstanding. Hopefully he could be in line for a killer 2nd half.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Interestingly he has his lowest meatball% in the statcast era by a full % point

 

No doubt affected significantly by the juiced ball

[Brian]

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[Bull]

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Yu can do it!

[Andy]

Did Yu at least get some appreciation from the fans today, I hope?

 

Apart from the HRs, he’s basically pitching like an ace since May 15. His peripherals are outstanding. Hopefully he could be in line for a killer 2nd half.

He was getting nice ovations after each of the last few innings. I wasn't listening closely but I'd bet he got some Yuuuu's too. Considering the circumstances he gets remarkably good support from home fans at the games.

[Deeg]

All of the geniuses who authoritatively declared the Darvish contract the worst ever have gone curiously silent.

[d_money]

All of the geniuses who authoritatively declared the Darvish contract the worst ever have gone curiously silent.

Maybe b/c there’s 4 1/2 years left on the contract.

[Brian]

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[Deeg]

.213 BAA now 3rd best among qualified NL starters. 8 swing-and-misses on the 4-seamer today.

[Hawk4Hall]

Yu’s The Man

[Cubswin11]

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[Deeg]

0 or 1 BB in 6 straight starts. Leads the Cubs in IP and (obviously) strikeouts. Among the league leaders in Ks and hard contact %. At this point it's really only HRs to LH that's keeping Yu from being a legit #1 starter. If he keeps using the splitter and gets those under control, he's the ace of the staff.

[Clem Fandango]

He has a 47:2 K:BB ratio since the ASB. That's a 0.51 BB/9. And with a 12.1 K/9 and 0.77 WHIP

 

He's Kershawing right now

[Cubswin11]

He has a 47:2 K:BB ratio since the ASB. That's a 0.51 BB/9. And with a 12.1 K/9 and 0.77 WHIP

 

He's Kershawing right now

It’s crazy but yet the like 5 flyballs a game he gives up 3 are HRs.

[squally1313]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/yu-darvish-makes-a-trade-off/

 

TLDR: Trading walks for home runs, but to the extent that it's still a worthwhile trade. Getting a bit lucky that most of his home runs lately have been solo shots. The change in approach is throwing a lot more cutters than sliders.

[Deeg]

Last 8 starts: 2 walks, 63 strikeouts.

[Derwood]

Last 8 starts: 2 walks, 63 strikeouts.

 

He's trading walks for homers

[Deeg]

Last 8 starts: 2 walks, 63 strikeouts.

 

He's trading walks for homers

 

Not today he wasn’t.