Mike Pelfrey, ground ball virtuoso?
The common misconception about Mike Pelfrey is that he is an extreme ground ball pitcher. He is not. Statistically speaking, Pelfrey has proven merely average at inducing ground balls throughout his career, submitting a Major League ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio of 1.05. The 1.09 ratio he has posted so far in 2009, in fact, is the highest mark of his big league career. And his lifetime rate does not compare favorably to that of other notable MLB sinkerballers, including Tim Hudson (1.51), Derek Lowe (1.75) and Brandon Webb (1.89).
Up until this year, though, What Pelfrey did boast was a knack for inducing ground balls when he needed them most -- an ability that allowed him to rack up 29 double plays last season.
This year, he has just 15.
With that in mind, after Wednesday's game I asked him about his counterpart, Hudson, who was seemingly able to induce double plays at will. Pelfrey's answer -- "I used to be able to do that" -- surprised me.
So I asked Pelfrey what's been different between this year and last year, when most of the National League bowed down to his sinker. Here's what he had to say:
"I just think that the command of the ball hasn't been this good this year as it has been in the past. Usually, I can go out there and feel like I can pound that sinker and get ground ball after ground ball after ground ball. If you're throwing the ball at the thighs, you're not going to get too many ground balls."
What's clear is that this has been something of a lost season for Pelfrey, who has seen a pause in his development at a critical time in his career. Could his lack of command have something to do with his hefty innings total from last year? Perhaps. Could his problems be mental? Also a possibility. Either way, next season has become the critical one for Pelfrey. Next year will determine whether Pelfrey can rediscover his 2008 form, or whether he will remain what he is right now -- merely average.
--Anthony DiComo
Up until this year, though, What Pelfrey did boast was a knack for inducing ground balls when he needed them most -- an ability that allowed him to rack up 29 double plays last season.
This year, he has just 15.
With that in mind, after Wednesday's game I asked him about his counterpart, Hudson, who was seemingly able to induce double plays at will. Pelfrey's answer -- "I used to be able to do that" -- surprised me.
So I asked Pelfrey what's been different between this year and last year, when most of the National League bowed down to his sinker. Here's what he had to say:
"I just think that the command of the ball hasn't been this good this year as it has been in the past. Usually, I can go out there and feel like I can pound that sinker and get ground ball after ground ball after ground ball. If you're throwing the ball at the thighs, you're not going to get too many ground balls."
What's clear is that this has been something of a lost season for Pelfrey, who has seen a pause in his development at a critical time in his career. Could his lack of command have something to do with his hefty innings total from last year? Perhaps. Could his problems be mental? Also a possibility. Either way, next season has become the critical one for Pelfrey. Next year will determine whether Pelfrey can rediscover his 2008 form, or whether he will remain what he is right now -- merely average.
--Anthony DiComo
He also doesn't have Jose Reyes at shortstop this season...with the way that both Wright and Murphy muffed semi-routine grounders yesterday in the early innings of Pelfrey's starts...Both Murphy and Wright may have some solid moments in the field, but there are also a lot of times that Wright looks like a 1st baseman or corner OFer playing out of position at 3rd, and everyone knows that Murphy is trying to adjust to first base after not seeing time there in awhile...Castillo is somewhat lacking in lateral range for a NL second baseman, and there has been a revolving door of backup/minors utility infielders holding down short this season...combine that with CitiField's spacious outfield & high walls...
I think all of those factors contribute to Pelfrey's lack of double plays and a little more reliance of flyballs this season than last season with Wright coming off of a gold glove season, a solid Jose Reyes covering a lot of ground at short, Argenis Reyes playing a spectacular 2nd base while Castillo was on the DL, and Delgado being his usual vacuum cleaner on bad throws from around the infield (saving Wright and Reyes a lot of errors)...
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