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Does Atlanta Braves Pitching Miss Out on Speed?

By Alan Carpenter

Mar 12, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 12, 2016; Clearwater, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Clearwater, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Just How Fast is a 100 mph Fastball?  Or Any Fastball?

I have pondered this question for a while:  what kind of difference does pitch speed really make when a batter is trying to hit a thrown baseball?

As the Mets assemble their rotation of 95-98 mph, how much of an advantage does this give them vs. “average” staffs that throw in the 92-93 mph range?  What does that do to the batter when speeds change dramatically?

Measuring the Field

The first question is this:  how far does a pitch travel? 

The short answer to this would be the standard ‘sixty feet, six inches’.  Except that this isn’t accurate.  The photos included here show the problem:  pitchers are well out in front of the pitching plate when they actually deliver the baseball.  This measurement – though it does change from pitcher to pitcher – is important, for the release point is the first chance a batter gets to see the baseball and start making adjustments.  It’s also the point of highest velocity.

Mar 10, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; 6’2″ Astros starting pitcher Collin McHugh (31) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; 6’2″ Astros starting pitcher Collin McHugh (31) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

Using these photos (and others) as a guide, I’ve made a scale representation of the distances involved.  In short, it appears that the release point for pitchers is conveniently over the end of their front foot when driving toward the plate.  On average, that looks to be approximately 51’9″ from the front of home plate.  This varies… perhaps up to 9 inches either direction depending on the player… but that won’t make a huge change to the results that we’ll ultimately see, as my curiosity today is the differences between slower and faster pitches.

TomahawkTake.com graphic.
TomahawkTake.com graphic /

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