Jonathan Sanchez Pitch Value

Part 4/5 of our look at the individual pitch values of the Giants starting pitching.  

Methinks I  am a closeted strikeout fetishist because while I tend to underestimate Matt Cain's value (despite his solid K rate), I tend to inflate Jonathan Sanchez' value.   Jonathan Sanchez is, in reality, much closer to a league average pitcher than an above average one.  Of course, given the egregious price mediocre FA starting pitching commands, cheap league average starting pitching has significant value. On to the numbers.  NB: I chose not to include the season Sanchez spent in the bullpen.

Observations:

1. Jonathan Sanchez is proof that when you are left-handed and throw above 90 mph, you can survive as a major league starting pitcher with only 3 pitches (even when one is pretty terrible).  So remember parents,   tie your kid's right arm down when he is learning to throw a baseball.

2.  Jonathan Sanchez throws more fastballs than any other Giants starter.  In fact he throws many more fastballs than any other Giants starter (Matt Cain throws the 2nd most at 60%).   As befitting an average to slightly-above average fastball pitcher, Sanchez' fastball is slightly above average.

3. Sanchez has always struggled with his changeup.  This year his changeup has been "OMG, PLEASE DON'T THORW THAT AGAIN !1!" (in gameday thread speak) terrible.

4.  I included Sanchez fastball velocity mainly as an interesting fact.   Most pitchers experience a bump in velocity when they move to the bullpen and lose velocity when the move from the pen (which makes intuitive sense).   Sanchez patently ignores this tendency and throws the same velocity regardless of his role.

I hope you enjoyed this post!  If not, you only have one more to suffer through (or glance at and subsequently ignore)