New Pitches & Triple-A Standouts with Lance Brozdowski
Apr 15, 2025
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Lance Brozdowski, a player development analyst for Marquee Sports, dives into the latest pitching innovations and standout players. He discusses Max Fried's transformed sinker and Dylan Cease's revamped changeup. Brozdowski also sheds light on the struggles of analyzing performances due to different baseballs in the minors. Plus, insights on Triple-A prospects like Max Meyer and Joe Boyle provide a glimpse into their long-term potential in the majors, emphasizing the challenges pitchers face transitioning to higher levels.
Max Fried's enhanced sinker demonstrates the significant impact of innovative pitch designs on a pitcher's command and effectiveness.
The discussion illustrates the challenges pitchers face adapting to differing baseballs between Triple-A and the major leagues, affecting performance analytics.
Continuous adaptation and collaborative coaching strategies are essential for organizations to sustain competitive advantages in player development and pitching success.
Deep dives
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New Pitching Techniques and Trends
The podcast discusses emerging pitching techniques and the impact of new pitch designs on players' performances, with specific examples of pitchers adapting their approaches. For instance, Max Fried has made significant adjustments to his sinker, optimizing its drop while maintaining velocity, which enhances his command and effectiveness against hitters. The conversation emphasizes that while some pitches may come and go, others, especially those with innovative designs, can profoundly influence a pitcher's success over time. This highlights the importance of players and coaching staff in recognizing and implementing these changes for improved outcomes on the field.
The Role of Organizational Strategy in Pitcher Development
The podcast explores how organizations leverage analytics and innovative strategies to develop pitchers, drawing attention to the importance of coaching philosophies on performance. The conversation highlights how teams like the Yankees and Mets modify players' pitch mixes and mechanics to better suit their profiles, resulting in improved command and effectiveness. By integrating data analytics and traditional coaching insights, teams can identify potential in pitchers who may not have fully realized their capabilities yet. This organizational approach illustrates the need for collaboration and adaptive strategies to maximize player potential.
Understanding the Impact of Major League Baseballs versus Minor League Balls
A significant topic discussed is the difference in performance between major league baseballs and minor league balls, which affects players’ pitch performance. The variation in seam effects and ball construction can lead to discrepancies in pitch movement, impacting how pitchers develop and adjust their strategies. As minor leaguers transition to the major leagues, the ability to adapt to the major league ball can be a determining factor in their success. This insight emphasizes the need for teams to account for these differences during player development and training regimens.
Evaluating Long-Term Edges in Pitching
The discussion surrounding the longevity of competitive edges in pitching reveals the evolving nature of the game and the need for continuous adaptation. While some edges may last a season, teams often recalibrate their strategies in the offseason based on the previous year's performance data. The podcast suggests that the identification and execution of new pitching techniques or pitch types may provide a short-term advantage, but sustained success depends on consistent player development and innovation within the organization. This highlights the dynamic challenges that pitching coaches and decision-makers face in maintaining a competitive advantage.
Lance Brozdowski joins Eno and DVR to discuss new pitches that should make a big long-term difference including changes to Max Fried's sinker and a larger change to Max Meyer's overall arsenal, before looking at a few Triple-A standouts and explaining why it's so difficult to analyze pitching with different baseballs in play until pitchers reach Triple-A.
Rundown
2:00 Max Fried's Adjusted Two-Seamer
7:05 Dylan Cease's New Changeup (and Sinker)
14:59 Projecting the Long-Term Outlook & Free Agent Contract for Cease
19:31 Max Meyer's Big Changes
27:35 Joe Boyle's Chances as a Long-Term Starter
32:52 The Value Added From New Pitches
38:22 Running Models with Missing Pieces
40:35 Intriguing Pitchers at Triple-A Right Now
52:09 Different Baseballs Prior to Triple-A
59:07 How Long Does an Edge Last at the Major League Level?
