FanGraphs. Will Smith’s repertoire includes two- and four-seam fastballs, a slider, a curveball, and a changeup. How frequently he used each of those pitches changed markedly from 2012 to 2013. Last season he threw 14% more two-seamers and 15.9% fewer four-seamers. He also threw 18.3% more sliders and 5% fewer curveballs. His changeup became mostly an afterthought.
The results were striking. I asked Smith about pitch usage prior to Friday’s game at Fenway Park. His comments about last season were similar. Knowing he would have faced a higher percentage of same-sided hitters as a reliever than he did as a starter, I asked if lefty-lefty match-ups were a big part of it. Following our conversation, I went back to his stat page. A follow-up seemed in order. According to PITCHf/x, Smith threw an equal number of two- and four-seamers on Friday, nine of each. Last year he utilized his slider nearly 30 percent of the time. Scouting reports or feel? “It was more feel last year,” admitted Smith. J.A. Homerun Tracker. Dallas Cowboys Official Site. The Texas Rangers Official Site. Sporting News. Yardbarker.