Pitch Info Data on FanGraphs!
FanGraphs now has Pitch Info data available throughout the site. For those unfamiliar with Pitch Info data, it is best known as the pitch-type data which powers much of BrooksBaseball.net.
Pitch Info tabs and tables have replaced all PITCHf/x tabs and tables by default. This includes the leaderboards, player pages, game logs, heat maps, and pitch-type splits. All the previous PITCHf/x data is now hidden by default, but you can un-hide it by going to your profile and checking the “Show PITCHf/x Stats?” checkbox. oth PITCHf/x and Pitch Info data will be continue to be updated on a nightly basis. We expect Pitch Info data from the previous night to be loaded by around 10:30 AM ET.
If you have custom dashboards, leaderboards, or links set up to PITCHf/x data, this change will not impact any of that. All PITCHf/x links and PITCHf/x fields in custom leaderboards will continue to work as they always have. You can even combine PITCHf/x and Pitch Info data in the same custom leaderboard.
One navigation change is that the pitch-type split data has been moved under the splits tab.
And here’s some additional information about the adjustments that Pitch Info makes:
“The Pitch Classifications are manually reviewed by Pitch Info using several parameters of each pitch’s trajectory and double-checked against several other sources, such as video evidence (e.g., pitcher grip and catcher signs) and direct communication with on-field personnel (e.g., pitching coaches, catchers, and the pitchers themselves).”
Because the PITCHf/x dataset provides the details of each pitch’s trajectory, we can slightly alter the default values to align better with reality than what is commonly reported. For example, we slightly shift our reported values back to a release distance of 55′ – which more closely reflects the actual release distance of most pitchers – so that release points are more tightly clustered and velocities are slightly increased. We also provide options to visualize pitch movement with gravity added back into the equation or with the effects of air drag removed.
David Appelman is the creator of FanGraphs.
I’m curious if new site layout has been a success statistically? Has it driven engagement?
All but the “top stories” are much harder to find. Content certainly disappears more quickly. IMO it is the mobile-first mistake of less content to simplify the layout.
I love when brooks baseball says a pitcher throws 6 different pitches. This data rarely takes into account a pitcher manipulating the speed or break of one pitch
where are the velo charts?
The velocity charts will be integrated into the normal graphing section soon.
But that’s what I came here for today? Why did this have to go live today if it meant removing functionality without immediately replacing it?
That is the recipe for a bad update in a nutshell! Everything should be rolled out in a test environment and not launched until it is ready…
The information is more spread out now? If so, then that sounds worse.
“Well this is joyous news.” -Dr. Funke
Where did the average velocity graphs per pitch type go? For either stat type? The one that shows the range of velocity for each game?
Seriously, this one is killing me. One of my favorite things.
If I understand correctly, this would eliminate the need take into account the ~1.5mph “re-calibration” beginning this year that we used to have to mentally adjust for correct?
The information on break and realease points for seasons and games that used to be on the pitch/fx rider in a pitcher’s profile is gone now even when checking the pitch/fx box in my own profile
Also, league average heat maps have repeatedly shown me an error screen when sorting by count or pitch type.
And could you please add to the heatmaps a “per swing” denominator?
I have seen analysis the main page multiple times where there was incorrect interpretation of the data. You would think if you look at the ISO heat map of a hitter e.g. that it would show ISO (SLG-AVG)/Swing
But what it does is show (SLG-AVG)/Pitch in that Zone swung at or not.
The authors wrote “per swing” in their respective analysis which can make you arrive a totally false conclusions.
So you have to mentally combine the swing% heatmap with the ISO heatmap which doesn’t need to be this way.
The league average heat maps were fixed with this update. If they’re still not working let me know, but they seem ok to me.
We will look at per swing! Need to have discussion about this.
Very awesome.
But FYI,
There is no O-Swing % for pitchers in the Pitch Info- Plate Discipline tab. Instead Z-Swing % is listed twice.
Oops. I will fix this.
I would really appreciate it if you brought back the player’s Pitchf/x page that was accessible from the player page. This single page contained a lot of information that is otherwise scattered across the site or not available. It enabled one to easily discern if a pitcher’s pitch mix, pitch movement, pitch velocity, pitch location (in/out of zone) and pitch effectiveness had changed across multiple seasons.
Seconded. I was trying to look at the effectiveness of Steven Matz’s fastball across seasons as his velocity has diminished today and was unable to do so. Very disappointed. Not sure why this had to be taken away.
Are velocity charts still there somewhere?
Quick update on the Velocity / Pitch Graphs. They are all back now with Pitch Info Data (or optionally PITCHf/x data if you choose to unhide it like everything else).
My mistake for removing them in the first place. The usage on those charts seemed extremely low, but it seems like they were really important to people, so they are now back.
They are now under the tab “Pitch Graphs”, which has been renamed to that because it’s not really PITCHf/x anymore. Expect the velocity charts to eventually move to the more robust graphing tool at some point, but they will remain as is until that is done. Hopefully the other charts can receive an upgrade at some point too.
The pitcher splits will remain moved to the splits tab, but everything that was available is now available again.