One of the few games which I really was excited to watch beforehand because I will get to see the pitch f/x of the night. Scott Kazmir made his return from the DL, and threw only five innings due to being on a pretty strict pitch count after throwing 92 pitches. A good start overall, fell into typical fashion with many pitches early yet only two runs allowed in damage. Only four hits allowed, a double to Uggla and a solo homer to Brett Carroll. That is on top of only one walk allowed with five strikeouts he got, four of them swinging strikeouts.
The main point to note tonight is that his fastball velocity was up tonight at an average of 91.2 mph ranging from 88.2 to 93.1 mph. He was sitting most of the night on the 91-92 mph fastball tick. This may also be down a tick or two as the Tropicana pitch f/x gun may be slow although he does seem to fluctuate at times. Having that fastball velocity will really do some good for Kazmir since has gone down in the past few seasons.
His control was on tonight with his command of the fastball improving, but felt a few too many over the plate, including the home run ball. What made his fastball better was his slider returning as an “off speed” fastball (more on that later). Kazmir threw a total of 61 fastballs, 18 sliders, and a good 13 change ups. He had really positive strike percentages for his two off speed pitches at 62% for the change and 78% for the slider. A lot of foul balls as usual from Kazmir at 21 out of 61 strikes. That shouldn’t happen from a pitcher that can get some serious movement on his pitches.
A fastball will vary in the angle of backspin it gets with a slider usually getting top spin or some side spin. That is not the case for Scott Kazmir’s slider.
His slider is very similar to David Price’s, except Kazmir gets a little move average vertical movement and Price has a lower angle of backspin than Kazmir.
Not sure what to make of all of this slider being flat and all since there is not much research behind it. This could a normal movement that happens to some pitchers, or lefties that throw hard. I will have to ask an expert on this.
But a good start overall for Kazmir after coming off the DL. The telecast said the mechanical adjustments are very minute to the eye, but Maddon said that Kazmir has a slightly shorter stride to home plate and spins off his front leg (right leg) less to third base. I do remember seeing Kaz spin a lot in one of his earlier starts at the Trop this season. Finishing a follow through is important for a pitcher especially for Kaz because he is working on commanding pitches. A good followthrough to the plate lets a pitcher do that.
