[新聞] Scout's take: Wang vs. Sabathia

[beast1969 (beast)]

※ [本文轉錄自 CMWang 看板]

作者: beast1969 (beast) 站內: CMWang
標題: [外電] Scout's take: Wang vs. Sabathia
時間: Wed Oct  3 16:32:07 2007

http://0rz.tw/9235c

FROM:USA TODAY

Here's a look at the pitching matchup in Game 1 of the American League
Division Series between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians:
Chien-Ming Wang, RHP, New York Yankees

Wang is now the Yankees' ace – something few imagined when he came over from
Taiwan. He finished the 2007 regular season with a 19-7 record, compared to
19-6 in 2006 when he finished second in the AL Cy Young voting. All of Wang's
other 2007 statistics (ERA, WHIP, home runs, etc.) are virtually the same as
in 2006, except for his strikeout/inning rate. That rate improved a dramatic
50% —- an increase that bodes well for the 27-year-old's continued
development.

Wang consistently goes deep into games, having pitched at least six innings
in 27 of his 30 starts. This enables the Yankees to avoid using their
inconsistent middle relief and get directly to Joba Chamberlain and Mariano
Rivera. Because the Yankees' offense is so dominant, Wang and other starters
can focus on keeping their team in the game as opposed to dominating the
opponent's offense.

Wang grades out at a 70 on the scouting 20-80 scale, which evaluates raw
pitching tools. By comparison, Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins grades
out at 75. Based on his raw pitching tools and actual results, we categorize
Wang as "Good" on a marginal/key role/average/good/premium/elite scale.

Strengths

Wang has one of the best power sinking fastballs in the game. He is young and
durable and he handles the big game pressure very well. He goes deep into
games, which allows the Yankees' offense to take over.

Weaknesses

He is not a strikeout type pitcher, and successful post-season pitchers tend
to be strikeout pitchers. He will use predictable pitch sequences, giving
opponents the opportunity to guess pitches. His breaking slider is
inconsistent.

Pitches

FASTBALL (90-94 mph)

Movement: May have the best movement of any fastball in the major leagues —
 when it's right. His best pitch without question.

Command: He will command this pitch down in the zone, and he will use it to
both sides of the plate. He achieves very good movement both inside and out
of the strike zone.

Plan: He gets strike one with his fastball and he does it on the first pitch.
He usually starts hitters away with his fastball

SLIDER (81-85 mph)

Movement: He throws a hard slider that has shown improvement with depth and
spin. It currently has average break but shows signs of quick late break.

Command: Wang commands this pitch best to his glove-side. Once in a while
he'll attempt a backdoor slider to a left-handed hitter. Most misses with
this pitch are down and away from right-handed hitters.

Plan: Wang will usually use this pitch in middle counts (1-1, 2-1). When he
is throwing his slider for strikes early, he tends to get more swings and
misses when it is used as an out-pitch later in the count.

SPLIT-FINGER (79-84 mph)

Movement: His splitter has good tailing action and sink to it.

Command: Wang will command this pitch both in and out of the strike zone.

Plan: He usually uses this pitch when he is ahead in the count, most often to
left-handed hitters. He has a tendency to leave this ball up in the zone, and
he doesn't have a lot of confidence in it.

Best Matchup

Wang didn't face the Indians this year and has only three starts against them
for his career, so there's not a large enough sample size to evaluate trends
against individual Indians. However, given that Wang's strength is pitching
low in the zone, he should match up well against Trot Nixon and Jason
Michaels, both of whom are high ball hitters.

Worst Matchup

Wang will need to be especially careful against Grady Sizemore and Victor
Martinez because both of them excel in hitting pitches low in the zone, in
addition to being excellent hitters in general.

Pitching Mechanics (A)

Wang maintains a consistent tempo, which helps him repeat his arm slot and
his pitching mechanics. It's not a surprise, then, that he is able to go deep
into games and is durable for entire season.

Pitching Plan

Wang's pitching plan rarely changes. He will attack the strike zone with his
power sinker. When the power sinker is down in the strike zone, he usually
produces a lot of groundball outs and keeps his infielders busy. He has made
significant progress with the development of his slider in 2007 and, as a
result, has increased his number of strikeouts.

Keys to success

Wang must produce groundball outs with his power sinker thrown down in the
strike zone. He doesn't have to be precise with his off-speed pitches.
Rather, he simply needs to show them to the Indians' hitters and keep them
from sitting on the sinker.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

C.C. Sabathia, LHP, Cleveland Indians

Sabathia is the Indians' No. 1 starter and a likely top five finisher in the
American League Cy Young Award. The 27-year-old tied for second in the majors
with 19 wins, was fifth in the AL with a 3.21 ERA and led the majors with 241
innings pitched.

Sabathia throws three pitches: fastball, slider and change-up. He has a huge
frame, which contributes to his pitch deception. Eventually, his weight will
catch up to him and cause injuries.

Sabathia rates a 70 on the scouting 20-80 scale, which evaluates raw pitching
tools. By comparison, Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins gets a 75. Based
on his raw pitching tools and actual results, we categorize Sabathia as
"Premium" on a marginal/key role/average/good/premium/elite scale.

Strengths

Sabathia has a strong athletic frame, and he is a durable pitcher capable of
supplying his team with quality starts and 200 plus innings each year. His
fastball is explosive and his slider is an excellent out-pitch to left-handed
hitters. His change-up improved significantly during 2007.

Weaknesses

Sabathia tends to elevate his fastball in the middle of the plate. His
conditioning will be a major problem long-term.

Pitches

FASTBALL (91-95 mph)

Movement: His fastball is straight, but it shows plus life up in the strike
zone. At times his fastball will show some cutting action into right-handed
hitters.

Command: Sabathia's best command with his fastball is to his arm-side side of
the plate. He does a nice job of using the top of the strike zone with two
strikes on hitters.

Plan: He uses his fastball to get ahead in the count. He'll throw the
fastball inside off the plate to set up his off-speed pitches, and he will
use it up in the zone with two strikes.

SLIDER (82-85 mph)

Movement: Sabathia's slider will show average depth, but he's also capable of
sweeping it and changing the angle to left-handed hitters.

Command: He can throw his slider to both sides of the plate. He can also bury
it (back foot slider) to right-handed hitters out of the strike zone and get
swings and misses.

Plan: Sabathia doesn't like to show his slider too soon. The first time
around the order he's more comfortable using his fastball and change-up. He
will use his slider as an out-pitch more than any other, and he'll use it
both in and out of the strike zone.

CHANGEUP (80-83 mph)

Movement: His changeup will show some tailing action but not much. It will
also ink when it is down and out of the strike zone.

Command: His best command with this pitch is down and to his arm side.

Plan: Sabathia will use his changeup early in the game. He's most comfortable
using it off his fastball and in hitter counts (1-0, 2-0). He has a lot of
confidence in his changeup.

Best Matchup

Sabathia is a nightmare for most left-handed hitters. He will pitch inside
off the plate with his fastball, and he'll use his slider in and out of the
strike zone to get swings. He is very deceptive and it is more difficult for
lefties to pick up his release point. Robinson Cano and Bobby Abreu will have
trouble against him.

Worst Matchup

Right-handed hitters who can hit to the entire field will have a much easier
time with Sabathia, especially if the hitters can handle breaking pitches.
Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are a combined 19 for 39 (.487) lifetime
against him.

Pitching Mechanics (A)

Sabathia has improved his mechanics thanks to pitching coach Carl Willis. He
has better balance over the rubber now that he is utilizing a pause in his
pitching motion. This action limits his tendency to rush forward, and it has
also created a consistent arm slot for the big left-hander.

Pitching Plan

Sabathia will attempt to get ahead of Yankee hitters with first-pitch
fastballs and changeups. Sabathia will look to utilize his slider as much as
possible against Yankees lefties (Johnny Damon, Cano, Abreu, Giambi and
Matsui) when ahead in the count and with runners on base.

Keys to success

Just as they have through the second half of the year, the Yankees will be
aggressive at the plate. They will look to utilize the entire field. Sabathia
must make good first pitch strikes. If he falls behind the Bronx Bombers too
often, it could be a short outing. Once ahead of the Yankees hitters, he
needs to use his fastball up in the strike zone and his slider.

Information in this scouting report was compiled by DugoutCentral.com.

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※ 編輯: beast1969       來自: 219.68.217.217       (10/03 16:36)
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