Last night Irvin threw over 50% curveballs and that flummoxed the CIN batters. Whether that was pregame plan or was result of calling what was working. Historically, Means is more FB at 50%, changeup at 25% pitch mix. We’ll find out how that plays against the CIN right handed bats.
My takeaway is the contrast between a young team versus an aging team. Judge, Stanton, Rizzo, Rodon, Stroman, Cole are on the wrong side of 30 and more likely to decline (or be injured) over the course of the year.
Last year Webb fastball was 95mph.
Earlier this year Webb fastball was 91mph. The last couple outings the velo has ticked back up to the 93-94mph range and his secondaries (both changeup and sweeper) are noticeably sharper with swing+miss. I wonder if Webb went through the proverbial “dead arm” period in April and has now reverted back to normal.