0-2 homers

Our pitchers have given up a lot of home runs (and other hits) on 0-2 pitches. Most of the 0-2 homers appear to come on offspeed pitches in the heart of the plate. Are the homers solely the result of poor execution, or a combination of that and unwise pitch calling (offspeed vs. fastball low and away or above the strike zone?)

Our pitchers have given up a lot of home runs (and other hits) on 0-2 pitches. Most of the 0-2 homers appear to come on offspeed pitches in the heart of the plate. Are the homers solely the result of poor execution, or a combination of that and unwise pitch calling (offspeed vs. fastball low and away or above the strike zone?)

Attempting to get strikeouts and have pitch efficiency.

Poor execution.

That one to Hunter was laughable execution, but it happens.

0-2, expand the strike zone.

You know what you're getting with these pitchers. Chen doesn't have an out pitch. An 0-2 pitch from him is going to be around the plate with the hope that the speed or placement fools the hitter, just like any other pitch he throws. When Chen wastes a pitch, it really is a waste; the batter is never remotely tempted to swing.

You know what you're getting with these pitchers. Chen doesn't have an out pitch. An 0-2 pitch from him is going to be around the plate with the hope that the speed or placement fools the hitter, just like any other pitch he throws. When Chen wastes a pitch, it really is a waste; the batter is never remotely tempted to swing.

This. It's a lack of stuff by most of the staff.

They can all maybe get ahead with fastballs, but you can only throw a non-overpowering fastball so much. You see the same thing with Tillman and his pitch count. Gets ahead and then throws what seems like 6 or 7 more pitches.

Chen pitched fine, but those solo HRs keep killing him only because the damn Orioles score no runs when he pitches.

But right now, I'm more concerned about what I hope isn't the reappearance of Tommy "Home Run" Hunter, from two years ago.

According to baseball reference the Orioles have allowed 4 HRs on 0-2 counts this season - 3 have been in the last week. This includes 2 by Chen (on 5/3 and 7/6), 1 by Gonzalez (on 6/30), and 1 by Jiminez (on 7/3). Overall it isn't much worse than a very basic league average - a total of 52 HRs allowed on 0-2 counts allowed divided 15 teams is 3.46 per team.

Oriole pitchers allow a .168 bating average on 0-2 counts - the league average is .167.

Most times, it just comes down to poor execution. It's frustrating, but just one of those things that happens. As Fu Manchu pointed out, we're basically average in this regard.

Fortunately, 14 of the 17 homers Chen has allowed have been solo shots, and the other three have been 2-run homers.

Chen has always had that gofer ball pitch.

I really don't blame him man we had LOTS of opportunity to put some runs up and flat out whiffed again.

Usually it's a result of bad execution combined with predictable (not necessarily bad) pitch call. The pitcher is trying to waste a slider in the dirt to induce a strikeout but hangs one over the plate. The slider to Hunter was a classic example of this. Even up 0-2, you need to be very careful with your breaking ball or it will get hit a long way. In some ways, 0-2 is a good hitters count because it's a predictable count for the pitcher to go breaking ball. Hunter was smart to recognize that and he was all over it. Chen by inclination throws strikes so he could be prone to this.

Usually it's a result of bad execution combined with predictable (not necessarily bad) pitch call. The pitcher is trying to waste a slider in the dirt to induce a strikeout but hangs one over the plate. The slider to Hunter was a classic example of this. Even up 0-2, you need to be very careful with your breaking ball or it will get hit a long way. In some ways, 0-2 is a good hitters count because it's a predictable count for the pitcher to go breaking ball. Hunter was smart to recognize that and he was all over it. Chen by inclination throws strikes so he could be prone to this.

Chen has allowed 7 homers on 0-2 counts in his career, out of 86 career homers (8%). That is about double the rate allowed in the AL this year (52 out of 1215 = 4%). So I guess you could say he's a bit prone to 0-2 mistakes, though it's a small sample. Overall, I'm not going to complain about Chen, who is having his best season but has been pitching with poor run support.

The ball Hunter gave up, was a high hard one, after failing with 2 breaking pitches.

Yankees lost last night when Dellin Betances allowed a homer in the 10th inning on an 0-2 pitch.

Bud Norris gave up a 1-2 homer today when Caleb or Bud called a 1-2 cutter that was supposed to be down and away instead of a fastball, his best control pitch.

Mauer followed with a homer on an offspeed pitch (3-2, not 0-2 or 1-2.) Roe was also beaten on an offspeed pitch.