Chris Tillman 6/23/09 start

[csgordos]

Tough to say the command isn't there...Not only didn;t he walk guys, he threw 66% of his pitches for a strike.

The question I have are they called (actual strikes) or people swinging at bad pitches? I realize if you have good deception than pitchers will purposely keep it out of the strike zone. But is he throwing to the target? Would patient MLB hitters have gotten more walks? I honestly don't know and am asking for opinions. Thanks.

[DuffMan]

This was his 3rd straight start of getting through 6 innings. Nice to see him starting to get deeper into games. I'd really be pleased if he is getting through 7 regularly, but one step at a time.

[Frobby]

This was his 3rd straight start of getting through 6 innings. Nice to see him starting to get deeper into games. I'd really be pleased if he is getting through 7 regularly, but one step at a time.

At this point, I'd settle for him getting through 7 IP occasionally. Put it this way, I'd like to see him averaging 6 IP per start from here on out, with at least one 7 IP performance for every one that is less than 6 IP.

A few comparisons between Tillman at Norfolk and at Bowie:

Bowie --- 3.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 7.6 H/9, 0.7 HR/9, 4.3 BB/9, 10.2 K/9, 2.37 K/BB, 4.85 IP/start

Norfolk -- 2.59 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 8.0 H/9, 0.5 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9, 9.5 K/9, 3.89 K/BB, 5.08 IP/start

Other than his IP/start remaining very low, all the other trends are pretty encouraging. And remember he was pulled after 2 IP in one of his starts due to a groin injury and they probably took it easy on him once he returned to the rotation after that, so there's good reason to expect his IP/start to climb as the season progresses.

[Stotle]

The question I have are they called (actual strikes) or people swinging at bad pitches? I realize if you have good deception than pitchers will purposely keep it out of the strike zone. But is he throwing to the target? Would patient MLB hitters have gotten more walks? I honestly don't know and am asking for opinions. Thanks.

Speaking solely for myself, I look for 1) control (throwing pitches affectively for strikes), and 2) command (placing the ball in particular areas of the strikezone).

I can see control (generally) by looking at a box score and noting the walks. Command, I want to see if he's hitting his spots and how much the catcher is moving pitch-to-pitch. When he misses his spots, is it his ability to place the pitch or inability to get consistent action on his pitch (varying depth on his breaking ball, varying fade on his change, varying life on his fastball, etc.).

An example: Tillman had a hard time with his curve early on in his career because it was a big breaker that didn't get the same amount of depth and shape from pitch to pitch. He had trouble throwing it for strikes and of course trouble placing it in specific spots. I've seen him pitch once this year and he was very good at throwing it for a strike and very good at burying it out of the zone as a chase pitch. He was still inconsistent as to placing it in particular spots, but he's definitely come a long way.

[QBsILLEST1]

Tillman is pitching differntly this year. At least that's what the numbers say. The walk rate is down significantly. He's been very consistently good but very seldom great. He hasn't put it all together yet but he looks to taking a serious step to doing just that.

I wouldnt go as far to say that. A few starts ago, his ERA was 1.88. Lately he hasnt been fantastic, but he has been pretty ood. But in the beginning of the year he was pitching very very well.

[Tidesfan]

When I was talking about his command, I mean that I think he left too many balls over the middle of the plate. He was around the zone all night long, but did leave some hittable pitches. Something is off on his changeup, you could see he was tipping it. He stills somehow had some success with it. He's got some good arm action. Looks smaller than I expected. Seemed to have good poise and didn't get rattled. I didn't notice the curve too much at all.

[csgordos]

Speaking solely for myself, I look for 1) control (throwing pitches affectively for strikes), and 2) command (placing the ball in particular areas of the strikezone).

I can see control (generally) by looking at a box score and noting the walks. Command, I want to see if he's hitting his spots and how much the catcher is moving pitch-to-pitch. When he misses his spots, is it his ability to place the pitch or inability to get consistent action on his pitch (varying depth on his breaking ball, varying fade on his change, varying life on his fastball, etc.).

An example: Tillman had a hard time with his curve early on in his career because it was a big breaker that didn't get the same amount of depth and shape from pitch to pitch. He had trouble throwing it for strikes and of course trouble placing it in specific spots. I've seen him pitch once this year and he was very good at throwing it for a strike and very good at burying it out of the zone as a chase pitch. He was still inconsistent as to placing it in particular spots, but he's definitely come a long way.

Thanks for the info. I appreciate all of your insight. You know you must spread out the rep, blah, blah.

[mark_beckens]

At this point, I'd settle for him getting through 7 IP occasionally. Put it this way, I'd like to see him averaging 6 IP per start from here on out, with at least one 7 IP performance for every one that is less than 6 IP.

A few comparisons between Tillman at Norfolk and at Bowie:

Bowie --- 3.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 7.6 H/9, 0.7 HR/9, 4.3 BB/9, 10.2 K/9, 2.37 K/BB, 4.85 IP/start

Norfolk -- 2.59 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 8.0 H/9, 0.5 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9, 9.5 K/9, 3.89 K/BB, 5.08 IP/start

Other than his IP/start remaining very low, all the other trends are pretty encouraging. And remember he was pulled after 2 IP in one of his starts due to a groin injury and they probably took it easy on him once he returned to the rotation after that, so there's good reason to expect his IP/start to climb as the season progresses.

but he's had an injury and rain outs and rain delays that have cost him stamina and innings. We also dont know what the pitch count restriction was at the beggining of the year or during. I'm sure the FO is being very careful to keep it and his inning load down.

[QBsILLEST1]

When I was talking about his command, I mean that I think he left too many balls over the middle of the plate. He was around the zone all night long, but did leave some hittable pitches. Something is off on his changeup, you could see he was tipping it. He stills somehow had some success with it. He's got some good arm action. Looks smaller than I expected. Seemed to have good poise and didn't get rattled. I didn't notice the curve too much at all.

This tells me that his change up is pretty good if he is tipping it and still is finding success with it. What do you mean that something is off on his change up though? Are you just referring to your earlier post when you mentioned that he dropped down a bit while throwing it?

[Tidesfan]

This tells me that his change up is pretty good if he is tipping it and still is finding success with it. What do you mean that something is off on his change up though? Are you just referring to your earlier post when you mentioned that he dropped down a bit while throwing it?

I can't explain it. The ball would come out of his hand funny. It was just off for some reason. I think his arm action was off a little bit. Granted, I didn't pay close enough attention to see if he did it more than a couple times.

[QBsILLEST1]

I can't explain it. The ball would come out of his hand funny. It was just off for some reason. I think his arm action was off a little bit. Granted, I didn't pay close enough attention to see if he did it more than a couple times.

Well, when throwing a circle change up, there are varying ways to throw it, but it doesnt come off the fingers the same way a fastball does. Rather than be directly behind the ball with your fingers, you kinda throw the inside of the ball with the circle changeup, putting that spin on it creates the fade, though the arm action should be like a fastball. Maybe he was just being too deliberate with it....Its kind of like throwing a screw ball though without snapping your wrist, the ball comes out with a ton of spin on it since your threw it with fastball arm speed.....

None the less, if you noticed something about the change up, then the hitters are as well.....

[Tidesfan]

Yeah, they were definately circle changes, I was close enough to see the grip. Hard to put into words.

But, I was impressed overall.