Yup, true story.
According to pitch value data, CC’s changeup is 22.5 runs above average. That’s the best in the American League for any starting pitchers with 150+ innings. In fact, across both leagues, CC’s changeup value is second only to Tim Lincecum’s, which is 33.5 runs above average.
CC also had the best changeup in the AL in 2008 (18.2 RAA). The pitch has improved, incrementally, in each year since 2006 and is now the best in the American League for the second year in a row. This season, however, CC’s changeup is ever bettter than it was in ’08. I’m not sure why this has occurred, although it could be that fastball has gotten better — it’s worth 15.8 runs above average this season, a career high — which is then aiding the change.
Kudos to John Flaherty for this one. Whenever CC is on the mound, Flash always seems to marvel at his changeup and I thought I’d check out the stats. Pretty interesting stuff, especially since CC’s changeup doesn’t seem to get much recognition.
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3 Responses to CC Sabathia has the best changeup in the AL
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TIQ IQ
I was just looking at that this afternoon after reading the Rivera post. CC’s change really doesn’t get the hype of that of say a Santana, Shields or Hamels, but it is definitely an excellent pitch. But Lincecum’s change is just absurd, about 50% more runs above average than CC’s.
Definitely. Prior to him joining the Yankees, we often heard about his slider, but it really hasn’t been too impressive this year (when compared to the other pitches he features). With regards to Lincecum, I’ve simply given up on understanding that guy. If he stays healthy, he’s going to be in the HOF.
Sabathia really has 4 impressive pitches that he has used all year when you think about it. Everyone knows about the fastball that can hit 98 and the slider which is a really good pitch especially down and in to right handed batters, but it’s the change and the curve which is impressive to me. What is impressive about his change is that it can come at any time in the count and he has complete confidence in doing so, he’ll start off at bats with it, he uses it for ground ball outs, he uses it down and in and down and away for the strike out pitch and he has the control to throw it 3-2 for a strike and get the swinging K or looking K on the same pitch. IT may be his best pitch when he is throwing 96+ and he knows it too, the curve he doesn’t use as much as any other pitch and most people don’t talk about it and some dismiss it as the slider but it is clearly slower (77-78 compared to 85+) and it has more downward break as oppose to across the zone break. HE has really good control on this pitch most nights and it seems to get him through the games he doesn’t have the best fastball control and slider bite especially early on in the season when he wasn’t as much of a rhythm.