Is Daisuke tipping? Options

[Hawk'sGoodKnees]

A lot has been made of Matsuzaka's ability to wiggle out of jams but I think it's simpler than that. I haven't had a chance to look back at video from previous seasons to compare, but it's pretty clear that Daisuke has been tipping his pitches out of the windup in 2009.

Watch his hands above his head as he rocks back and begins to turn...

From his first start of the season on April 9:



When throwing the fastball, Daisuke pulls the ball out of the glove. In the same at bat, he finishes Iwamura with the changeup. Watch the hands.




Much quieter.

From Friday night:

Fastball to Brantley.



Curveball to Shoppach.



Now, admittedly, I pulled a few of the more obvious instances. But it looks fairly obvious, because of how far he pulls the ball out when throwing the fastball as he turns, that the batter can most likely pick that up pretty easily.

Bigger Bigger Bigger

Three stills of the changeup, curveball and fastball. This could help explain some of his troubles out of the windup and why he's better with runers on. I will try to compare to '07 and '08 videos when I get time later.

Edit: Videos

This post has been edited by Hawk'sGoodKnees: Oct 4 2009, 11:31 AM