Before the 2012 season Lugo underwent spinal fusion surgery and was bedridden for months. “The surgery was pretty scary,’’ admitted Lugo, who will arrive here Sunday.
From that hardship, Lugo worked that much harder on building his core when he was allowed to work out again and he believes that has made him a much better pitcher.
“I started using my legs more,’’ he said of his motion. “Without that surgery I never would have started working out like I do.’’
Source: Kevin Kernan, New York Post
His peripherals paint the picture of a guy who was very lucky last year. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more here.
Considering he’s also said his curveball has been better in years past, he’ll need it.
What else does he throw beyond that wicked curve?
FG has him with FB, SL, CB and CU — with him throwing the slider slightly more often than the curve.
He seemed to get tougher in tight situations.
Didn’t wilt.
Maybe you are reacting to the character he showed?
Kid’s got gumption.
I don’t know that’s enough in this rag-tag world, but it’s something. Our part is easy: we only have to root for him.
Spin Rate makes my head spin!!! It’s amazing to me that we’re able to get this measurement at all…but can’t we also get more concrete measures of Curveballs?…. measurements that would show when and how far a specific pitch actually moved.
I now know spin rates for many Pitchers, but I have no idea of when a Curve Ball begins to curve….how far it bends from it’s original path……how late it begins its “break”… and the “severity” of it’s final break….etc.
If I knew that one pitcher thew a ball that stayed relatively stable to it’s original path for 50 feet, then dropped 1 foot and moved 1 foot (left or right) versus a Pitch that began to “move” earlier in it’s path, with a gentler and less severe movement—– well, I might think I could see that with my eyes, but a measurement would be dramatic.
I’m sure “spin rate” has an influence, but right now we’re just in love with the “stat”
Check the spin movement by type graph
http://pitchfx.texasleaguers.com/pitcher/607625/?batters=A&count=AA&pitches=CU&from=2%2F1%2F2016&to=2%2F6%2F2017
wow!!!…awesome!!! Thanks Brian!
as a quick look— deGrom and Lugo release at about 6 feet, at 35 feet from the plate, Lugo’s curve is still at about 5.75 feet….. deGrom’s Curve is at about 5 feet at 35 feet from the plate.
I’m not sure whether it’s spin rate or release point or angle, but the eventual height of the pitch is about half a foot— this “delayed release” must be a major part of the pitch’s success….
Good Stuff