Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Release angles are the vertical and horizontal angles at which a pitcher releases a pitch. They capture the initial angle of a pitch’s trajectory rather than its final angle upon crossing home plate. Release angles can reveal where a pitch is intended to go. However, we already have plenty of data to describe a pitch’s flight path, such as its short-form movement, acceleration, velocity, and final location. So, what do release angles add?
When a pitcher throws a pitch, the opposing hitter has only a fraction of a fraction of a second to discern its velocity, shape, and probable location to decide whether to swing. One of the first visual cues a hitter receives is the angle at which the pitch leaves the pitcher’s hand. This angle can help a hitter identify a pitch that is unlikely to find the zone, allowing for a quick decision not to swing.
Release angles provide information about a pitch’s flight path, but they also inform us about where a pitch appears to be going before reaching its final destination. In baseball, skilled pitchers can command good pitches with seemingly “bad” release angles, surprising hitters. But which pitches achieve this illusion best?
Using Statcast data up to April 27, 2022, I analyzed the average zone rate for release angles and focused on combinations with rates of 20% or less. These usually “bad” release angles can signal to hitters that a pitch is unlikely to hit the zone.
Some pitchers throw pitches that hitters quickly identify as wasteful. Tim Hill has the highest frequency of such pitches, while Logan Webb has the fewest. The effectiveness of these “Immediately Obvious Waste Pitches” (IOWPs) depends on inducing swings and finding the zone.
Players like Justin Verlander excel at inducing swings and finding the zone with IOWPs. Verlander stands out as particularly effective in this regard. Pitchers with challenging release angles, like Verlander and others, tend to perform well with fastballs. IOWPs can create uncertainty for hitters and disrupt their plate discipline.
However, pitchers who throw too many IOWPs may be less beneficial overall. The efficacy of IOWPs depends on a pitcher’s Stuff and command. Pitchers with exceptional command like George Kirby rarely throw IOWPs, while others rely more heavily on them.
