By the way, this cutter (or "no-seam" fastball as Bannister likes to call it) and his slider have...

By the way, this cutter (or "no-seam" fastball as Bannister likes to call it) and his slider have really developed into quality pitches. It certainly helps in the ground ball and double play department.

Craig Brown at Royals Authority

almost 3 years ago Scott McKinney 10 comments 0 recs |

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I think the "Bannister has poor stuff" meme isn't entirely accurate

Bannister is throwing mostly cutter and slider this year. And the cutter and slider are actually good pitches. His four-seam fastball isn’t very good and he’s wisely using it sparingly. It seems like some people think that “stuff” = velocity. It doesn’t. Velocity is one element of stuff. Movement and velocity differential are important as well.

Another thing that helps a pitcher succeed is choosing the right pitch combinations. If a batter thinks you’re going to throw one pitch and instead you throw another, you’ve got a good chance to succeed. Bannister was excellent at this in 2007 and he has been this year as well.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on May 8, 2009 5:45 PM EDT reply actions

Brian Bannister + better pitches and movement on pitches + Game Theory =

starter?

by AxDxMx on May 8, 2009 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Damn this site and its formatting

That should say “#3 starter”

by AxDxMx on May 8, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he could prove to be a #3-quality starter

But maybe not. He is still a big question mark. I do think he’ll prove to be at least a competent #4 SP.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on May 8, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope he does settle down

to be a competent middle rotation starter. I like Banny. I know some people think he makes excuses and whatever, but he has always struck me as a genuine guy.

The Allard Baird of incisive internet discourse.

by kcbottom9th on May 8, 2009 6:46 PM EDT reply actions

I've told this tory before, but it's been a while...

In October of ’07, I had the extreme good fortune to play in the Steve Young/Jerry Rice Bay Area Golf Classic. I won/bought the trip for $8 and about 600,000 fake moneys earned on Protrade.com…

Anyway, aside from mingling with Steve & Jerry, and playing in the same foursome as Brent Jones & Steve Compton (the owner of the San Jose Sharks) I also got the chance to sit down & have a long talk w/ Brian Bannister and his girlfriend (fiance?wife?) after dinner. Supposedly Floyd was actually supposed to play, but there was a mix-up or something & Brian came up from Southern Cal to fill his spot at the last second.

He thought I was a big shot (this golf tourney was $25K entry fee for a fore some, & I got in for $8 :) ), so he was pretty open with me, and he was very cool & engaging. I was a fan of his before that, but I’ve steadily, quietly been in his corner since then.

BOOM! ROASTED!

by GoBabies!! on May 8, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions

great story

you have a ton of them

too bad that good person doesn’t always = good player

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by Matt Klaassen on May 8, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

No

But it does make it easier to root for a guy.

BOOM! ROASTED!

by GoBabies!! on May 9, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions

totally agree

Except for DDJ, since it just shows that he’s not enough of a competitor

Was it you who had Pujols shoot a liner/home run over your head in college?

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by Matt Klaassen on May 9, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions

i'm still surprised

that i read following the 2007 season, an article explaining how brian bannister’s two seam fastball was his best pitch by far (by mike fast i want to say), and that brian then switched to a four seamer in 2008.

i wish him and his two-seam fastball the best of luck in the coming business year.

by 9il on May 9, 2009 2:04 AM EDT reply actions