Gil Meche is the King of All Grit
by BHWick on Jul 1, 2009 5:57 PM EDT
27 comments
Gil Meche threw a modern day masterpiece today. Gil, the greatest American Hero, threw 121 pitches in 6 innings and walked five batters. But he threw the ball fast! It didn't matter that he threw only 61% of pitches for strikes. HE THREW THE BALL FAST. Velocity = quality.
Not to mention Gil's manliness. Unlike wimps who insist that overworking pitchers is barbaric, Trey Hillman knows to let manly pitcher like Gil Meche finish their innings. Trey Hillman doesn't BELIEVE in pitch counts. After all, there is no such thing as pitch counts in Japan, and look at how healthy their pitchers are!
Gil Meche was pure grit today. Gil shows the world that he was not hurt by having to throw 20 pitches an inning and being unable to locate the strikezone almost 2/5ths of the time. Gil Meche is not hurt, because he was able to pitch 121 pitches. Much like how he proved he was not hurt when he threw 116 pitches coming off of a start ended with back pain. Much like how he proved that he was not hurt when he manned up and threw 132 pitches. Those starts didn't lead to further problems and this start proves that Gil is healthy.
Gil Meche put himself in the front of the Cy Young Award sweepstakes with his masterpiece today. He knew when to throw strikes and when to avoid the Twins big hitters like Nick Punto and Carlos Gomez.
If every Royal was as manly as Gil Meche, then we would have a surplus of grit. But the wimpyness of Coco Crisp, Joakim Soria, Alex Gordon, and Mike Aviles is a detriment to this team. We need more manly men who can play through injuries, instead of just shutting down and going to the DL after getting a stratch.
Gil Meche is the King of all Grit. When he takes the mound, you know that he's going to give you 110 pitches. Gil Meche doesn't quit because he doesn't know the word quit. Gil Meche thinks your concerns over his health are stupid and he knows that he is going to keep chugging on as the Royals surge towards an AL Central title.
Anyways, he's really good after being overworked, as these stats from several years ago prove!
THERE ARE NO AMERICANS IN BAGHDAD, AND THERE IS NO GIL MECHE INJURY
the preceding fanpost was contributed by dedicated Royals fan Mohammed Saaed Al-Sahhaf
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So far
Meche has thrown 60% of all pitches for strikes
But the 5 walks stick out. Along with 20.2 pitches per inning.
Only three starts had a higher number of pitches per inning. The start against the Angels (21.2) where he threw 120 pitches in 5 2/3 IP. The 4/28 start (22.9) where Meche left early with an injury. And the 5/25 start (31.3) where Meche left early with an injury.
The blind shilling for what was a fairly bad start is really too much. Can’t someone in the organization get Gil to have an MRI? Or is someone thinking there is an organization stupid enough to trade for a pitcher without getting him checked out medically?
Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals
by BHWick on Jul 1, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
For an MRI to do any good, you have to have a doctor that knows how to properly read them. It’s becoming more apparent with every injury that the Royals have no such doctor.
by drdonkeypunch on Jul 4, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've Had Several
Lately, and my doctor doesn’t even look at them. She gets a report from someone who specializes in reading them. Seems logical to me.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jul 5, 2009 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So are we assuming that his pitch counts are high...
because he is hurt? So he can’t quite locate as efficiently as say the Royals non-#1 starter ZG.
What is Meches’ primary out pitch, or usually his pitch selections when he is down in the count? How are those pitches doing? Are those that end up outta the strike zone, or is he trying to be banny?
If he is hurt to the extent that it effects his overall approach to pitching than maybe it needs to be looked at further. (however maybe he throws a lot of pitches to confuse and confound the opposing dug out, all the while biding his time, to humiliate them slowly, it’s like slow emotional torture)
I would agree there might be something off but…what if this is how he pitches. Slow methodical windup, calculating to a degree that only Banny can dream of. What if Meche is being banny better than banny?!!?!?!??!
If ZG is God, Meches’ grit holds space-time together!!
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jul 1, 2009 7:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
pitch patterns on Gil's walks
v. Joe Mauer in the 1st
1- Fastball, 90mph, low, outside, ball
2- Fastball, 95mph, high strike
3- Slider, 89mph, low, ball
4- Fastball, 96mph, outside, ball
5- Fastball, 95mph, low, outside, ball 4
v. Carlos Gomez in the 2nd
1- Fastball, 94mph, high, swinging strike
2- Curveball, 79mph, low, outside, ball
3- Curveball, 79mph, low, missed bunt, strike
4- Fastball, 95mph, high, outside, ball
5- Curveball, 81mph, low, outside, ball
6- Curveball, 79mph, low, foul ball
7- Fastball, 95mph, low, ball 4
v. Nick Punto in the 2nd
1- Fastball, 95mph, outside, ball
2- Fastball, 94mph, high, foul ball
3- Fastball, 94mph, high, ball
4- Fastball, 94mph, high, ball
5- Fastball, 93mph, high, outside, ball 4
v. Michael Cuddeyer in the 3rd
1- Fastball, 95mph, high, outside, ball
2- Fastball, 95mph, outside, ball
3- Fastball, 94mph, outside, ball
4- Fastball, 93mph, called strike
5- Fastball, 95mph, outside, ball 4
v. Matt Tolbert in the 6th
1- Fastball, 96mph, inside, ball
2- Fastball, 94mph, outside, ball
3- Fastball, 94mph, foul ball
4- Fastball, 95mph, low, ball
5- Fastball, 95mph, called strike
6- Fastball, 94mph, outside, foul ball
7- Fastball, 96mph, foul ball
8- Fastball, 95mph, low, inside
22 pitches in the 6th, 19 fastballs
Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals
by BHWick on Jul 1, 2009 8:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think you're looking for fire where there is no smoke.
I agree they left him out there too long today. But 100 pitches, 120 pitches, what’s the difference?
by AxDxMx on Jul 1, 2009 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I’d imagine that you don’t get the same amount of fatigue from every pitch, and that it’s backended. Therefore it’d be harder to from 100 to 120 than from 0 to 20 or 20 to 40.
And when you’re dealing with a guy who you’re paying $11M who is hurt, it’s different.
It’s not putting a diaper on Gil Meche to insist that we not further injure one of our highest paid players.
Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals
by BHWick on Jul 1, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i agree with you
fwiw, 121 pitches was asinine. trey really should go…
Kansas City Royals - rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic since 1994.
by Home Run Tony Cogan on Jul 1, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know the staff has handled injuries poorly
but they aren’t the least concerned about Gil or he would have been on a strict pitch count of probably 90. If Meche goes down with an injury, I think it will be the icing on the cake saying this whole coaching/training staff has to go. Until that happens, I’m perfectly happy to believe they know what is best for Ol’ Gil.
Meche is the new Nolan Ryan with fewer strikeouts.
by AxDxMx on Jul 2, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This post is lacking a quality Mohammed Saaed Al-Sahhaf picture
C’mon, image searchers, get on it.
by sterlingice on Jul 1, 2009 10:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah? From what I hear, you couldn't hit water if you fell out of a f@#%ing boat.
by BillyMojo on Jul 2, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Seems as if you're really trying to drive this whole point into the ground.....
even after all the pitch count stuff I posted in your 120+ pitch post. I agree with AxDxMx’s point above about looking for smoke when there’s no fire. I’m not going to post the links from The Hardball Times again, but the whole notion of pitch counts “saving/protecting from injuries” seems incredibly unsupported. It’s almost like the “CLOSERS MUST PITCH THE NINTH AND NO OTHER INNING!!” line of thought in my book. Now, that’s obviously not your opinion, but that’s cool.
Take Gil out when he’s no longer an effective pitcher in the game…..not some magical pitch count “number”—which may or may not protect him from injury.
Meche has a proven track record as being a dependable pitcher, putting up 30+ starts in a season in four of the last six years. I’m not going to do all the research, but I’m curious how many other MLB starting pitchers can also make that claim.
Also, Meche’s career strike %:
2003: 62% (3059 pitches)
2004: 61% (2308 pitches)
2005: 60% (2574 pitches)
2006: 61% (3292 pitches)
2007:* 64% (3576 pitches) First season in KC
2008: 63% (3554 pitches)
2009: 60% (1582 pitches so far….on pace for 3362)*This does not include today’s game since Baseball Reference hasn’t updated yet.
Soooooo, you may want to re-think this statement:
Gil Meche threw a modern day masterpiece today. Gil, the greatest American Hero, threw 121 pitches in 6 innings and walked five batters. But he threw the ball fast! It didn’t matter that he threw only 61% of pitches for strikes. HE THREW THE BALL FAST. Velocity = quality.
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jul 2, 2009 2:09 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Ok
Throwing a guy out there who is the center of injury concerns for 121 pitches, when you could get him out of there after 5 at slightly over 100… not a problem.
Not to mention that he was having trouble throwing fastballs for strikes. Fastballs. I’d like to see the difference in the % of fastballs he threw today because he didn’t think he could throw breaking stuff.
As for the strikes….. 121 pitches, 55 strikes, 47 balls, 19 balls in play (13 outs). Nothing like a good benefit of having lots of balls in play.
The handling of this injury is a giant snowjob on the fans. Unless Meche’s health dramatically improves, he’s probably on the DL on August 1st if we can’t move him in July.
Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals
by BHWick on Jul 2, 2009 2:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um...double checking your numbers---they are wrong.
You’re really going on a witch-hunt here….first it’s his percentages of strikes that’s the problem (except it’s right in line with his career #‘s). Now it’s “a good benefit of having lots of balls in play?” What type of argument are you trying to make? And do you realize that the 19 balls in play you quoted is wrong? I’m not trying to be your fact-checker, but it’s really dropping your credibility here.
Gil Meche’s actual number of balls put in play was 21. Now, how does that compare with his other starts?
Here’s his totals for 2009, game-by-game: 20,19,17,20, 15 (in 3.2 IP), 21, 18, 18, 20, 13 (in 2.1 IP), 18, 22, 15, 24, 18, 16, 21.
So his 21 balls in play seems in line with his entire season. In fact, when you consider that he tied his season-high for batters faced (thanks to the two errors), this number is even more in line with a “typical” Gil start.
Go to Gil’s Baseball Reference page and go to his 2009 game log. Then click on the number of pitches. That will take you to the PItchFX data you were craving. Here’s yesterday’s start: http://brooksbaseball.net/pfx/index.php?s_type=2&sp_type=1&batterX=0&inning1=y&inning2=y&inning3=y&inning4=y&inning5=y&inning6=y&inning7=y&inning8=y&inning9=y&month=07&day=01&game=gid_2009_07_01_minmlb_kcamlb_1%2F&year=2009&pitchSel=219194.xml&prevGame=gid_2009_07_01_minmlb_kcamlb_1%2F
But if you’re curious….he threw 90 fastballs out of 121 pitches….that’s 74%.
Trace it back to his last few starts:
74% (yesterday),
49%, 47% (the other short outing vs. STL),
44% (CG Shutout, 132 pitch outing),
53% (win vs. CLE),
49% (1 ER vs. TB),
55% (2 ER vs. CHW),
59% (2.1 IP vs. Detroit),
63% (2 ER vs. CLE)
61% (5 ER vs. BAL)
55% (2 ER vs. LAA)
51% (4 ER vs. MIN….doesn’t miss a start after back issue)
48% (3.2 IP vs. TOR….this is the game he left with back tightness)
43% (3 ER vs. CLE)
42% (infamous “flat mound” game in TEX….0 ER in 6 IP)
54% vs. NYY
49% (1st start of the year…..vs. CHW)
So he obviously threw a lot more fastballs yesterday than in any other start this year…..how do you interpret this? I’m not sure. If you have a “dead arm,” wouldn’t the fastball be what’s most effected? Especially after his velocity was significantly down? I really don’t know.
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jul 2, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
More arm injuries are directly/indirectly linked to breaking stuff though
It is interesting that some of the total shellings and brief outings weren’t heavy fastball outings.
in a field with a lot of 40s and 50s, two 60s.. that 74% sticks out.. a lot.
It’s not like Gil showed up with his usual stuff and was better than ever. He changed his game due to arm issues. And that’s going to be an interesting thing to keep an eye on. I’d imagine starting pitchers don’t thrive throwing that many fastballs. But if he shies away from fastballs, he risks screwing his arm up more.
There are issues here, and considering that the guy at the center of this gets paid no matter what.. the team loses out if Gil and the team is wrong on his health
Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals
by BHWick on Jul 3, 2009 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Check Meche's slider totals for 7/1 and the other starts
I think we’ve found the breaking pitch that he’s not going to throw until he feels better.
Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals
by BHWick on Jul 3, 2009 4:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
THE DRIVE FOR 75!!!
Wins that is.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jul 2, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Are we even on pace for 65?
Or, hell, if things really go into the crapper, are we going to be looking to Sammy Hagar for win number guidance?
by sterlingice on Jul 2, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it's interesting how hard it is for Dayton Moore to improve the team
without some guy randomly coming up from AAA and having an MVP-level season
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by devil_fingers on Jul 3, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Throwing 121 pitches is the pitching equivalent of walking it off
by marbotty on Jul 2, 2009 11:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
after a tibia fracture
Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals
by BHWick on Jul 2, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So it kinda looked like...
at first his only pitch working was the high fast ball, and (when a walk ensued) nothing else. Then later in the game even the high fast balls were missing. But again only for his 5 walks.
But I noticed something, he walked 1 in the 1st, 2 in the second, 1 in the 3rd then nothing until 1 in the sixth. With the AMAZING BULLPEN the Royals have if your SP gets through the 3rd and hasn’t walked anybody since that, nor given up hardly any runs. I’d say let him roll son!! Sure he maybe laboring but he is a professional, hopefully, he knows when to tell you something is far enough off to not keep pitching. If that doesn’t happen then…
I can’t for the life of me, think of a reason to not let him go out in the 6th. You have (in a tight game, high leverage) no set up men to string it together to even get it to the 8th for the impossible 2innings pitched for your one (not so) lock down closer.
Is Meche hurt? Possibly. Is he laboring? Yes. Is he getting the job done? Most definitely!!!
Get the job done son!!!!!
Am I worried about a potential breakdown? Yes. But dang, if he can keep your team in it, except for a completely inept offense, then you kinda gotta let him do his thang!
By the way, thanks for all those pitch breakdowns. That was exactly what I was wondering about. That was sweet to look at.
Perhaps the title of this post is indeed what Meche is, THE KING OF GRIT!!!!
Brush it off bitches, I’m going back out for another inning!!
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jul 2, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I've read this post twice now
and I still have no idea what point it’s trying to make. As far as I can tell, you’re borrowing an ages-old joke in mocking the word ‘grit’ and repeating it over and over for 6 paragraphs. And then you throw in some jazz about denying injuries. I don’t follow the logic, but I bet it will be less than a week before the next fanpost dedicated to mocking ‘grit’ pops up.
by kcdc1 on Jul 3, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Guess who the mlb leader in pitcher abuse points is now?!
# NAME YEAR GS TOT_NP MAX_NP AVG_NP TOT_PAP MAX_PAP AVG_PAP CAT_1 CAT_2 CAT_3 CAT_4 CAT_5 STRESS
1. Gil Meche 2009 18 1817 132 100.944 63468 32768 3526 9 1 7 1 0 35
by swing and a miss on Jul 8, 2009 6:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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