Laurila: Managers’ view: Is increased curve usage a thing?
From SABR member David Laurila at FanGraphs on December 19, 2016:
Curves were in vogue in 2016. A handful of hurlers — Rich Hill, Lance McCullers and Drew Pomeranz among them — were especially reliant on the pitch. In the postseason, the Cleveland Indians threw a boatload of benders against the Toronto Blue Jays, and even more against the Chicago Cubs.
Are we entering a curveball renaissance? Is good old Uncle Charlie making a comeback after years of playing second fiddle to sliders, splitters, and increasing velocity? Can we expect to see more Rich Hills, and more of the attack plan used by Cleveland in the World Series?
I posed that question — my wording varied, but the gist didn’t — to several managers at the Winter Meetings. Here is how they responded.
Read the full article here: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/managers-view-is-increased-curveball-usage-a-thing/
Originally published: December 19, 2016. Last Updated: December 19, 2016.