Madson’s 8th Inning Proves His Value
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Mon, April 13, 2009 11:25 AM | Comments: 19
Analysis, Posts
The bullpen did a yeoman’s job keeping the Phillies in the game yesterday. Props to Chad Durbin, Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey for wonderful middle relief. But when the Phils tied the game, they needed to stave off any chance for a Rockies rally. Cue Ryan Madson, who had a Madson-esque eighth inning:
Clint Barmes gave Madson a great at bat, making him throw 11 pitches. Yet Madson’s location was superb (two changes were completely in the dirt and a slider was high and outside), keeping Barmes on his toes before he hit an outside fastball to second base. Against the left-handed Todd Helton, Madson opened with three sliders inside, to establish the strike zone and find a 1-2 count. Once secured, he switched to the change, dropping 10 mph in velocity with a ball, then a strike that had Helton flying out to left field. Finally, rookie Dexter Fowler stepped in and met his maker. Madson threw him a setup fastball low and away, but in the zone, at 94 mph. His second pitch was the exact same pitch, but just a bit more outside, causing the green Fowler to swing and miss. Of course, the third pitch was the change, dropping 12 mph in velocity and hitting the exact same location as the first two pitches. Predictably, Fowler swung and struck out.
About a month ago, Matthew Carruth of FanGraphs revealed a study of unhittable pitches. He found the most unhittable pitch in baseball was Madson’s changeup:
Ryan Madson’s changeup (as classified by MLBAM), thrown to same-handed hitters generated a swing and miss a whopping 36% of the time, about 5% higher than any other pitch by any other pitcher in 2008.
Clearly Madson has a formula, and clearly, it works. So far in 2009, Madson is looking like his 2008 self: The best setup man in baseball.
Posts: 0 Geoff
hes been on fire since the stretch run last year, and this year hes gotten even better and hes been pitching smarter than he ever has before. If we didnt have Brad Lidge this guy could be a closer in his own right, but for the next few years these two will form a LETHAL setup-closer combination. Probably the best in all of baseball if each guys continues to perform at their expected level of excellence.
This bullpen is already nasty, and it might even be better than it was last year. AND theyve hidden like 5 guys down in AAA who have major league bullpen experience who can step right in if they are called up. I REALLY like the way Ruben has setup his bullpen this time around. Gillick built the bullpen, but Amaro has given it more depth.
Posted: 11:43 AM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 reddeath
now if they can get the starting pitching going.
Posted: 11:45 AM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Chutley
the most un hittable pitch in all of baseball? i didnt even think it was the best changeup on the team
Posted: 11:47 AM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 NC Jason
I would have never predicted this from Madson. He has been great since mid Julyish
Posted: 11:54 AM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Its better than Cole’s or Moyer’s changeup BY FAR. It easily has twice the drop that either of those do. Watch it on Pitchtrax next time they show it. The bottom just completely falls out of Madsons changeup.
Posted: 12:01 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Its a remarkable turnaround for Madson. Remember when he had no confidence and was scared to go out and face the boos? Hes really turned himself completely around and he has his confidence back. Hes found his niche on this team and you can tell he really enjoys it.
Posted: 12:04 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed
Anyone else hear what Chan Ho said yesterday about his performance…one of the best quotes I have ever heard from a baseball player “”They beat me, but they couldn’t beat us.”
Talk about a team guy.
Posted: 12:10 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Evan
Carlos Marmol looked nasty last night. I’d say he’s probably as good a setup man as Madson, though he should really be the Cubs closer.
Posted: 12:25 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Bruce
I know it’s only six games into the season but we need to see some quality starts from the rotation before long or there will be a concern with the bullpen being overworked. The key will be Hamels’ next start which is now scheduled for Thursday. If he can be effective with better command of his pitches regardless of velocity for 5 or 6 innings, that will inspire and ease the pressure for the rest of the starters to do well.
Posted: 12:27 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Buffalophilsfan
I agree with Geoff about Madson really coming into his own last year during the stretch run and into the playoffs. The guy throws gas. With a 94-96 mph heater combined with the lethal change it puts him in the “nasty” category. He truely is the Bridge to Lidge and this combo makes every game a 7-inning affair for our opponents. I only worry about 2 things:
1) burning out the bullpen early in the season as our starters continue to struggle (the Phills need to get a good lead tonight and good effort from Moyer since Madson and Lidge both have gone 2 straight games and Lidge threw a lot of pitches yesterday in cold weather)
2) when is Madson going to realize he can demand closer’s $$$ somewhere else? His role is key, but everyone wants to be the “rock star” closer (where have we heard this before). Mad Dog is one of the many keys to a repeat this season!!!!
Posted: 12:40 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Maverick
Evan, you must not have seen Marmol get smoked in the world baseball classic… by the NETHERLANDS!.. ..
Posted: 12:43 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Brooks
One of the amazing features of Ryan Madson that I see is that along with the fact that he did not lose a single beat, he does not need to ‘warm up’ in his delivery or speed if you will. He started throwing the ball just as hard this year as he left off last.
No one else on the Phils pitching staff can make that claim.
Now, last year he did state something about how he wanted to be fresh towards the end of the season which came in pretty handy. Do we need to be somewhat concerned that Ryan might be overutilized early?
Posted: 12:47 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
The good thing with Madson is finally he has a defined role.
Coming in he was a 7th inning guy who utilized too many pitches for that role. He expressed interest in starting, and coaches agreed he should start, so he was placed there. But his stuff didn’t exactly translate to being a starter.
Then he was moved back to the pen, but as a long man/middle reliever. That taxed him, he became injured.
Now he’s defined as the eighth inning guy. He’s one and done. Three pitches for the most part. That really helps with conditioning and rest.
Posted: 01:08 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Rob
Tim, Where’s the Nat’s v. Phil’s preview? I wanna read it before I hit up the metro to the game!
Posted: 01:16 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Griffin
Amaro’s best move of the offseason was re-signing Madson (a Boras client) to a below market value contract. Madson is the man.
Posted: 01:25 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Joe
To say Madson’s change up far better than Hamel’s change is absurd. Keep in mind that a reliever comes in for one inning. A starter needs to face the same hitters 3 or 4 times a game. Hamels is one of the best pitchers in the league and his out pitch is his change up.
Both have great change ups but Cole’s is better overall.
Posted: 01:26 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Joe…Madsons changeup moves twice as much as Hamels’ does, because they move in diff directions. Madson throws a straight changeup, in otherwords the ball drops straight down for the most part – and it drops twice as far as the normal straight change up does. Cole’s change up is a Circle Changeup, meaning it drops down and away from right handed hitters. It depends how well you throw it, but Madsons drops more sharply than Cole’s does, not like Cole’s has anything wrong with it – at all. Its like 1 and 1a….Also, Madsons changeup is more effective because there is a greater speed difference. Coles speed changed from his 90-92 fastball to an 80mph changeup is great, but Madson throws 95=97 and his changeup is 79-80. So it has a greater deceptive impact.
Posted: 01:33 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Madson is becoming one of my favorite Phils… I’m wearing the “old” #63 jersey today for the Nats-Phillies game. Let’s win this!
Posted: 02:08 PM on April 13, 2009
Posts: 0 me
lmao at best set-up man in baseball. Career FIP of 4.07. The big 4 predictors (James, Chones, Marcel, ZIPs) predicted him to have a ERA of about 3.8 on together and Chone said 3.88.
Posted: 03:25 PM on April 13, 2009