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Most of us know that spin rate plays a big role in why a pitch breaks vertically. A high spin rate fastball will drop less than a low spin rate fastball, giving it the “rise” that can drive batters to swing and miss at pitches over the plate Gerrit Cole does this quite a lot.
What drives horizontal movement, especially on fastballs, is a little different. Because a fastball is thrown with backspin, spin rate alone doesn’t really affect lateral movement. It’s actually affected by delivery and release point, specifically how horizontal the pitching arm is at release. A pitcher with a three-quarters delivery, all else equal, will impart more horizontal movement on a pitch than a straight-over-the-top delivery.
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Happy 2021, Twins fans.
Let’s close the book on 2020 by closing out this series (which took a holiday hiatus), grading all the Twins who have not yet received marks.
F Tier
Zack Littell, RP, 6 games: After an excellent 2019, Littell surprisingly collapsed in 2020, allowing five homers in six appearances with a 9.95 ERA (14.40 FIP) and 2.368 ERA.
Grade: F
Grade: F
Lewis Thorpe, RP, 7 games: Seven appearances, 6.06 ERA, 6.99 FIP, 2.082 WHIP. four homers allowed in 16.1 innings.
Grade: F
Jake Odorizzi, SP, 4 games: Clearly affected by injury, Odorizzi posted a 6.59 ERA over his four starts, allowing four home runs and only striking out 12 over 13.2 innings.
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Over their 138-season history, the Giants have seen scores of talented players become synonymous with the numbers on the backs of their jerseys. Here’s a look at the best Giants player to wear each uniform number:
Oliver batted .298 with a .705 OPS over 91 games with the Giants in 1984 before being dealt to the Phillies in exchange for Kelly Downs and George Riley in a midseason trade.
Known as “HacMan,” Leonard endeared himself to Giants fans by trotting around the bases with his left arm tucked into his body one flap down. His signature moment came in 1987, when he crushed four homers against the Cardinals in the National League Championship Series and took home Series MVP honors despite the Giants losing in seven games.