New York Yankees: Breaking down every pitcher’s best pitch
By Kyle Cardoza
New York Yankees fans, like all baseball fans, remember some players primarily because of one pitch. But every pitcher in talented pitching staff in the Bronx has at least one pitch that perplexes and stuns opposing hitters.
The New York Yankees bolstered their bullpen this offseason. Even though general manager Brian Cashman didn’t add to the stacked pitching platoon the past few months, the club still has one of the best in the bigs.
Analysts tend to identify why a bullpen is successful, and it’s typically because each pitcher embraces their role for their respective squads. Yet few people delve into what makes each relief pitcher successful in their own way.
Typically, it begins and likely ends with their best pitch.
Many fans in New York ogle over the essentially four-headed monster that lurks in the bullpen. Together, Dellin Betances, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino and Aroldis Chapman all combine for an immense amount of career holds, saves and strikeouts.
They are also each well-known for their best pitches – it’s what their highlights exhibit most. But they aren’t the only players that demonstrate their sheer dominance with one elusive pitch.
Prior to his multiple knee injuries, C.C. Sabathia boasted one of the most deceiving sliders in the game. James Paxton showed off his blinding fastball late in games last season when he racked up consecutive outings with double-digit strikeouts.
New York’s pitching staff is certainly better than what it was last season. Primarily, the bullpen can rack up several strikeouts in one game, while the starters value consistency for at least five innings.
That doesn’t mean starters like Paxton and Luis Severino don’t accrue an impressive amount of strikeouts, because they do. Both ranked in the top 15 in the category, Paxton doing so with just 160 innings pitched.
But few fans understand why each pitcher can be so successful year after year, even with the same repertoire. Many continue to ask that about former Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.
Now, New Yorkers may ask that about their current pitchers. When looking at further analytics, there are some surprises as to whose pitches are most successful and how opponents fare against them.
And it applies not only to the well-known pitchers on the club but to all Yankees pitchers.