Cards think Smoltz was tipping pitches

[Joolz]

:th_coffee:

Coaching staff says hitters knew what was coming in Boston

By Matthew Leach / MLB.com




SAN DIEGO -- The competition level was different. A mechanical tweak didn't hurt. But maybe one other thing went into John Smoltz's eye-catching game against the Padres on Sunday. Maybe the hitters didn't know what was coming.

Among the various explanations for the five shutout innings Smoltz pitched -- highlighted by nine strikeouts -- was that he and the Cardinals believe he may have stopped tipping his pitches to opposing hitters, particularly when he pitched from the stretch. The Cardinals' staff had the right-hander make an adjustment following a bullpen session he threw on Thursday, and the results were hard to argue with.

"It's pretty clear he was tipping his pitches," manager Tony La Russa said after the game.

St. Louis has something of a history with this. It's one of the things the club's staff looks for when trying to "fix" a pitcher, and there was some statistical evidence to back up the claim as well. With runners on base, Smoltz's numbers in Boston were far worse than with the bases empty -- batters had a 63-point higher batting average and a 123-point uptick in slugging percentage.

Additionally, tipping might explain why Smoltz's performance got worse as he got deeper into games. Opponents fared much better in their second and third turns through the batting order than the first time around.

Smoltz himself pointed more to a mechanical adjustment he made, getting his heel closer to the pitching rubber when he pitched. But he also acknowledged that he might have been giving something away to hitters.

"I very well could have been," he said. "If you tip your pitches, it's a lot easier to hit in this league."

Smoltz will start again on Friday against the Nationals in St. Louis.


http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090824&content_id=6592952&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[oldskool138]

"It's pretty clear he was tipping his pitches," manager Tony La Russa said after the game.

Wow, nice slam on Farrell.

[jaychamp]

"It's pretty clear he was tipping his pitches," manager Tony La Russa said after the game.

Wow, nice slam on Farrell.
Now I want Smoltz to get rocked his next start :rofl:

But he did say they noticed it in the BP session. That doesn't mean he tipped during live games. And if it was that obvious I'm sure it would have been noticed because the Red Sox. Didn't Farrell make the same claim about Byrd last year? So obviously they look for it

[Joolz]

Now I want Smoltz to get rocked his next start :rofl:

But he did say they noticed it in the BP session. That doesn't mean he tipped during live games. And if it was that obvious I'm sure it would have been noticed because the Red Sox. Didn't Farrell make the same claim about Byrd last year? So obviously they look for it

If I recall, it was actually a member/poster on Sons of Sam Horn that picked up on the Byrd tipping.

[jaychamp]

If I recall, it was actually a member/poster on Sons of Sam Horn that picked up on the Byrd tipping.
First reported by a poster so to speak, but Byrd claimed it was already known and being worked on. Who knows though, maybe the Sox didn't want to get shown up by a messageboard poster and lied :)

[dunaja]

Isn't the obvious move here by the Red Sox to go over Smoltz live-game tape, see if the allegation is true, and if so, reprimand Farrell?

I'm concerned.

[sprocketboy]

Isn't the obvious move here by the Red Sox to go over Smoltz live-game tape, see if the allegation is true, and if so, reprimand Farrell?

I'm concerned.

If that reprimand happens, I'd be way surprised if it happens in public.

That doesn't mean that it wouldn't leak out eventually. Especially if Farrell is ever dismissed from his duties.

[dunaja]

If that reprimand happens, I'd be way surprised if it happens in public.

That doesn't mean that it wouldn't leak out eventually. Especially if Farrell is ever dismissed from his duties.

Good point. I don't care if his punishment is public... just hope this is properly taken care of. It sounds like something that could be ignored and I think it's pretty serious if a pitching coach doesn't catch that. That's his job.

[babalu87]

If true Farrell needs a blanket party

MERCY

[Mikiemo83]

come on Tony and the rest of his staff are true-believers of being above the rest of baseball

maybe he was tipping his pitches, but I doubt it...I think mentally Smoltz believes this, and like the old Shrink that travelled with him, it helps him believe in himself

[babalu87]

I hope thats the case but if he is lights out in his next start I am going to be VERY suspicious.

The difference in leagues would certainly account for something but the difference was too drastic for that alone to be the cause.

[Mikiemo83]

i hope thats the case but if he is lights out in his next start i am going to be very suspicious.

The difference in leagues would certainly account for something but the difference was too drastic for that alone to be the cause.

he is going against the nats...he should be lights out - they are borderline aaa level

[babalu87]

he is going against the nats...he should be lights out - they are borderline aaa level

Right but the opposition in the AL was hitting something crazy like .360.
I know the Nats suck but talent wise across MLB the difference isnt 100 points in batting average.

[jaychamp]

Smoltz sucked against crappy teams too while with the Sox.