FAITH MISPLACED?

For so long, evaluators, fans and even pitchers sneaking glances at their radar gun readings on stadium scoreboards have been focused on velocity—and for good reason. With rising velocity generally comes the ability to miss more bats and more margin for error. To be drafted in the early rounds today, a pitcher generally has to be able to reach the mid 90s with his fastball

For righthanders, sitting 90 mph or higher is a prerequisite for first-round consideration. Some high school lefties are granted leniency, but only if they sit in the high 80s and project to reach the 90s as they develop.

A look at the major league average velocity is telling. PITCHf/x entered the lexicon in 2008, and in that season the average major league fastball was 91.7 mph. Last season it was 93.7, the highest on record.

In the modern era, major league clubs have often prized velocity and hoped pitchers will learn how to pitch and learn how to command the ball. But what if teams have it backward in this era of velocity-adding, weighted-ball routines and pitch-design sessions that can optimize pitch shape? What if the most difficult skill to improve—and the rarest and most crucial building block—is command and not velocity?

Eno Sarris of the The Athletic has long dug into data to analyze pitchers. He believes some teams are beginning to place a greater premium on command.

“It’s my opinion that command is more innate and we had it backward for so long, where we bought velocity and hoped they would improve their command,” Sarris said. “I kind of think a Driveline-type situation should give you a good pipeline of relievers because it’s kind of a stuff-based program: ‘We’re going to increase the velocity. We’re going to shape these pitches.’

“But I know some teams, including the Mariners, are making a bet that