Lilly Pitch Selections; Zito Arm Angles

Here's an updated look at the pitch selection of Ted Lilly. His curveball has not only returned, but has stuck around. (Click to enlarge)



Barry Zito's arm slot is moving around. Last night, he looks to have one for his curve and slider, one for his fastball, and his change is somewhere in between, or a bit of each. Left pane is release point in feet, right pane is spin movement in inches. Both are from the catcher's view.



Here's a comparison of the fastball from first inning (yellow) to fifth (red)



Zito moved downward with his arm, and it really started after the first inning, His arm was highest in the first inning, slid outward a bit in the second, and stayed the same for the third frame. In the fourth inning, it dropped and stayed there. Tired? Otherwise, he was moving from his "old" overhand to the "new" lower slot. As the game went on, his curveball increased in lateral movement, albeit gradually. But, I can only conclude this guy's mechanics are hosed, and it he sure looked like someone who couldn't hit the inside of a barn last night.