Z-volution

Carlos Zambrano is a seven-pitch pitcher. The least frequently used are a straight change-up and, until recently, a curveball. Z is throwing more curveballs these days, and has resumed heavy use of his cut fastball. The cutter was kicked to the sidelines last Spring, but started its comeback after the exile-to-the-bullpen experiment failed finished.

The splitter is not getting rolled out very much these days. Zambrano's velocity is also not as high as it used to be (see below), so some of the "no straight changes" is a result of not being able to distinguish "taking a little off the heater" and throwing something that's off-speed. The effect could be either direction--in other words, the "little off" pitches in the past may have been distinct enough for me to label as change-ups.

But I digress...platoon splits:

The pattern is similar for both left- and right-handed batters.

A quick look at velocity, or lack thereof:

Fastball speed:
2007 92.6
2008 92.3
2009 91.8
2010 90.7
2011 89.6

It's April and chilly, but Z's 2011 appears to fit the trend that's been in place for a few years now.

Sinker speed:
2007 92.0
2008 92.1
2009 91.5
2010 90.3
2011 89.4

Same thing, different grip.

Splitter speed:
2007 84.5
2008 85.4
2009 85.2
2010 83.6
2011 82.5

Third grip, same dealio. I could go on ... Z's cutter is now averaging below 90 and his slider below 80. His curveball is actually thrown harder. A mid-60s rarity until 2008, Carlos has been throwing it a few MPH higher and is averaging just a hair under 70 so far in 2011.