SPECULATOR: Change scores, 2023

A core tenet of player evaluation here at BaseballHQ is to ignore the surface-level stats and focus on skills instead. But at this early stage of the season, how do we know which changes in SKILLS might be more likely to stick around all year, and which ones are just variance after a handful of starts?

Tracking pitch-level data (usage, velocity, whiff rates) with Statcast is increasingly becoming a go-to in our quest to jump on breakout seasons, as someone showing a change in skill AND a change in approach has a better chance to stick all season. So this week, we'll revisit Change Score, which is the total change in pitch usage from 2022 to 2023 across a pitcher's entire arsenal.

A quick example of how Change Score works: if Joe Ryan...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From Speculator

An in-season check on pitchers who've switched up their pitch mix the most over the last couple of months.
Jul 24 2024 3:09am
It's been a great ride for Carlos Estévez, but who fills in if the Angels decide to cash in their chips?
Jul 17 2024 3:04am
Jackson Merrill and Jurickson Profar are shoo-ins for our post-200 ADP All-Star teams
Jul 10 2024 3:08am
Our annual exercise halfway through the season. We build a team of underperformers in the first half who are poised to turn things around.
Jun 26 2024 3:10am
The world-renowned BloomBoards make their way to the Speculator. We'll present four boards and speculate on the most interesting names.
Jun 19 2024 3:04am

Tools