In my first post about Vertical Approach Angle, I covered how I was able to figure this out with MLB Statcast data. After spending hours (shoutout quarantine) trying to figure out the code to create the following three graphics, here is my 2 min read.
This first table is the average VAA for each pitch type in the 2019 regular season (3/28-9/29). This takes a very general approach, as the average VAA takes into account pitches that are located anywhere in the zone and at all release heights.
This table represents the xwOBACON within each of the one VAA increments. Like always, strive to be anything but average. Give me like 3 to 19 and a half more hours and I'll figure out how to add whiff rate into this table, in addition to breaking it down by each pitch type.
This heat map (s/o Kevin Kelly for the assist) is where I believe there can be a lot of value at some point. The initial heat map values are common sense: the higher in the zone a pitch, the closer the VAA is going to be to zero, AKA flatter; the lower in the zone a pitch is, the more negative it will be, AKA steeper. In each cell, the top number represents the average VAA and the bottom number represents the total number of pitches thrown to that location in 2019. From a strategy and development standpoint, we can evaluate each pitcher's individual VAA heat maps in conjunction with the eventually new and improved chart from above to try and figure out their optimal pitch zone based on the lowest xwOBACON or whiff rate. From a player acquisition standpoint, this is potentially an area to find an undervalued pitcher if he is not throwing to his "optimal VAA". The heat map will also be an easy way to show how two pitchers with identical vertical movement on a pitch does not translate to them having the same VAA, and therefore they (possibly) cannot pitch the same way.
Lots more to look into, but one thing is clear: Throw the Eephus 100% of the time.
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