Is Ace Chanderson back?

[BrewersAA]

Obviously there is a huge “small sample size alert” here, but if Ace is back that would be an incredible boost to this team. For me it not just a good outing against a good team, but it was his velocity. For much of the year chase has been 91-94 on the fastball and that has been concerning to me since last season a high velocity accompanied his breakout. Last night he sat mostly at 94 and topped out at 97, he only touched 95 and 96 a couple times and I only saw 97 once, but he was beating hitters with it. There is a big difference in how every other pitch plays when the heater is coming in 94-95 vs 91-92. Anyone else notice this last night??

 

Also, the rotation would start looking pretty good again with last seasons Ace, Guerra, Cachin, David’s, and Suter

[MrTPlush]

The velocity did look like it was up. He has owned the Cubs all year though so I will hold off my excitement.

[tmwiese55]

Velocity up was a great sign going forward. I'd say the key last night was curve was on point, so much soft contact off it. location was always where wanted and down

[Montezuma]

Quality outing last night and perfect timing to shine...

[FVBrewerFan]

I keep seeing references to this big difference in FB velocity between this season and last. Per Fangraphs, his FB averaged 93.7 last year, it's at 93 this year. I haven't dug any deeper yet, but pretty sure he started off last season a little lower in velo as well. So yea, I think he is ramping it up a little but it doesn't look like it's much different from last season.

 

Key for him, IMHO, is locating the curve. When he can drop that hammer for strikes, he looks Ben Sheets-like.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I keep seeing references to this big difference in FB velocity between this season and last. Per Fangraphs, his FB averaged 93.7 last year, it's at 93 this year. I haven't dug any deeper yet, but pretty sure he started off last season a little lower in velo as well. So yea, I think he is ramping it up a little but it doesn't look like it's much different from last season.

 

Key for him, IMHO, is locating the curve. When he can drop that hammer for strikes, he looks Ben Sheets-like.

 

I think there was concern after Anderson's 1st 1-2 starts this season when the velo was noticeably down...little was made of the fact he was fresh off an illness just as the season started and likely wasn't feeling 100%. That concern sort of waned after awhile, and now that he's gotten a few starts since coming off the DL under him it sure looks like the velo isn't as much of a worry going forward.

[xisxisxis]

chACE Anderson is back....

[MrTPlush]

Checking Fangraphs his velocity was way up yesterday. Fastball was more in line with 2017 and honestly for the first time all year. Hasn’t pitched nearly that hard all year.

 

Before last night his velocity was steadily dropping three games in a row. Which isn’t unheard of throughout a season, but sure nice to see him revert back to throwing hard.

[Madhawk23]

Velocity was definitely up last night, and I know CC and Chase both commented about it after the game. Boy, let's hope that this is the start of a good run for Chase and he can start to get back to his 2017 form. We need that badly if this team is really going to continue to compete for the division or a playoff spot this year. Very encouraging to see that performance last night, and let's just hope that he can build off of it.

[YelichPosse]

Chase looked fantastic yesterday. He kept the ball DOWN. When he missed, he missed just a bit, and it was off the plate or further down. THAT is how you have to miss when you miss.

 

That was the best pitched game we have seen from a starter this year. Also, as I stated in the IGT, letting him go out for the 7th inning will only help him long term confidence wise.

[markedman5]

Chase said he is finally feeling 100% after the food poisoning incident. Also mentioned liking the high humidity last night.......he is from Texas and he is used to it.

[clancyphile]

If Anderson is back to his 2017 form, and Guerra is pitching more like his 2016 version... this team's in great shape.

[Madhawk23]

Velocity was definitely up last night, and I know CC and Chase both commented about it after the game. Boy, let's hope that this is the start of a good run for Chase and he can start to get back to his 2017 form. We need that badly if this team is really going to continue to compete for the division or a playoff spot this year. Very encouraging to see that performance last night, and let's just hope that he can build off of it.

[SRB]

His velocity increased over the first couple months of the season and he really broke out in June last year as well, so it's something to be optimistic about. (Granted his start to 2018 was worse than his start to 2017 before he broke out)

[SRB]

Chase Anderson Splits

 

2017, through May: 55.2 IP, 3.72 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 4.66 xFIP, 1.35 WHIP, .331 wOBAA

2017, from June: 85.2 IP, 2.10 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 4.12 xFIP, 0.92 WHIP, .246 wOBAA

 

2018, through May: 55.0 IP, 4.42 ERA, 6.26 FIP, 5.37 xFIP, 1.24 WHIP, .337 wOBAA

[LouisEly]

He said a week or two ago that he had been having trouble finding the feel for his curveball or slider, don't remember which. Has nothing to do with fastball velocity.

[BrewersAA]

Chase’s fastball velocity dipped over his last 6 or so starts after he came off the DL. That maybe be part of the overall yearly velocity not being considerable higher than this year. Regardless, it was the first outing I saw over 95 this year and that bodes well.

[Never Outhustled]

I still think he injured himself on that slide opening day, and is finally getting healthy now. Like others have said, great to have the real Chase back, he's a dominant pitcher.

[Greenleaf1]

FanGraphs has his average fastball velocities by year:

 

2016: 92.1

2017: 93.7

2018: 93.1

 

So at least some of that bump has carried over to 2018, and I think there's a way somewhere to look at it by month because at the beginning of this season, I seem to remember someone saying that Anderson's velocity went up throughout the course of 2017 and his 2018 velocity wasn't that far off month-to-month.

 

Anyways, it'll be interesting to see his next start which is a day game on a super hot day so hopefully he'll feel right in his element again and will bring the heat!

[Greenleaf1]

Found it on Brooks Baseball:

 

Fourseam Fastball velo by month:

 

3/17 93.39

4/17 92.97

5/17 93.76

6/17 94.49

7/17 93.63

8/17 93.76

 

3/18 92.43

4/18 92.58

5/18 93.34

6/18 93.53

 

So he started a lot lower than last year, but he's working his way back up.

[BrewersAA]

That looks about right. Obviously avg. fab velocity is really important when looking at a pitcher, but I’m also a believe in looking at their max velocity as well. When I guy is maxing at 94 vs a guy that may have close the the same avg. speed but has show. 97, it makes the hitters have to respect that 97 could be coming and therefor the offspeed plays up, even if the avg is fairly similar. Does that make sense?

[Lee16]

Nope.

[brewmann04]

he was never an ACE

[coolhandluke121]

Was ridiculously lucky last year. FB/HR ratio was one of the best in the entire majors. Uptick in velocity was there but was overstated considering most pitchers added about 2 mph due to the new measuring system. Is basically just a better version of the 2015-16 Chase, but still the same basic pitcher.

[rickh150]

Love how people bag him after a bad start..... say it before.