Justin Verlander's Impossible Inning: A Study in Velocity and Spin Rate l Baseball Bits

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On May 24, 2012, Justin Verlander pitched the greatest inning ever. That's my thesis and I'm sticking to it. It was not an immaculate inning, nor was it three pitches. It was, however, the most dominant inning ever pitched. In this third episode of Baseball Bits, we take a look at data from Statcast and PITCHf/x to show precisely just how special Justin Verlander's four seam fastball spin rate and Justin Verlander's velocity were in the 8th inning. Statcast spin rate is huge now, but can we use PITCHf/x to get a good estimate for data before 2015? It's time to find out in this baseball video essay, which also seeks to explain the term "rising fastball."

Oh, and did I mention that JV is angry the whole time? He is angry enough that the Youtube video for this inning is simply called "Not Happy JV." That says a lot right there. He cranks out heater after heater, including a 102 MPH fastball that threatens to destroy the very fabric of our universe. Justin Verlander follows those up with devastating curveballs as well. While many have grown to love Justin Verlander on the Astros, the Justin Verlander Tigers days were something to behold, and I attempt to rectify a somewhat forgotten inning from a living legend. Why? I believe that it's the best inning ever pitched. Pure and simple. I mean, just look at that high spin rate fastball! You do not want to be on the receiving end of a Justin Verlander four seam fastball. I'm certain of that.

- Foolish Baseball
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Not Happy JV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZUFjumWgO0

Flopps Baseball Cards: http://www.flipflopflyin.com/flipflopflyball/flopps.html

Whiff City Chart, originally constructed by Jeff Zimmerman: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HI-dikWN64clxSGJu2QV8C64R9Bkzt8K-jFaeHj4X7k/edit?fbclid=IwAR1j26VYBbM9REeX-AHEH33dG17mZ5gxbO6cTN7Gzmk6ELzaMEENP9GS-J4#gid=0

Effectively Wild Facebook group, I see y'all.