"Last September, a baseball researcher with a background in physics released a groundbreaking study about catchers. Mike Fast analyzed their ability to impact the game by making pitches on the edge of the zone appear to be strikes.
He concluded that pitch framing, already considered an important skill, wasn’t being valued nearly enough.
Fast’s research suggested that a strike-stealing catcher could provide value comparable to a strong offensive player, and that the effect of framing appeared so powerful that even part-time players could significantly effect a pitching staff.
Catchers, he concluded, 'appear to have a substantial impact on the success of their pitcher through their ability to gain extra strike calls from the umpires.'
Included among the best in the game: Jose Molina, Russell Martin and an obscure journeyman named Chris Stewart. It’s the reason, a person with knowledge of the team’s thinking, that the Yankees made the deal."
The study is probably a hoax, for one thing.
For another, the last thing the Yankees need are a bunch of A.J. Burnetts trying to hit the corners with two strikes (just like Sabathia and Kuroda in the first two games of the season).
Stop nibbling the corners, you cowards. A 1-2 count always ends up becoming a 3-2 count, which ends up becoming a walk, which ends up becoming a run.
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