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Pitching Ratings
All players have a set of three basic batting ratings: Stuff, Movement, and Control. Each of these has a matching potential rating. (See Current vs Potential Ratings for more information on the distinction between the two.) Additionally, pitchers are rated for each individual pitch they can throw. Pitching ratings can be seen on the Player Profile, the Ratings page, or in any list of players using the Pitching Ratings view. They are also available on the Scouting Reports page.
There are also four additional ratings that do not have corresponding "potential" ratings: Stamina, Ground Ball %, Velocity, and Hold Runners. Pitching ratings are used by the game engine to determine the outcome of a pitch.
Relief pitchers receive a small bonus to stuff, to reflect the fact that batters get fewer looks at their pitches and have less of a chance to adjust to them. OOTP displays that bonus in the form of increased Stuff ratings. This bonus is heavily tied into the strength of a reliever's top two pitches, since relievers have much less incentive to mix in their weaker offerings. This means that a pitcher with a strong fastball, a strong slider, and a weak changeup might make for an average starting pitcher but a great reliever. You get to decide how he provides the most useful fit for your team. You can see the change in a pitcher's Stuff rating if you change the player's position from SP to MR and back.
The Player Profile or Player Ratings pages also contain a Projected Role drop-down, which can be used to check a pitcher's suitability for starting at any level of play. This drop-down menu will classify a pitcher as a Starter, Borderline Starter, Emergency Starter, or Bullpen pitcher at any level of play you select.
Players may also learn new pitches over time. Players are most likely to learn now pitches in the minor leagues, or during Spring Training. The older a player is, the less likely they are to learn new pitches.
Certain types of pitches are particularly effective against hitters on the same side of the plate. In particular, if you are looking for a left-handed reliever who specializes in getting left handed batters out (a LOOGY), look for pitchers with a good slider. If you want a right-handed reliever who can handle lefties and righties equally well, look for someone with a good cutter.
There are also four additional ratings that do not have corresponding "potential" ratings: Stamina, Ground Ball %, Velocity, and Hold Runners. Pitching ratings are used by the game engine to determine the outcome of a pitch.
Stuff
Stuff is a measure of the quality of a pitcher's pitch repertoire. Think of it as essentially how a pitcher "puts it all together." Stuff directly affects the number of strikeouts a pitcher throws. Stuff is calculated based on a combination of his individual pitch ratings and the velocity with which he throws.Relief pitchers receive a small bonus to stuff, to reflect the fact that batters get fewer looks at their pitches and have less of a chance to adjust to them. OOTP displays that bonus in the form of increased Stuff ratings. This bonus is heavily tied into the strength of a reliever's top two pitches, since relievers have much less incentive to mix in their weaker offerings. This means that a pitcher with a strong fastball, a strong slider, and a weak changeup might make for an average starting pitcher but a great reliever. You get to decide how he provides the most useful fit for your team. You can see the change in a pitcher's Stuff rating if you change the player's position from SP to MR and back.
Movement
Movement is a measure of the movement on a pitcher's pitches. It is harder for batters to make good contact with pitches that have good movement. As a result, pitchers with high Movement ratings tend to give up fewer home runs. Movement is calculated based on factors including ground ball %.Control
Control is a measure of a pitcher's accuracy. Pitchers with good Control ratings tend to walk fewer batters.Velocity
Velocity is a measure of how fast a pitcher throws. Velocity is not measured according to the standard rating system, but rather is measured in miles per hour. Velocity can change over time, with younger players typically gaining velocity as they fill out, and losing velocity due to age or injury. Velocity is important for certain pitches that are heavily dependent upon velocity. For example, a fastball relies heavily upon velocity, while a knuckleball does not. Velocity is factored into the overall Stuff rating, as well as the ratings of individual pitches.Arm Slot
Arm Slot indicates the angle the pitcher's arm travels through during his pitching motion: submarine (arm is at a sub-90 degree angle to the pitcher's vertical plane), sidearm (arm is more or less horizontal), normal 3/4 (somewhere between a sidearm and pure overhand delivery), or over the top (arm is close to being vertical.) The vast majority of pitchers use the normal delivery. In the game, arm slot primarily affects left-vs-right performance: the lower the angle of the arm, the more significant the difference between the pitcher's performance against left- or right- handed batter.Stamina
Stamina is a measure of how many pitches a pitcher can throw before tiring. Tired pitchers are more likely to walk hitters or give up hits. Pitchers with high Stamina ratings tend to be used as starting pitchers, while pitchers with low Stamina ratings tend to be used as relief pitchers. The bare minimum endurance (now called Stamina) needed in order to start is 25 on a 1-100 scale, but most starters should have at least a 50.Hold Runners
Hold Runners is a measure of a pitcher's ability to hold runners on base. It is harder for runners on base to steal against pitchers who have high Hold Runners ratings. A combination of a pitcher with a good Hold Runners rating and a catcher with a good arm can significantly reduce the chances of opponents attempting stolen bases.Ground Ball %
Ground Ball % is a measure of how many balls hit off this pitcher are ground balls as compared to fly balls. Pitchers with high Ground Ball % ratings tend to get more ground outs and double plays. Pitchers with low Ground Ball % ratings tend to have a lower BABIP (batting average on balls in play), because fly balls are generally more likely to turn into outs than ground balls. The presence of a curveball or sinker correlates to a higher groundball percentage. Ground ball % is factored into the overall Movement rating.Individual Pitch Ratings
Each pitcher in OOTP can throw an assortment of different pitches, displayed in the Player Profile or on the Player Ratings page. Just as with other pitching ratings, pitchers have "current" and "potential" rating for each pitch. Higher individual pitch ratings mean a higher likelihood of getting hitters out. Additionally, a pitcher's repertoire has a strong impact on the role in which the pitcher will be successful. Typically, a pitcher (with the exception of knuckleballers) needs at least three solid pitches to be an effective starting pitcher in a major league. The lower the league level, the fewer pitches a pitcher needs to compete.The Player Profile or Player Ratings pages also contain a Projected Role drop-down, which can be used to check a pitcher's suitability for starting at any level of play. This drop-down menu will classify a pitcher as a Starter, Borderline Starter, Emergency Starter, or Bullpen pitcher at any level of play you select.
Players may also learn new pitches over time. Players are most likely to learn now pitches in the minor leagues, or during Spring Training. The older a player is, the less likely they are to learn new pitches.
Lefty-Righty Splits
Just like hitters, pitchers also perform differently depending on the handedness of the batter they are facing. These "split" ratings are displayed on the Player Ratingsscreenas "VS LHB" (versus left-handed batters) and "VS RHB" (versus right-handed batters). These split ratings are not visible on the Player Profile. Be sure to consider this information when making pitching decisions!Certain types of pitches are particularly effective against hitters on the same side of the plate. In particular, if you are looking for a left-handed reliever who specializes in getting left handed batters out (a LOOGY), look for pitchers with a good slider. If you want a right-handed reliever who can handle lefties and righties equally well, look for someone with a good cutter.
