Jonathan Sanchez: Analyzing The Giants’ World Series Game 3 Starting Pitcher

Vitals

6’2, 189
Left-handed
193.1 innings
3.07 ERA
9.5 K/9
4.5 BB/9

2010 Playoffs

15.1 innings, 6 runs, 6 walk, 19 strikeouts

Last Start Summary

Sanchez started Game 6 of the NLCS against the Phillies. And though the Giants won the game and the set to move on to the World Series, Sanchez had very little to do with it. Tasked with shutting down the Phillies for five or six innings, Sanchez instead lasted just two, getting yanked with two on and none out in the bottom of the third. His command just wasn’t there. Of his 50 pitches, 24 were strikes. He walked two batters, and beaned another. For good measure he also allowed three hits while recording only one strikeout. Bruce Bochy was aggressive in his decision to take Sanchez out, but there were no indications that he was suddenly going to turn things around. It was an off night, in every sense of the expression.

Repertoire

Sanchez has a fairly standard pitch mix, as he comes with a fastball/slider/changeup repertoire. His fastball - which he likes to throw about 65% of the time - sits around 89-91, and is unspectacular in its movement, although it does manage to miss a number of bats. Which secondary pitch he prefers depends on the hitter, and on how Sanchez is feeling that day. His changeup is in the low-80s, and tails like his fastball with a lot more drop. His slider also sits in the low-80s, and it makes for an excellent swing-and-miss pitch.

Facing Righties

The left-handed Sanchez doesn’t give in to anyone, and both his strikeout rate and walk rate against right-handed hitters was terrific. Righties see a lot of fastballs from Sanchez - especially early in the count - and he likes to work high and away. If he falls behind, he’ll lean on his fastball and, to a lesser extent, his change. If he gets ahead, then he goes to his secondary pitches a lot more often. When he’s going for a strikeout, Sanchez likes to try and drop his slider low and in, out of the zone. He’ll also pitch with his changeup outside and occasionally bury it low. He’ll miss up a lot with his heater, and he allows a lot of fly balls, but it’s hard for anyone to go up and take aggressive swings.

Facing Lefties

As you’d expect, Sanchez goes to his breaking ball more often against same-handed hitters. There’s nothing here that’s really unpredictable. He likes to use his fastball to get ahead, and he doesn’t favor any particular area in the zone over any other. When behind, he stays with his heat. When he gets ahead, he switches to his breaking ball to go for strikeouts. Sanchez will drop a ton of sliders down and away, trying to get lefties to chase. That is not a pitch they hit with much success.