I very badly want to believe this is a permanent fundamental improvement and not a small sample size thing.
Command and control seems to be a big contributor. His OBP has improved year over year from 4.7/9 I, to 3.6/9, to 2.9/9 to a measly 0.6/9 this year. .6 probably isn't sustainable, but the momentum is impressive.
That is BB/9, not OBP.
In this case, sure like the downward trend year to year, which seems odd to say.
Hoping he can sustain it. His control/command has been fantastic. His mound demeanor looks good. If there's a certain pitch he's using more effectively against RHH I'm not aware of it. Does anybody have more data/analysis of his pitch mix against RHH and what's working well?
Tia if anybody does.
I very badly want to believe this is a permanent fundamental improvement and not a small sample size thing.
Got better every year and now a breakout year. If you look at virtually all of his peripherals he’s improved year over year, which is why he seemed to me to be an ideal breakout pitcher this year. Plus he’s only 25 years old still.
I very badly want to believe this is a permanent fundamental improvement and not a small sample size thing.
Got better every year and now a breakout year. If you look at virtually all of his peripherals he’s improved year over year, which is why he seemed to me to be an ideal breakout pitcher this year. Plus he’s only 25 years old still.
All the stats in my world matter not other than the evil walk, especially the leadoff walk. Master that, sky is the limit.
I very badly want to believe this is a permanent fundamental improvement and not a small sample size thing.
Command and control seems to be a big contributor. His OBP has improved year over year from 4.7/9 I, to 3.6/9, to 2.9/9 to a measly 0.6/9 this year. .6 probably isn't sustainable, but the momentum is impressive.
That is BB/9, not OBP.
In this case, sure like the downward trend year to year, which seems odd to say.
Hoping he can sustain it. His control/command has been fantastic. His mound demeanor looks good. If there's a certain pitch he's using more effectively against RHH I'm not aware of it. Does anybody have more data/analysis of his pitch mix against RHH and what's working well?
Tia if anybody does.
Well to this point he’s using his changeup the most since his rookie year. It’s “value” is the same as last year, both positive, but he only used the changeup 4.4% of the time last year vs 9.5% this year.
He’s used his slider more than any other pitch and it’s been his most effective one the last two years.
Jatalk wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025 13:52 pm
They play different positions impossible to compare. Problem is Cards over hyped both. Libby is showing promise.
Cards didn't overhype Libby
CT cried because of who they traded when landing him, and held the 22 year old to some weird lofty ideal.
Kid didn't even play one year to develop due to COVID season
And also to that point, Arozarena came up big in big spots in the '20 post-season. I don't think any of us really had Randy on our radar during that regular season. I think with just the weirdness of that season--and in our lives--and the very limp nature of St. Louis' venture into the play-offs, that made the hurt worse for Randy. And we got nothing from Liberatore during that same time--which is not his fault.
He's still a nice player, but not one that I'm all that upset about losing. He's certainly not the Ruthian hitter that he was for that month in 2020.
I very badly want to believe this is a permanent fundamental improvement and not a small sample size thing.
Command and control seems to be a big contributor. His OBP has improved year over year from 4.7/9 I, to 3.6/9, to 2.9/9 to a measly 0.6/9 this year. .6 probably isn't sustainable, but the momentum is impressive.
That is BB/9, not OBP.
Yeppers.... I had started to say his OBP has improved each year as has his BB/9.
Last edited by hugeCardfan on 30 Apr 2025 11:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
I very badly want to believe this is a permanent fundamental improvement and not a small sample size thing.
Command and control seems to be a big contributor. His OBP has improved year over year from 4.7/9 I, to 3.6/9, to 2.9/9 to a measly 0.6/9 this year. .6 probably isn't sustainable, but the momentum is impressive.
That is BB/9, not OBP.
In this case, sure like the downward trend year to year, which seems odd to say.
Hoping he can sustain it. His control/command has been fantastic. His mound demeanor looks good. If there's a certain pitch he's using more effectively against RHH I'm not aware of it. Does anybody have more data/analysis of his pitch mix against RHH and what's working well?
Tia if anybody does.
Well to this point he’s using his changeup the most since his rookie year. It’s “value” is the same as last year, both positive, but he only used the changeup 4.4% of the time last year vs 9.5% this year.
He’s used his slider more than any other pitch and it’s been his most effective one the last two years.
So he's about doubled his good changeup use while utilizing his best pitch often, combined with much improved currently elite command.
That's impressive, and while it might not be cool on here, shouldn't we give PC Blake some credit.
If this improvement can last, what a great boost for the Cardinals moving forward.
Thanks for the info FGM
Bully4you wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025 12:37 pm
Rewind to 2022
Liberatore was maligned on this site.
Pure hatred for the kid.
Gorman was hailed as the next great
superstar.
Oh, how the tide has turned.
Crazy shift in 2025
I only know of one person that thought Libby may be better than Gorman ... Mrs. Liberatore but she kept it pretty much under the radar as she wanted to keep peace in the household since her husband thought Gorman was better ! lol
Bully4you wrote: ↑29 Apr 2025 12:37 pm
Rewind to 2022
Liberatore was maligned on this site.
Pure hatred for the kid.
Gorman was hailed as the next great
superstar.
Oh, how the tide has turned.
Crazy shift in 2025
I had started to say his OBP has improved each year as has his BB/9.