(*) FACTS/FLUKES: Pitcher performance via PITCHf/x data

(A version of this article appeared in the May 16 edition of Sports Weekly)

One of the newer frontiers in baseball analysis is PITCHf/x, the system installed in every major league ballpark that collects data on every pitched ball. This voluminous resource is a treasure trove for researchers, and analysts inside and outside the game are finding more use for it each year.

Much like more traditional skill measurements such as walk and strikeout rates and home run-to-fly-ball ratio, the data on a pitcher's velocity and movement can help validate or invalidate his ERA and WHIP.

As an introduction to this type of analysis, here are nine pitchers who improved statistically during the 2011 season, via their 1H/2H splits. Using PITCHf/x...

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