First, I pulled up the game on *. Gotta have the visuals, right? I wanted to see the pitches, not just read about them. I like starting fresh and seeing the whole flow, so no skipping around at this point.
Setting the Stage
I started by jotting down some basic notes. Things like the date, the ballpark, the general weather conditions. Helps set the scene, you know? Gives you that "I was there" feeling, even if I was just on my couch.
Pitch by Pitch Breakdown
Then, the real work began. I went through the game, pitch by pitch. For each one, I noted:
- Pitch type – Was it a fastball, curveball, slider, changeup, whatever?
- Velocity - how fast.
- Location – Where did it cross the plate? High, low, inside, outside? Use a simple grid system for this.
- Result – Ball, strike, foul, hit? If it was a hit, what kind? Single, double, etc.
This part took a while, seriously. Lots of pausing, rewinding, and rewatching. It is easy to miss some pitches and their result.
Looking for Patterns
Once I had all the data down, I started looking for patterns. Did Harris favor certain pitches in certain counts? Did he have trouble locating a particular pitch? Did his velocity drop as the game went on? Those sorts of things. I tried to write the answer.
The Blue Jays' Approach
I also paid attention to how the Blue Jays hitters were reacting. Were they swinging early in the count? Were they taking a lot of pitches? Were they having success against certain pitches? I want to know all the details.
Putting It All Together
Finally, I tried to summarize my findings. What were the key takeaways from Harris's performance? What did he do well? What did he struggle with? What might he work on in his next start? I think I got all my answers from this match.
It's a bit of a grind, doing this kind of detailed breakdown. But, honestly, I find it really helps me understand the game better. Plus, it's fun to play amateur scout, even if it's just for my own enjoyment!
