Exclusive first look at MLBAM’s state-of-the-art video of Lorenzo Cain's incredible ALCS catch
The brilliance of Lorenzo Cain in the outfield now has numbers to back it up – and they’re every bit as impressive as the highlight catches that have become commonplace during Kansas City Royals playoff games.
Data from Major League Baseball Advanced Media’s Statcast system detailed every step of Cain robbing Baltimore shortstop J.J. Hardy of extra bases with a diving catch during the Royals’ 6-4 victory in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. The numbers are eerily similar to a Statcast-tracked catch in July by reigning National League MVP Andrew McCutchen, giving a hint of the incredible data deluge expected to arrive next year.
Cain was shaded slightly toward right field, as was McCutchen with Juan Lagares at the plate. While McCutchen’s first step was quicker than Cain’s (.17 seconds to .24), Cain made up for the jump with an incredible burst of speed. He topped out at 21.2 mph, according to Statcast data, nearly two mph faster than McCutchen (max speed: 19.4 mph) and faster even than Yasiel Puig’s top-end speed of 21.1 mph in a robbery of a Wilmer Flores hit this season.
The parallels between Cain and McCutchen’s catches only grew stronger. Cain ran, dove and caught the ball 82 feet from his initial positioning. McCutchen ran, dove and caught the ball 83 feet from his starting point. And both took almost as perfect a route as possible: Each was 99.7 percent efficient, as measured by Statcast, which compares the distance of the shortest route to the ball to the actual route.
“Just trying to get a good read like I've been doing all year,” Cain said. “Just be a playmaker for my pitchers, because they've been doing an outstanding job all year. Just laying out, willing to do anything to make a play. That's the kind of guy I am. I'm going to continue to play that way.”
Cain’s breakout performance continued with a 4-for-5 night against the Orioles, pushing his ALCS totals to 6 for 8 with a pair of walks. Even more impressive is his glovework, from a leaping catch on the first batter of the division series to Saturday’s diving catch and another down the right-field line. As well as Cain patrols center, he shifts to right field late in games, his versatility allowing Jarrod Dyson to take over in center.
“I believe he should get a Gold Glove this year,” Dyson said. “Everybody’s pulling for him to get one. Just a great outfielder, man. He makes a lot of plays for us.”
Whatever other magic Cain unleashes, Statcast will capture it. MLBAM has installed the system in the stadiums of all four of the league championship series teams after testing it at Citi Field, Miller Park and Target Field this year, and it expects to offer a detailed perspective of one or two important plays from each remaining playoff game.
It’s literally game-changing technology. Baseball has changed significantly because of PITCHf/x – and that’s just a system that tracks pitches. Statcast – which consists of TrackMan software and multiple sets of cameras that combine to follow every on-field movement, both player and ball – computes everything from baserunner speed to batted-ball velocity to the number of RPMs on each pitch.
How is it applicable to the average fan? Well, Statcast said the Royals were .17 seconds away from not needing extra innings in Game 1 of the ALCS. If not for Alcides Escobar’s bad jump, the stretching bases-loaded force out at home by catcher Nick Hundley might have been moot. Escobar had a 13-foot, 9-inch lead off third base at the time of the pitch – shorter than Dyson’s at 19 feet, 3 inches at second but longer than Cain’s 7 feet, 1 inch off first – and was nearly a second slower than Dyson to start moving after Eric Hosmer’s ground ball to first baseman Steve Pearce.
What Escobar lacked in jump he tried to make up for in acceleration. According to Statcast, he maxed out at 20.3 mph going down the third-base line – faster than Dyson’s 20.1 mph during his stolen-base attempt two innings earlier. While Pearce’s throw pulled Hundley down the line, he kept a toe on the plate and caught the ball less than a quarter second before Escobar slid into home.
Having this sort of data for every play isn’t just the dream of analysts but those who enjoy engaging in debates that include hard facts. The good news: MLBAM expects to install the Statcast system in all 30 major league stadiums this offseason in time for 2015. Already it’s doing research and development in the Arizona Fall League at Salt River Field to determine how to properly use the numbers in its online GameDay interface and At Bat app.
While plans for the public release of data are not yet final, MLBAM has indicated it plans on treating Statcast similarly to PITCHf/x, which provides reams of information for free and spawned significant sabermetric research, including the increased knowledge of value in catchers framing pitches. The new applications of Statcast data, from more quantifiable fielding metrics to understanding who truly is a great baserunner, should allow a greater understanding of the game, another evolution in a sport that remains on the leading edge technologically.
