MLB Pitch Values: Top 10 Splitters of 2010

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Before the start of the season, I wanted to see which pitchers statistically had the best fastballs, curveballs, sliders, cutters, changeups and splitters of the 2010 season.

Here is a look at the top splitters of the 2010 season. A few notes:

The Pitch Value data was created by Fangraphs.com. I will be using the statistic, wSF, which denotes the runs above average for a particular pitch—in this case a splitter.  

The wSF stat benefits starting pitchers and pitchers who throw a certain pitch more often. Because the more often you throw a pitch, the better the chances are of it being successful.

Sometimes, PITCH/FX does not sort pitches into the right category. For example, Brandon Morrow’s splitter was categorized as a fastball. 

Best Fastballs

Best Cutters

Best Sliders

Best Curveballs

Best Changeups 

10. Brandon League

Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images

wSF: 3.8 

Average Velocity: 86.8 MPH

League will start this season as the Mariners' closer. The pitch doesn't dive all that much, but it has great horizontal movement away from left-handed batters. He threw the pitch 10 percent of the time last season.   

9. Nick Masset

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

wSF: 4.5 

Average Velocity: 89.0 MPH

Masset throws the hardest splitter on this list. A lot of PITCH/FX data labeled the pitch as a fastball because of its velocity. He threw the pitch almost 11 percent of the time. 

8. Dan Haren

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

wSF: 4.8 

Average Velocity: 85.3 MPH

Haren used his splitter 18 percent of the time last season, and it has been a consistent pitch for him over his career. 

He recorded a K/9 rate of 8.27 in 2010, and is primed for a big season in 2011. 

7. Edward Mujica

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wSF: 5 

Average Velocity: 87.5 MPH

Mujica had a great 2010 season with a 12.0 K/BB ratio, and his sharp downward splitter had a lot to do with that success. He threw the pitch 37.5 percent of the time and he got batter to chase at his pitches outside the strikezone 36 percent of the time. 

6. Hiroki Kuroda

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wSF: 5 

Average Velocity: 87.3 MPH

Kuroda used the pitch 12 percent of the time in 2010, and it is a key pitch that helps Kuroda record 50 percent of his outs on the groud. 

5. JJ Putz

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

wSF: 5.1

Average Velocity: 86.9 MPH

Putz has one of the splitters in baseball, and increased his use of the pitch in 2010. He threw it close to 30 percent of the time, and he had his best strikeout rate since 2006 at 10.83 K/9. 

The pitch has great downward movement and biting action away moving away across the plate from left-handed batters. 

4. Brad Penny

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

wSF: 5.7

Average Velocity: 88.8 MPH

Penny has had a splitter in his repertoire since 2008, but Dave Duncan helped Penny to develop the pitch last season. If Penny were healthy and able to pitch the entire season, he would have been at the top of this list. 

It became his favorite secondary pitch and threw it at a 29 percent rate. 

3. Brian Sanches

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

wSF: 6.2 

Average Velocity: 76.4 MPH

Sanches throws the softest splitter on this list, and it was effective because of its downward movement and the 12 mph difference from his fastball.

Sanches had to battle for a spot on the Marlins' roster this season, but he will be in Florida ready to showcase one the better splitters in baseball.  

2. Manny Parra

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wSF: 6.3 

Average Velocity: 85.0 MPH

Manny Parra has struggled in his last two seasons with the Brewers with ERAs of 6.36 and 5.02. With that said, Parra would have had even worse seasons without the effectiveness of the pitch.

His difficulties lie with his poor fastball command, but his splitter helped him to record a 9.52 K/9 rate.  

1. Jose Valverde

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

wSF: 6.6 

Average Velocity: 86.5 MPH

Valverde had the best splitter in baseball last season because of it's late downward movement. He used the pitch 53 percent of the time. 

Valverde struck out a hitter per inning and recorded a 54 percent groundball rate.