MLB's Weirdest Pitcher Doesn't Need Strikeouts | Baseball Bits

PATREON: / foolishbaseball
TWEETER: / foolishbb
MERCH: shop.jomboymedia.com/collecti...
___________________________________________________
Richard Bleier might just be MLB's weirdest pitcher. He has the lowest career strikeout rate in the game, but also one of the best ERAs. Seriously, we're talking about an elite MLB reliever who's all about pitching to contact.
In this Baseball Bits, a Foolish Baseball production, we'll learn about what makes Richard Bleier so special. We'll talk about the Richard Bleier Yankees, Richard Bleier Orioles, and Richard Bleier Marlins days. We'll talk about why Richard Bleier might have the MLB best sinker, but also still give props to Zack Britton. Hey, Zack Greinke's in this one too!
This channel has a history of celebrating weird baseball players like Locastro and Mathis, and I think Richard Bleier deserves a spot in that conversation. He's a throwback! Just an elite sinkerballer and groundball pitcher carving his way through the juiced ball, Statcast era.
___________________________________________________
Bleier's Savant Page: baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant...
Justin Choi on Bleier: blogs.fangraphs.com/richard-b...
Greinke on FIP: www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/sp...
Soundtrack from Maxo:
/ maxoelectronic
maxoisnuts.bandcamp.com/

[@MLB]

Midweek Baseball Bits heck yeah

[@Diamond-pg4kc]

dang mlb replying to foolish nice

[@zaneman001]

hey baseball

[@baseballmichaeljordanmcdonalds]

Hi mom

[@spartacus778]

thanks baseball

[@lunarfaze]

Holy corked Louisville Slugger Batman!!! MLB is in the house.

[@underhandcloud1414]

Richard Bleier isn’t trying to get weak contact, he’s just speed running the game

[@FoolishBaseball]

Ah yes, the Buehrle method

[@cheighes1]

Damage boosting 101.

[@pizzacatyt]

@@FoolishBaseball we need some main channel vlogs after that banger on the second channel

[@ActionJaxson]

That must be Rob manfreds favorite player 😂

[@A3Hoops]

@@FoolishBaseball I was about to mention him

[@oh_my_stars_]

didn't even mention the time where he came into a game with no outs and based loaded and struck out the side. blier's a strikeout god

[@FoolishBaseball]

He is when he needs to be, apparently.

[@unkledoda420]

Just that one time. Overall he sucks at getting strikeouts, his career average is only 5 per 9 innings, far from impressive.

[@lucasnogueira1137]

@@unkledoda420 that's the whole joke dude

[@unkledoda420]

@@lucasnogueira1137 Considering dude's first part of the comment about Bleier striking out the side with the bases loaded, I assumed he was serious and just didn't know any better.

[@Fractured_Unity]

@@FoolishBaseball I think I can explain this phenomenon through my own experience as a high school varsity pitcher. I can really identify with his pitching style. I realized that weak contact is superior to speed in fastball and cut in offspeed. So I took pitching to contact to heart. This made me more consistent and allowed me to save my strikeout pitches (that otherwise wouldn't have been great) for high leverage situations to the opponents surprise.

[@CZsWorld]

I think we learned this year that there's only room for one Bleier type pitcher on a rotation. Kyle Hendricks and Zach Davies were both good at this throughout their careers, but put them on the same club and hitters start to figure out the less overpowering stuff.

[@lm_Cray]

Wait this isn't a "things you missed" or "the history of" lol

[@Little_Manga_Reader]

Wait a minute, this isn't horror.... Unless

[@bergentrueckung_2557]

Never would have expected you to comment on this type of video lol, though I guess you are a Cubs fan

[@SanFranFan30]

He's a reliever, so he wouldn't be in the rotation at all.

[@thedude3065]

we'd, know being fans of said team

[@obscurereference6298]

I don't think he is a fluke. He's just an OutBleier.

[@TheAmazingallan]

Haven't watched yet but if there's no mention of the inning where Bleier came in with the bases loaded and nobody out and struck out the side this year I will be severely disappointed. Love Baseball Bits on the Marlins

[@FoolishBaseball]

Ok, so I didn't mention it. But it's kinda there.

[@TheAmazingallan]

severely disappointed

[@petestevesreal]

@@TheAmazingallan which game was that in? Id love to see it

[@TheAmazingallan]

@@petestevesreal May 4th against the Diamondbacks. 3-3 tie in the 8th, he gets out of the jam and the Marlins score 6 in the bottom of the 8th. Legendary Marlins twitter moment

[@TheActualJae]

@@TheAmazingallan DBacks fan here, I mean……….. does it really count if it’s against a triple a team?

[@zackhample]

I've been a fan of Bleier for years, so it's really cool to see this video. Nicely done! I read the MLB boxscores every day, and I often notice that Bleier gets through his innings with a VERY small number of pitches, and they're mostly strikes . . . like, he'll throw seven pitches total of which six are strikes. He's a wizard. This season he pitched 58 innings and walked six guys, but HALF of those walks were intentional. Bleier is underrated and deserves lots more love and attention, so thanks for doing this video. Really really good stuff. 👊

[@ty77770]

the man, the myth, THE LEGEND!!!!

[@ricadonavarro6335]

This day just got much better. The legend has uploaded another episode of baseball bits. Wow!!! I have 514 likes? Damn, didn’t think I would have this many.

[@FoolishBaseball]

aw, shucks

[@jmsd25]

@@FoolishBaseball 2001 braves legend?

[@velociwy5009]

What’s up Foolish

[@ratryox5667]

you had a really good day today too huh?

[@jimmythespeedster74]

@@FoolishBaseball this video is literally how the pirates got to the playoffs between 2013-2015

[@RetroBaseball]

Surprise Baseball Bits gets released, I am going insane.

[@gavmillz2066]

@@NickHNava 😂😂😂

[@FoolishBaseball]

such excitement

[@UnitedGamingMLB]

@@FoolishBaseball HE SAID THE THING

[@aqgpandemic5406]

YES THE LEGEND. As an O’s fan I love this man, he was actually the best part of a couple of season for us

[@carlpacquing2575]

As an Orioles fan too, I never appreciated Bleier until he was gone. Seeing what our pitching staff has become, we could certainly use him!

[@ilikegus7274]

One of my favorite baseball bits so far. Just a simple, but great episode

[@FoolishBaseball]

Thanks! That's exactly what I was shooting for.

[@madara792]

Exactly. As a relatively new baseball fan (thanks to this channel), it wasn't over the top with the advanced stats and was presented in a way that was easy to understand. Cant wait for the next one now lol

[@TheMastersOfNothin]

I like this kind of pitcher more. Makes the games more exciting for the people I force to watch baseball with me.

[@jmiller903]

Couldn't agree with you more. I like it better as a lifelong fan of the game. Just more action this way and players use their athleticism/skill more in the field which is what most agree the game needs these days bcuz it has got way too far in the other direction. Everyone doesn't need to throw hard if u can mix it up. Hopefully kids coming up today aren't all taught that they have to throw hard (or seen as "better" and given more opportunity just bcuz they do), if they are effective doing other things. Nestor cortes is another guy that doesn't throw very hard but was one of my favorites to watch this year.

[@gamemeister27]

2:30 I may be acting too quick here, but I would have appreciated a third column of ERA+ on this graphic, as long as we're talking about adjusting to the run environment for a statistic anyway.

[@FoolishBaseball]

Good point! It also would've also made Bleier look even better, as his run environment was higher than any other pitchers on this list.

[@kingofgrim4761]

Needed this with all going on in my life, baseball bits the best medicine

[@FoolishBaseball]

And you don't even need a prescription for it!

[@kingofgrim4761]

@@FoolishBaseball hahahaha that’s great thank you so much ❤️ appreciate you and your great work

[@che3zitfnbr965]

@@FoolishBaseball you have the best replies. I always find myself scrolling through the comments looking for your responses

[@serfindukdb1776]

A wise man once said: "Strikeouts are boring... besides that, they're facist. Throw some groundballs, it's more democratic"

[@FoolishBaseball]

That man? Benjamin Franklin.

[@armadillolover99]

@@FoolishBaseball I gotta say for a guy who died in 1790, Ben Franklin sure had a lot to say about a sport that wouldn’t exist until the 1830s or so

[@hkpew]

@@FoolishBaseball Franklin was just quoting Demosthenes, whose strike out rate was also pretty darn low for a guy who never gave up an earned run in his life.

[@oldlincolnpipewelder]

Amen 🙏🏼

[@richardg8651]

I know it's Crash Davis but it sounds like Bill Lee.

[@thegodd8155]

Ever since I watched the marlins during their magical 2020 season I've been singing his praises, unironically the most underrated pitcher in baseball, with other members of that same staff being contenders as well

[@warlordofbritannia]

I found something similar when looking at Nolan Ryan's stats last week, we all know he had the most strikeouts and walks of anyone all-time, but did you know: --his career HR/9 is 0.5...it never went higher than 0.8 in any season, twice leading the league --his career H/9 is an all-time record 6.6, leading the league a dozen times --in his last season, at age 46, his K/9 naturally hit a career low...of 6.2, or about 20 percent higher than Bleier's career rate; otherwise, the worst he had was 7.7 in his first season with Houston, age 33 --his FIP that year (1993/ age 46) was about a half-run lower than his ERA, and about league average --in fact, his FIP after turning 33, about halfway through his career, was 2.88 while his ERA was 3.22 --before then, his FIP was 3.06 and his ERA 3.16, dude aged like a fine wine...I mean, you already knew that, but its still astounding! How many guys have the worst K rate of their career at age 33 and somehow get better than they ever were before then? Usually, that's the sign of a declining pitcher, one who might three or four years left... --in case you thought all that might be the Astrodome, its not--his ERA+ also improved from 111 to 112 in the back half of his career So, anyways, that's how Nolan Ryan survived all those walks--he never gave up home runs and barely allowed any hits, especially as he entered the years where most power pitchers decline precipitously

[@VRNocturne]

Yep. Nolan Ryan is evidence that pitchers, if they are good enough, can also control their BABIP and he did that over his incredibly long career. A true power pitcher. He wasn't K's or bust. He knew how to keep batters off the barrel even when they did hit it. Like Rivera with higher K rates....which is even scary to think about.

[@sirfallsalot2000]

@@VRNocturne how did he never win a cup young

[@muhammadrifqi7308]

@@sirfallsalot2000 you mean cy young? Ryan was always one of the best pitchers in the league for a very long time, but a lot of the times there are 1 or 2 pitchers that had better season than him. There are seasons where he should have won the cy young, but his win-loss records just aren't good, though not his fault. Unfortunately, 20th century baseball was still obsessed with win-loss record.

[@nicholasbrown4109]

@@muhammadrifqi7308 also he walked a lot of batters

[@AABB-bm9kk]

Yes, if there were no walks in baseball Ryan would be the best pitcher ever. 🤔✌️ When his pitches were in the strike zone (or near it) he was the most difficult pitcher to get a hit off in baseball history. 👍

[@lc9245]

I've always been fascinated by this kind of pitching. It always makes sense to me to have pitchers that gives up hits but mostly ground balls to go along with those who dominates with power. I imagine batters would have a time adjusting, similar to having submarine pitcher.

[@Mayrink.]

They keep track of Barrel%?! God, I love the stathead era. Edit: Perhaps the most obscure baseball speedrun category, fascinating.

[@vxoblivionxv]

I love it when your videos let me see the game and certain players from a different perspective. I never would have thought that much about the way he pitches, but now it's really cool to see what he brings to the game.

[@pohorex6834]

“What matters is results” Bailey: “they won the big game”

[@mariodegenzgz]

Really happy to hear you end the video by pointing out how modern development is sort of turning most pitchers into bat missing, max effort clones. It happens with hitters too, and outliers like Bleier are a breath of fresh air because they represent one of the best things about baseball: there are a million different ways to achieve the same result.

[@s0me0n32]

I’m tired of the whole like, 100 mph just balls to the wall velocity and spin rate bs. I miss finesse pitchers

[@FoolishBaseball]

I think the pendulum has already started to swing back the other way. A lot of the top starters this year are sinker or two-seamer guys. Hitters are so patient that you need willingly give up some contact to get deep in to games.

[@mariodegenzgz]

@@FoolishBaseball yup. Sinkers and cutters are rising in popularity. The new starter mold might just be the 24% K rate, 6% BB rate groundballer rather than a Dylan Cease / Blake Snell type. Also, salutations for what you do for baseball. You're great for the game.

[@DexterHeisenbergBruh]

Did not think I’d ever see a video solely dedicated to Richard Bleier. At the same time, I did not realize how good of a pitcher Richard Bleier actually is.

[@benjaylehman]

I’m here after he was called for 3 balks in one inning against the Mets today

[@brma3124]

Great video! A piece of analysis I'd have liked to see is how his "pitch to contact" (sorry) approach correlates with his pitches per inning. Not so important for a reliever compared to a starter perhaps, but could be relevant for how often he is able to pitch throughout the season. Keep up the good work!!

[@jamesallen2909]

Didn’t even know about this guy. I was literally rewatching episodes of bits today wishing a new one would be made and here comes this beauty. It’s an injustice teams won’t keep this guy long term. Obviously his method works ffs

[@seda_11]

Great video. Loved the “missing the barrels” part- never really thought of pitching that way.

[@markjankovic4462]

Great episode, always so good at breaking things down.

[@gabrielctrevino]

I was binging baseball bits last night and realized “man, it’s been four weeks since his last, I wonder when the next is”

[@TehhHarm]

He’s good for once a month, so he’s very consistent

[@benpeltola1364]

Do one on Antonio Senzatela, conquerer of Coors. Also weigh up his extension with some peripheral stats, I have faith in the guy but I worry the sum and duration of the contract could create another Alex Cobb situation.

[@brma3124]

Love me some Senza, the most underrated of the Rockies' surprisingly decent starting rotation. Bailey's a Rockies fan I think too, so this vid has a shot at being made!

[@kristhesocialistt]

@@brma3124 no Bailey is a Braves fan. He’s said this in numerous occasions

[@RNDMID]

This is one of the best video essays on baseball ever. Subbed.

[@Bruh-yy3zb]

I have his signed ball when he was a marlin. During a Braves game I walked over to him practicing he caught a ball and walked over and said “Where’s a marlins fan” saw me with my jersey and handed me the ball it was such a memorable moment for me

[@dougnulton]

Groundball % is super underrated, as you touched upon in this video. Not all contact is created equal (FAR from it), and we have the metrics now to show who consistently induces weak contact. The best of the best in this category can induce more double-plays, and throw less pitches so they can go longer into games by conserving energy for when it’s needed. I’m curious to see if this sparks a sinker/splitter/etc renaissance.

[@dspsblyuth]

An out is an out and it doesn’t matter how they get it

[@MindlessWanderings]

I love watching these videos from a cricketers perspective. In this case, Bleier is, more or less, a spin bowler in cricket. A spin bowler in cricket is a specialist who makes a trade. They trade away velocity for the ability to move the ball.. In essence, they are easier to hit and more tempting to swing hard at but are harder to hit well. They play the odds. In a game where a batter keeps batting until they are out so the outs are more valuable that a few runs, they accept that they may get hit a few times but often the batter will get themselves out trying to hit them hard. Like Bleier, they give up that single but it doesn't matter when they get the double play that ends the innings.

[@tristinmarion6382]

Absolutely love your videos, being a stat nerd these make me so happy while watching!

[@theflow5025]

wow a postseason vlog and a baseball bits in the same week! truly blessed

[@LPScarlex]

Hey bailey baseball, just wanted to say I have literally never watched a single full baseball game but I watch a shit ton of baseball bits because it's far more interesting, thank you bailey baseball

[@TimMitch13]

Love to see Cardinals Legend TJ McFarland get a small mention in a Baseball Bits. Comes into the game with someone on base, throws around 3 pitches, and gets the double play EVERY TIME.

[@FoolishBaseball]

Love that guy. Very similar to Bleier. Bleier has the lowest K rate, but I believe McFarland's is 2nd lowest.

[@notthed0d791]

Thanks for that last line of the vid man, you’re definitely helping to let me know I’m my own person and want to accomplish my own goals, everyone’s different we just try to do our best with what we got

[@kevinanderson9088]

Love this deep dive - nice work!

[@demcanes9488]

Maddux was asked about how he would pitch today and he said he didn't really know because he was taught to throw strikes.

[@kdon116]

5:23 my mans just crushed the dreams of any minor league pitcher watching this

[@davidwalker8658]

Great Video. the art work keeps getting better and better.

[@TheTEN24]

This was an awesome video as always foolish, thanks for the content man

[@conairehorgan2456]

who needs strikeouts when you have……uh……weak ground balls?

[@FoolishBaseball]

that's right

[@mp02393]

Those were not balks man

[@dasritzoo9234]

This was such a great video. enjoyed it a lot! Thanks!

[@JakeyIce]

Congrats on 100 videos man!

[@goisoneditz1370]

There is nothing to fear in following Jesus!✝️✝️✝️

[@FoolishBaseball]

Uploading this later in my day than I usually do

[@goisoneditz1370]

@@FoolishBaseball all good bro

[@redboot3911]

Great video! You really understand the fundamentals of what makes baseball the best sport out there.

[@levisnyder6585]

Another fascinating episode. Thanks for teaching me so much, Foolish Baseball.

[@MyInfiniteZero]

Thanks for bringing us stories on really abnormal players! Thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[@metalhammerm6903]

Thank you for uploading Bailey. We love you❤️🤗

[@TheDuckofLaw]

excellent stuff as always

[@lunarfaze]

This is an amazing video. Especially in a time in the game where so many only think Homeruns and Strikeouts matter. There is SO MUCH more to the game.

[@cherokeeoutlaw2.011]

Your videos are the best. Love the throwback 16 bit graphics. 👍

[@murphyjay9084]

great job as always dude

[@LOTUSELISE340R]

Phenomena work! I'm a Jays fan and he reminds me a lot of Adam Cimbre, who I think is very under appreciated for similar reasons. Ground-ball and weak-contact pitchers need more love from fans and teams.

[@cameronklos12]

Great episode! Instantly became one of my favorites so far.

[@FoolishBaseball]

That's great!

[@manuelviellieber4763]

You are the only baseball channel that I watch, since I’m not really knowledgeable and not from the US, but you have managed to make absolutely entertaining videos that make me watch more baseball every season.

[@FoolishBaseball]

Thanks!

[@LuisAlvarez-cm4rz]

Haven't even seen the video yet, but it already deserves my like. Great job, Bailey

[@ChrisakaPES]

Always glad to hear about Orioles past or present. What a great day and video.

[@erikcoomer8240]

this is just an instant classic baseball bits. up there with the jeff mathis and tim locastro vids

[@GregiiFlieger]

One of, if not your best video! Thanks!

[@jakeandrews82]

thank you for giving us the videos we never knew we wanted

[@goldenarm009]

You are my favorite channel. Thanks for the awesome content

[@josebosco9305]

Always good to see a baseball bits about pitching 😁

[@Legault397]

Thank you Bailey I enjoy learning about weird pitchers

[@dario110011]

Thanks for this video! As a Marlins fan, it's nice to see my team get recognition every once in a while. I noticed something, in your highest zone% table at 4:23 , I found it interesting that three players of the Miami Marlins 2021 season were on that list. Richard Bleier, Elieser Hernandez, and Adam Cimber (traded to the Blue Jays if I remember correctly). Perhaps that's something our pitching staff is working on and its showing up in your chart? Would be pretty cool if it is!

[@elishajones4603]

I mean you had those guys and a lot of former orioles in a couple of lists. Britton was a recurring one but you also had Darren O'Day and tj McFarland who are both former Os

[@dario110011]

@@elishajones4603 Interesting. Is there a common link between the two teams pitching staff or coach es? That's pretty cool!

[@stevenmostyn4681]

Another brilliant video!

[@alanendurace]

This is better than Netflix man! Infotainment at its peak! Well done!

[@michaelgatto2281]

Great vid, as always

[@Trevil666]

Yes! The Maddux style. Loved it back then, love it still above all other pitching.

[@notstarboard]

I played a ton of OOTP 19 a couple years ago and Richard Bleier was one of the best affordable lefty specialists in the game. I so appreciate the table at 9:07 because the only other pitcher on his level at that price point was Alex Claudio. Amazing that they're the top 2 in barrel % allowed in real life too!

[@ReplyGuyGimmick]

Great video mr bit, as always

[@AndrewJW]

Love your videos man

[@papillonvu]

This gem of a vid popped up in my recommendation, and am I glad!! My only question is… how the heck does this channel have only 227k subscribers???

[@scottbaldwin6763]

This is why I love Richard Bleier. This is why I love sinkerballers and pitchers with funky deliveries. (I know Bleier's isn't that funky, but almost all funky deliverers are sinkerballers). This is why I love Foolish Baseball.

[@AnthonyStatenMusic]

Richard Bleier's out here putting my "get it over the plate and hope for the best" strategy from high school summer league to great use, I see. Except, y'know, he can actually throw breaking pitches. 😂

[@10dimes27]

My day has just got better with the new Baseball Bits

[@hofflehouses]

Good video Bailey!!!

[@SDSsongs]

Great content!

[@TheChuck181]

that back to back inning with the out, left field single, then two identical double plays is unreal

[@Wolfeson28]

4:13 I was just thinking "Hmm, a pitcher who induces tons of weak contact for easy ground ball outs. Sounds like someone the Giants would pick up." FB: "In 2021, only Jake McGee threw a higher percentage of pitches in the strike zone." Me: "Oh look, Jarlin Garcia too. And Tyler Rogers."

[@Sicira]

Loved this Baseball Bits!

[@maneyac16]

Always good to see a Yankee legend on Baseball Bits

[@zachsturm599]

Like always these videos are somehow better than anticipated

[@randominternetuser2]

Hell yes! i need more wierd sinkerballer stuff from you!

[@lazeebee86]

This is one of the most awesome channels on KZbin.

[@BaseballAF]

A topic I didn't know I needed to learn about. Nice.

[@everetstill5823]

Hey Bailey, I was thinking of an idea for a new video for you. One of them should be how your division's success that year shows how your team does in the playoffs. (ex: 2021 WhiteSox, 2014 Angels, 2014 Orioles) and how teams who underperformed in their divsions faired well in the playoffs. (ex: 2019 Nationals, both Marlins WS, 2014 Royals)

[@booker9816]

I love when you find these players that are so good at a niche of the game

[@kb909]

Uploading this on the day with no games was beyond perfect

[@daniellynch7100]

Awesome video!

[@carlsmith4568]

Best baseball channel on YT hands down

[@tryhardfinessedyou]

Your videos are never long enough 🥺 As in I want them to go on forever because they are so soso good. 8/8

[@55waffle]

Hey man love your channel. Could you please make a Braves related video? I’m a fan of them too! I loved our run this year

[@dougrobinson1171]

I like your videos bailey. Good job making them.

[@Noahb108]

i’m so honored to share a birthday with this legend

[@chubbsthestuntmonkey7262]

I love these videos so much.