The Bulldog Plate Discipline Index
Fangraphs has a neat read, built upon a new metric, the Maddux Plate discipline Index. The mPDI is essentially the percentage of pitches thrown by any pitcher that are either outside the zone and swung at (with or without contact) or within the strike zone and taken.
The theory and name are based upon this quote: “The key to pitching is to have the ability to throw a strike when they’re taking and throw a ball when the hitter is swinging.” – Greg Maddux
Of course, we can all see the simplicity in this measurement. If you get hitters to swing at "bad" pitches, or not swing at "good" pitches, then you are playing with a significant advantage.
A mPDI of .400 is elite, one of .200 is bottom-of-the-barrel atrocious.
Last year the top four starting pitchers in the game, in terms of mPDI, were Corbin, Hendricks, Sale and Greinke. Corbin's mPDI was .372. No suprises in that list, huh?
But lookee who was #5, our own Marco Gonzales, at .357! Doc called that one, all along.
And at #11 was crafty Wade Leblanc at .348!
Anyway, you can read about it here: https://fantasy.fangraphs.com/introducing-maddux-plate-discipline-index-...