Part 5/10:
- Extension: The arm's movement measured by the distance the pitcher's hand is from the rubber at release can indicate how well a pitcher is holding up physically.
During the playoffs, it became apparent that all three pitchers experienced a decline in their numbers across these critical metrics. Smith, whose fastball was once a strength, exhibited the lowest spin rate in his recent outings and a noticeable drop in extension—a worrying sign of fatigue and potential injury.