It turns out Max Scherzer can pitch well without a high spin rate:
What was interesting about Girardi’s challenge was that Scherzer’s spin rates during the game — spin rate being the advanced tracking metric that has gained so much attention in recent seasons — was unusually low even though his always fierce velocity was even higher than usual.
Scherzer averaged 2,154 revolutions per minute (rpm) on 21 sliders against the Phillies, his lowest total since Sept. 16, 2016. On 52 four-seam fastballs, Scherzer averaged 2,348 rpm, his lowest since Aug. 5 of last season, according to Baseball Savant. During the 2021 campaign, Scherzer has averaged 2,328 rpm on sliders and 2,470 on four-seam fastballs.
ESPN.com
People did occasionally post low ERAs before pitch tracking. There is more than one way to be successful in baseball, and that may be the biggest complaint about the game. There seems to be less variety of approach today.
It’s the eyes, I think.
They physics of spin rate makes sense – that more spin means more movement (although a knuckleball kind of goes against that). What’s undeniably true in any field of endeavor is that if you find a way to measure something, then identify it as a positive and valuable, people will focus on that measurable. So, once radar guns came in and pitch speeds were being posted on the scoreboard, before long everybody is throwing 95 – makes you wonder if a young Greg Maddux would get a shot with a lot of teams – or, maybe his spin rate was ridiculously high.
I get a little tired of reading hype about hot prospects that throw hard, have great spin rate, but their ERA is 4.90. Makes me wonder if the next ‘under-valued’ trait that helps a smart GM build a winner might be pitchers that just know how to get people out.