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Post by ikonos on Jul 19, 2016 1:24:37 GMT -5
I was at the Mariners game today and Chris Sale was dealing for the WhiteSox throwing 8 scoreless innings before SEA scored 4 runs off of our old MFY Robertson in the bottom of 9th to win the game. Chris Sale threw mostly Fastballs and what looked to me like sliders and every time I look at the scoreboard it is one of those two. That got me thinking about what one plus pitch besides a plus fastball you want your starting pitcher to have. I always considered change up to be that pitch until today's game.
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gerry
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Post by gerry on Jul 19, 2016 1:34:02 GMT -5
I was at the Mariners game today and Chris Sale was dealing for the WhiteSox throwing 8 scoreless innings before SEA scored 4 runs off of our old MFY Robertson in the bottom of 9th to win the game. Chris Sale threw mostly Fastballs and what looked to me like sliders and every time I look at the scoreboard it is one of those two. That got me thinking about what one plus pitch besides a plus fastball you want your starting pitcher to have. I always considered change up to be that pitch until today's game. Wouldn't offspeed stuff depend on what each pitcher could master the feel for? It seems too personal to generalize. Nice poll, though
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Jul 19, 2016 5:07:09 GMT -5
Give me a Pedro Martinez change up any day and twice on Christmas.
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Post by kyla13 on Jul 19, 2016 6:06:33 GMT -5
I want a plus, Kojiesque split. But since it's not one of the choices, I'll go with a plus knuckleball. Can you imagine Steven Wright with a plus 95mph fastball? Totally unfair.
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Post by jmei on Jul 19, 2016 6:07:24 GMT -5
Splitter.
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Post by sibbysisti on Jul 19, 2016 6:34:28 GMT -5
Knuckles will really flummox them!
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nomar
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Post by nomar on Jul 19, 2016 7:01:26 GMT -5
I want a plus, Kojiesque split. But since it's not one of the choices, I'll go with a plus knuckleball. Can you imagine Steven Wright with a plus 95mph fastball? Totally unfair. Yeah I was going to say this too, granted that i don't think it's possible to throw 95 and have a plus knuckleball with the same arm speed.
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Post by jrffam05 on Jul 19, 2016 9:03:58 GMT -5
I want a plus, Kojiesque split. But since it's not one of the choices, I'll go with a plus knuckleball. Can you imagine Steven Wright with a plus 95mph fastball? Totally unfair. Yeah I was going to say this too, granted that i don't think it's possible to throw 95 and have a plus knuckleball with the same arm speed. You never played "MLB the Show". In fact my custom pitcher throws all the pitches from the poll with a 99 rating.
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Post by jimed14 on Jul 19, 2016 10:22:45 GMT -5
I want a plus, Kojiesque split. But since it's not one of the choices, I'll go with a plus knuckleball. Can you imagine Steven Wright with a plus 95mph fastball? Totally unfair. Yeah I was going to say this too, granted that i don't think it's possible to throw 95 and have a plus knuckleball with the same arm speed. I don't think arms speed matters much on a knuckleball. Batters can't hit good ones even when they know it's coming every pitch. But it would be awesome if Wright could throw 95 when he throws his fastball. Of course this is completely pointless because if he could throw 95, he never would have learned a knuckleball, which requires a full-time commitment to it.
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Post by sox fan in nc on Jul 19, 2016 10:25:39 GMT -5
I want a plus, Kojiesque split. But since it's not one of the choices, I'll go with a plus knuckleball. Can you imagine Steven Wright with a plus 95mph fastball? Totally unfair. Or Chapman with an 85 mph knuckleball.
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Post by bentossaurus on Jul 19, 2016 15:15:53 GMT -5
Splitter, followed by a knuckle curve.
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radiohix
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'At the end of the day, we bang. We bang. We're going to swing.' Alex Verdugo
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Post by radiohix on Jul 19, 2016 16:02:07 GMT -5
Bartolo laughs at this poll.
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ianrs
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Post by ianrs on Jul 19, 2016 16:24:03 GMT -5
I think its probably one of the changeup, splitter, or sinker. Something that maximizes play off the plus fastball, while also minimizing injury risk and making it easier to mirror your delivery and release point when you throw the fastball.
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Post by jimed14 on Jul 19, 2016 16:29:19 GMT -5
If it's a lefty, he needs a pitch to throw inside to RHB, so not curveballs.
I also am not sure if it's even possible to have a plus fastball and plus sinker. I can't think of anyone like that.
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Post by bluechip on Jul 19, 2016 16:43:10 GMT -5
Bartolo laughs at this poll. As does Mo Rivera.
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Post by Don Caballero on Jul 19, 2016 17:15:49 GMT -5
Are you guys kidding? A plus fastball and a plus knuckleball? That is one unhittable pitcher.
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Post by SALNotes on Jul 19, 2016 20:02:16 GMT -5
I remember a Wakefield interview a while back and I'm paraphrasing but he said he could throw his fastball harder but he wanted to mimic the arm speed of the knuckle ball.
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Post by fenwaythehardway on Jul 19, 2016 20:22:34 GMT -5
The answer is clearly changeup, to the point where I'm not even sure why this is a question.
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Post by larrycook on Jul 19, 2016 21:07:30 GMT -5
What kind of fastball are we talking about. 2 Seam or 4 seam? Is the pitcher left or right handed?
It is hard to pick a complimentary pitch if we don't know how or what or if the pitchers fastball has any movement or late life in it,
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Post by ikonos on Jul 20, 2016 5:20:07 GMT -5
There is a lot more love for Curveball than I expected. I am thinking a fastball/slider combo more effective for a LHP (reminding me of Randy Johnson) while a fastball/changeup combo more effective for a RHP (Pedro)?
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Post by jrffam05 on Jul 20, 2016 10:04:28 GMT -5
Are you guys kidding? A plus fastball and a plus knuckleball? That is one unhittable pitcher. Per Fangraphs, Wright is that pitcher This is to illustrate that the value of a pitch can depend heavily on the pitch mix. If Wright threw his fastball 50% of the time he would get destroyed, but because he throws it ~20% of the time and it contrasts heavily from the knuckleball, he gets good value from it. You can say Wrights fastball based on the stats is above average, but no scout would call it an above average pitch.
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Post by sox fan in nc on Jul 20, 2016 10:27:55 GMT -5
2 seam fastball at the hitter that becomes a strike.
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Post by michael on Jul 20, 2016 11:14:09 GMT -5
I voted for a slider. Influenced by successful LHP like Lyle, Guidry, Carlton and even Mel Parnell with his 'nickel curve.' As long as the FB has arm side drift/break and the pitcher can bury the slider down and in to opposite side hitters.
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Post by redsoxfan2 on Jul 20, 2016 12:33:10 GMT -5
No option for a sinker? I do love watching the frustrations when no one can put the ball in the air and are stuck with weak ground outs.
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Post by pedrofanforever45 on Jul 20, 2016 15:52:18 GMT -5
No option for a sinker? I do love watching the frustrations when no one can put the ball in the air and are stuck with weak ground outs. Well if you have a sinker at 95-100 mph, I don't think you need another pitcher either. Zach Britton would agree with this.
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