MLB Off-Topic

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Because you don't need it when you throw 95, feature a filthy slutter, a huge curveball, and good command.

Except that command and filthy "slider" haven't been around much the last couple of months.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Barnes had a beauty last night too.

Spoiler

I love Correra's reaction...like :"Yeh, you earned that strikeout bud."

My favorite pitch is the 2-seamer with incredible run. Greg Maddux and Bartolo Colon have the best near/screwball action I think I've ever seen.

Spoiler

[AC]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

A good fastball/changeup combo is still the best pitch sequence in baseball, to me. It's such a feel pitch that it's rare to see guys put in the effort to master it. Jake Arrieta has a filthy changeup and throws it maybe 2-3 times per game. It's mind-boggling.

I think less is more. The more hitters see that change (I know exactly which you mean; LOVE it) the less effective it'll be. Arrieta blends his pitches very well. His slutter hybrid and curve make up 3? pitches that all blend well. I think the change would mostly be served well to follow up the 2 seamer or to just come out of absolutely nowhere and surprise the **** out of the guy.

Estrada's changeup is so much fun to watch. He's like the anti-Dickey of the Jays. Probably not as good as we think he is but so much fun to watch.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

A good changeup is predicated that the hitter knows they have to gear up for the fastball. The changeup can be thrown fairly often (Hamels threw his change around 1/3 of the time when the Phils were WS contenders) but the fastball has to be established and thrown for strikes first.

[l3ulvl]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I love Correra's reaction...like :"Yeh, you earned that strikeout bud."

My favorite pitch is the 2-seamer with incredible run. Greg Maddux and Bartolo Colon have the best near/screwball action I think I've ever seen.

Spoiler

I'm with you on the 2 seamer, when that pitch starts way off the plate and works back over the outside black (or inside, like from your gif)... that's a beauty

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

A good changeup is predicated that the hitter knows they have to gear up for the fastball. The changeup can be thrown fairly often (Hamels threw his change around 1/3 of the time when the Phils were WS contenders) but the fastball has to be established and thrown for strikes first.

Well that's pretty much every pitch. Everything is built off of fastball command.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Well that's pretty much every pitch. Everything is built off of fastball command.

The defense will stipulate.

[CBoller1331]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

http://www.pitcherlist.com/blog/gifs-of-the-week/aaron-sanchezs-fastball-the-nastiest-pitching-gifs-of-the-week

Couldn't figure our how to post the GIF directly in the thread....but Aaron Sanchez's two seam might have just as much movement of Maddux and Colon....and he throws it 96 mph

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

That Jose Fernandez curve.

Spoiler

Aaron Sanchez's 2-seamer on that link is INSANE.

[CBoller1331]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Aaron Sanchez's 2-seamer on that link is INSANE.

Craziest part is that it was 97 mph...and he makes it look so easy

[Mabster]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Just saw baseball is back in Olympics for 2020.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

A well controlled changeup is easily the most effective pitch when you're able to throw it in a hitters count when they are expecting a fastball, full count as an example.

Hitters learn to look fastball and adjust to a breaking pitch when they recognize it but what can be devastating about a well thrown changeup is that it looks like a fastball out of the hand to a batter.

[Mabster]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I still remember the first time I was thrown a change up. 6th grade so I was probably 11. Little League intersquad practice game against our teams best pitcher. I had raked him all game. Made me a fool on that final AB.

Now that I think about it, he looked like 12 year old current size Bartolo Colon.

I had him teach it too me the next practice but I never threw hard enough to be effective with it.

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

A well controlled changeup is easily the most effective pitch when you're able to throw it in a hitters count when they are expecting a fastball, full count as an example.

Hitters learn to look fastball and adjust to a breaking pitch when they recognize it but what can be devastating about a well thrown changeup is that it looks like a fastball out of the hand to a batter.

I'll never forget that the biggest adjustment going from hitting HS pitching to college pitching - the change up. In HS only a few guys really had a good one and they often slowed up their motion telegraphing it. In college, guys not only threw harder, but darn near everyone of them could drop a change up when they wanted. It was quite the wake up!

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'll never forget that the biggest adjustment going from hitting HS pitching to college pitching - the change up. In HS only a few guys really had a good one and they often slowed up their motion telegraphing it. In college, guys not only threw harder, but darn near everyone of them could drop a change up when they wanted. It was quite the wake up!

It amazes me how many pitchers on my college team didn't throw a changeup (or an effective one at least).

When I graduated and became the pitching coach they all wanted me to teach them my splitter which I would but only if they were willing to learn to throw a changeup as well.