OT: Tigers Fire-Ballers
Wow. So Zumaya led the majors last year by hitting 100 mph 189 times in 31 innings. That guy throws like Dolly Parton looks. A quick glance at that list suggests that pitch speed is kind of like winning the long drive competition (excluding Verlander, arguably Wilson). You need touch, man. Get a change-up already...
http://detnews.com/article/20100126/SPORTS0104/1260420
January 26th, 2010 at 5:40 PM ^
Thing is, Zumaya actually has a pretty decent change, he just needs to have his mechanics exactly right to be really effective with it and being hurt all the time jams up his motion. I just think he's going to be the type of pitcher that can't stay healthy. Not with an arm like that. Hope I'm wrong. He's a real treat to watch. And I'd like to see him throw a knuckleball, just once, just to watch the batter be done swinging before the ball is halfway there.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^
I would think that a Zumaya knuckleball would look like a slow pitch after the super fastball on Super Baseball Simulator 1.000. Start around the 55 second mark...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPeYb5gQLlI
January 26th, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
No more Guitar Hero!
January 26th, 2010 at 5:57 PM ^
No more helping mommy and daddy move!
January 26th, 2010 at 6:16 PM ^
Wait... that one might still be advisable.
Okay, you may still escape wildfires. But leave the boxes behind.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:22 PM ^
Schlereth, Perry and Valverde can wing the ball too. Not quite at a Zumaya-like level but they will likely be more effective than him this year. If Zumaya can stay healthy though, we might actually have one of the better BPs in baseball this year.
January 26th, 2010 at 6:26 PM ^
By my count and without looking too deeply at statistics, at least Broxton and Jimenez should count as top-shelf guys who throw in the triple digits. Broxton was money until the playoffs and Jimenez has some of the best pure stuff in the NL. A little more command last year, and Ubaldo is challeging Timmy and Carpenter for the Cy.
I mean, I hate sticking up for either of those guys because I'm a Giants fan, but if they were on my team I'd be pretty psyched. (OK, maybe not Broxton because screw the Dodgers.)
January 26th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
Seems guys like that don't last that long. See: Matt Anderson. Freak things seem to happen to guys who throw that fast that often--at least if they play for the Tigers.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:25 PM ^
A staff of all fireballers is not good. A staff needs pitchers of various speeds; if almost everyone throws the same speed, opponents can time them too easily. Following a fireballer with a "finesse" pitcher or vice-versa is a great way to keep other teams from timing pitches too easily. That can keep opponents chronically off-balance.
Anyway, I just hope most of them stay healthy this year.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:14 AM ^
Restore the Roar!
January 29th, 2010 at 1:00 AM ^
I have always wanted a flame-throwing pitcher for my Phillies they never seem to have kids in the minors who have cannons