- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Winter Olympics
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
MLB Pitching: changing speeds ever going to replace a 4 seam fastball clocking 100 MPH?
Posted on 2/17/26 at 7:07 pm
Posted on 2/17/26 at 7:07 pm
Are we well past those days? Used to be a pitching prospect was highly rated by his ability to change speeds and give you 30 starts a season.
Nowadays no one really goes anywhere near 30 starts and is only looking for a 4 seam fastball that clocks 100 mph plus.
Nowadays no one really goes anywhere near 30 starts and is only looking for a 4 seam fastball that clocks 100 mph plus.
19
Posted on 2/17/26 at 7:16 pm to Paul Allen
The heater has always been king. Throw 100 in addition to changing speeds and locating and you broke the game. Look at all the successful flame throwers today. They all have a good off speed pitch.
This post was edited on 2/17/26 at 7:18 pm
Posted on 2/17/26 at 7:20 pm to Paul Allen
You need swing & miss to be a successful pitcher and the best way to do that is with velo.
Posted on 2/17/26 at 7:31 pm to Paul Allen
The good ones still change speeds.. but it's from a 100mph fastball to an 88mph curve or change. Skubal and Skenes do that.. when they're all coming that fast it's even harder to adjust to just 10-12mph difference.
Posted on 2/17/26 at 7:56 pm to Paul Allen
Aaron Nola lives in the low 90s, commanding the strikezone is the most important trait
Posted on 2/17/26 at 8:41 pm to Paul Allen
Changing speeds and location are still very important. If all you can do is pump heat, MLB hitters will destroy you. Develop a good slider and you can have success. Develop a change too and you will be a top pitcher.
Posted on 2/17/26 at 8:52 pm to Fanatics
quote:
Aaron Nola lives in the low 90s
How about the dominant pitchers in MLB?
Posted on 2/17/26 at 9:00 pm to Paul Allen
Greg Maddux tooped out at 92 mph but he could place the ball wherever he wanted and change speeds at will.
I would take a Greg Maddux over anyone who can throw 100+
I would take a Greg Maddux over anyone who can throw 100+
Posted on 2/17/26 at 10:38 pm to UAinSOUTHAL
quote:He also had one of the best changeups of all time, was afforded a much bigger zone, and mistakes weren't killed as much in his time.
Greg Maddux tooped out at 92 mph but he could place the ball wherever he wanted and change speeds at will.
quote:Maddux was also unicorn. It's not as simple as "a guy who throws 92 with command vs a guy who throws 100."
I would take a Greg Maddux over anyone who can throw 100+
Skenes has the ability to be better than Maddux, and he throws 100. His first full season, at 23, 2 years into being a PO, is as good as Maddux' 4th best (age 31) season. I'd argue 3rd best season but volume helps Maddux' argument there.
Clemons has a better career WAR than Maddux and he was a flame thrower. Johnson is right there with Maddux, also a flame thrower.
The harder thrower with good off speed will pretty much always be better than the guy who sits low 90s with command.
Posted on 2/17/26 at 10:42 pm to Paul Allen
quote:Outside of limited relievers, guys change speeds just as much as they ever have. They also have a shite ton more movement than they've ever had.
Are we well past those days? Used to be a pitching prospect was highly rated by his ability to change speeds
quote:This is mitigated by deeper bullpens.
30 starts a season.
The 1995 Braves used 20 pitchers on the season, with 12 making double digit appearances.
The 2025 Pirates used 31 pitchers, with 21 making double digit appearances.
Posted on 2/17/26 at 11:02 pm to Paul Allen
Deeper bullpens and teams willingness to get quirky with rotations will decrease starts per pitcher.
Flat heat will get crushed. You need something in your arsenal to complement 100 mph gas, even if you want to be a closer.
Flat heat will get crushed. You need something in your arsenal to complement 100 mph gas, even if you want to be a closer.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 6:19 am to UAinSOUTHAL
quote:
Greg Maddux tooped out at 92 mph
I’m pretty sure his 92, would be 94-95 these days with the new way velocity is tracked. Instead of taking velocity at 50’ after the release it’s tracked immediately out of the pitchers hand.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 7:22 am to Paul Allen
Missing bats is the key metric and velocity always gives the best chance for that. Changing speeds can miss bats too, but not as much - you can get weak contact factored in more, which in most cases is good but the certainty of success still is not as high as missing bats.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 7:47 am to UAinSOUTHAL
quote:
Greg Maddux tooped out at 92 mph
At a time when the average starter fastball was around 90.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 7:55 am to Paul Allen
MLB still had 43 SP make 30+ starts and 83 make 25+
Posted on 2/18/26 at 8:04 am to Paul Allen
nearly 50 pitchers had at least 30 starts last year
Posted on 2/18/26 at 8:08 am to Paul Allen
Great pitchers evolve over time. Felix Henandez as he got older and was losing juice on his fastball went to work on improving his changeup. So, as his fastball got a tad slower, his offspeed stuff got better and he could still get outs.
As far as the guys whose only stuff is the 100 mph 4-eamer, they need to get their butts into the bullpen and close. Either that or prepare for several visits from Mr. Tommy John.
As far as the guys whose only stuff is the 100 mph 4-eamer, they need to get their butts into the bullpen and close. Either that or prepare for several visits from Mr. Tommy John.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 8:17 am to Zendog
quote:
nearly 50 pitchers had at least 30 starts last year
Number of starts isn't really a big issue. Very few guys are even nearing 200 IP. Even getting to 162 IP has been decreasing for a while.
Posted on 2/18/26 at 8:43 am to PP7 for heisman
Maddux said it best
Posted on 2/18/26 at 9:32 am to OhioLSUfan
quote:
You need swing & miss to be a successful pitcher and the best way to do that is with velo.
That's what I keep telling my 4 year old son, but, he just doesn't seem to get it or be interested in it.
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News