It’s usually the most important weapon in a pitcher’s arsenal, but it’s not just about velocity. That’s the key element, of course. But the value of any fastball hinges on being able to throw it for strikes and whether it moves — cuts, dips or sails — at the end.
1 RHP Zack Greinke: Has touched 100 mph in the past
2 RHP Gil Meche: Prototype power pitcher
3 RHP Joakim Soria: Not for velocity but movement
No pitcher gets by with just a fastball. An effective secondary pitch, something that moves and changes a hitter’s eye level, is essential. Most pitchers throw a curve and a slider, although they tend to concentrate on one or the other.
1 RHP Gil Meche (curveball): Unhittable pitch when right
2 RHP Luke Hochevar (curveball): Nearly as good as Meche
3 RHP Brett Tomko (slider): It’s a hard slider that almost resembles a curveball
A change, to be effective, must be thrown with the same arm speed as the fastball. The purpose is to disrupt a hitter’s timing. A pitcher with a good change-up can throw it repeatedly and still tie up a hitter in knots.
1 RHP Kyle Davies: Arm action boosts effectiveness
2 RHP Brian Bannister: Ability to spot is the key
3 RHP Joakim Soria: Works because other pitches are so good
Even the best stuff has limited value unless it can be thrown consistently for strikes. A pitcher can be dominant, even with mediocre stuff, if he can spot his pitches.
1 RHP Joakim Soria: Can throw all four pitches for strikes
2 RHP Zack Greinke: None better when he’s in top form
3 RHP Brian Bannister: Can hit the glove nearly all the time when rolling
Being a pitcher is more than just pitching. There’s also a need to field your position, hold runners and, in general, show an ability to maintain composure when things start to go awry.
1 RHP Joakim Soria: Fundamentally sound with great game-recognition skills
2 RHP Brian Bannister: Nearly as good as Soria in all-round situational awareness
3 RHP Gil Meche: No longer seems fazed by adversity
The idea of taking pitches is an anathema to nearly every hitting coach. Instead, the goal is to see a sufficient number of pitches in each at-bat in order to get to one a hitter can handle. Knowing what pitches not to swing at, even those that are strikes, is what often distinguishes the best hitters.
1 UTL Esteban German: Former free swinger has made himself a tough out
2 OF Joey Gathright: Another guy who has worked hard to learn the strike zone
3 OF David DeJesus: Shows strong signs of buying into Trey Hillman’s OBP approach
Blazing speed is an asset that can’t be taught or developed, but base running is so much more. There’s the need to read pitchers, as well as understand the defensive capabilities of opposing players. The ability to go from first to third on a single is, after all, effectively stealing a base from the opposition.
1 OF Mark Teahen: Hard to find anyone anywhere with better base-running instincts
2 OF David DeJesus: Solid at first to third and second to home; just not at stealing bases
3 OF Joey Gathright: One of the best at pure speed but needs improvement on steals
Why is it that some players always seem to hit the ball square or rarely appear fooled on a pitch? Every big-league hitter possesses, by definition, highly-developed hand/eye coordination. But even in an elite group, some are better than others.
1 1B Billy Butler: Kid hits everything hard. What else do you want?
2 OF Jose Guillen: Quick bat with power should be perfect fit in middle of order
3 OF David DeJesus: Gets points because he hangs in well against left-handers
Baseball at the major-league level moves at such a high speed that it scarcely resembles the game we all played as kids. The ability to slow the game down — to always be in the right place, throw to the right base or simply perform to your capability in the spotlight — is often a learned skill. But few players enjoy long careers without learning how to do so.
1 OF Ross Gload: There’s a reason that managers always love this guy
2 2B Mark Grudzielanek: Typifies the definition of heady veteran
3 SS Tony Peña: Always knows what to do even if, offensively, he can’t always do it
All successful managers have certain traits in common: a knowledge of the game and the aptitude to think ahead; the ability to communicate with a wide range of personalities; and a simple passion.
1 SS Tony Peña: Knows the game and can bridge the gap between Americans and Latins
2OF Mark Teahen: Bright guy whose ability to play several positions offers perspective
3 1B Ross Gload: Many managers were role players who learned to maximize their skill
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