The question is about a 2-seam vs. 4-seam fastball thrown by a D3 college pitcher who will be a junior for the 07 draft and senior for 08. He is probably a very long shot to ever be drafted but is still working and hoping. As others say here in the forums, he also has a Plan B.
He uses 3 pitches in games: fastball, curve, and changeup. Almost all of the fastballs he throws are 2-seam and he gets very good movement, but his 4-seam is a little faster. The 2-seam is most effective in getting batters out, so he relies on it the most.
Here is the question:
In his junior year or senior year he hopes to do well enough to be noticed by scouts who sometimes come to watch a few of the opposing pitchers in his conference. If the scouts are at games with their radar guns, would it be better for a 6'4" RHP to just stick to his 87-88 mph 2-seam fastball with a lot of movement if that is what gets the hitters out? Or would it be important for him to mix in a 4-seam fastball that might touch 90 or 91, even if the 4-seam is very straight?
Of course he is working on his strength and velocity & hopes to get both FBs up over 90 mph. He is thin and getting a little stronger & faster every year so far. His biggest priority is to get hitters out for his team, but if the scouts have to see a few 90's to have any interest maybe he should work more on mixing the 4-seam in.
I would be curious to hear any thoughts on this. He does not get much advice from his college pitching coach.