Catch 22, or 98, 100, 102 or..... 105 mph!!

Gameday had the slowest of the 7 pitches to Gwynn at 102. It also had the fastest pitch at 105.

Yea, but does he have anything else?

True, true. He only threw FB's, but he didn't need anything else this time. It will be interesting to see if he's resilient and healthy for long periods of time. Texas pitcher N. Feliz can top 100 mph, but his delivery appears effortless. And, the interesting thing, Molina really struggles catching him.

GED10DaD

He sure impressed Keith Law of ESPN who got the fastest time on his Stalker he had ever timed. Law is notoriously skeptical of velocities on stadium scoreboards, but his own gun got 104.

The Pitch F/X (actual) reading was 105.1 mph and it was still going 96.5 mph as it crossed the plate.

This truely is amazing,...105 from a human arm. Wow!!

Yea, but does he have anything else?

Three Bagger,

He has a real good slider and he throws it in the 90s. When he throws that slider near the right area it is unhittable for the most part.

quote:

Originally posted by Three Bagger:
Yea, but does he have anything else?

It don't matter as long as he can find the plate because he'll wind up in the bullpen as a closer if he did't have another pitch. Mariano Rivera is the greatest relief pitcher of all time and only has one pitch.

With that being said, hopefully Chapman has been tested and is roid-free and the speed is legit. If so, 105 is quite impressive. If not, it'll be McGwire all over again.

I hope yall realize I was just joking when I asked if he has anything else. At 105 as a relief pitcher, you don't need too much more. Actually I've read he does have a knee buckling slider.

quote:

Originally posted by zombywoof:
hopefully Chapman has been tested and is roid-free and the speed is legit. If so, 105 is quite impressive. If not, it'll be McGwire all over again.

There it is...can't possibly be a good player without PEDs.

I watched this performance, live, on TV. It was unbelievable.

First three pitches to Adrian Gonzales...101, 102, 103 and AGon didn't have a chance.

It was like nothing else I've ever seen at the MLB level. Not a single pitch below 100. He shoulda been brought in 1 batter earlier.

I am not quite sure that Mariano is the greatest relief pitcher ever---can we mention Elroy Face, Hoyt Wilhem, Johnny Sain, Joe Page, bruce Sutter, Eckersley etc

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:
There it is...can't possibly be a good player without PEDs.

Well, recent history has shown that player stats went thru the roof during the steroid scandal. When somebody comes in with extraordinary talent, there's always that doubt because of what steroids did to all the home run records. Like I posted, if he cruises around 100 and hits 105 and is all natural ability, that is quite impressive that someone can throw a baseball that fast.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
I am not quite sure that Mariano is the greatest relief pitcher ever---can we mention Elroy Face, Hoyt Wilhem, Johnny Sain, Joe Page, bruce Sutter, Eckersley etc

Those were great relief pitchers. However, who put up better numbers than Moe in pressure games, playoffs and World Series. Put his regular season career aside for a minute and take a look at his career playoff statistics.

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com...=mlb&playerID=121250

I was at the game just a few rows up and directly behind home plate for Chapman's 105+ pitch. It was something special to see. The scouts behind us were buzzing as the radar kept going up from 101-102-103...

Having said that, all that speed is kind of pointless until he develops another few pitches like a change up or slider. That same game, Ryan Ludwick hit a pretty average fly ball on a pitch well over 100+ MPH and it carried nearly 400 feet and would have been out of 90% of the parks other than Petco. On the following day (Saturday), Chapman blew the save on a sharp double down the line at 3rd resulting in a walk-off win for the Padres.

Being in San Diego, I've watched Stephen Strasburg amd Mike Leake quite a lot through their developmental years and got to see the Aflac just a few weeks ago from the same vantage point. Chapman was scary good but unless he learns to "pitch" he could be another Jonathan Broxton (who also throws well over 100).

quote:

Law is notoriously skeptical of velocities on stadium scoreboards

A friend in a MLB franchise office said it's common for stadium soreboards to show 2-3 mph faster than the actual throw. It's especially when the team has a pitcher throwing in the high 90's. Fans get geeked up when the scoreboard shows 99 and 100.

He has a heckuva slider. Devastating from some clips I've seen. Not sure why he doesn't use it more.

quote:

Originally posted by justbaseball:Not sure why he doesn't use it more.

Because he has a 105 mph fastball!!!

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With a 105mph fastball, all a pitcher needs is a secondary pitch just good enough that he''ll throw it on occasion and get the batter thinking a little more than gearing up to catch up with a 105mph pitch. I'd mostly use that fastball too until the hitters show any indication they're on it.