That pitcher has "Good Stuff!"

It's definition is probably a little different from person to person and level to level but I think that it generally means the pitcher has good velocity. Good velocity means different things to different people. For high school pitchers I would say >85 mph would be good stuff.

This is also similiar, but more common, to the phrase "heavy fastball"...

I see "good stuff" as having good movement on a variety of pitches. Velocity is "bringing it."

Neat question.
My interpretation is command, location and movement, on a number of pitches, equates to "good stuff."
In his perfect game, Matt Cain was noted to have command of 4 pitches. He could throw them in any count, and especially using his 2 seam fastball, he could command his change down and away and follow it with a 2 seam FB which he would start off the plate inside and have it tail back on the corner.
For many years, Jamie Moyer got by with good stuff, which I interpret to be similar to Cain, but with a lot less velocity.
For the previous 3 years or so, Tim Lincecum was often described as having "electric stuff." I think that is better than "good stuff." This year...not so much. He still has the "stuff." So far, unfortunately, he does not have nearly enough command of his "stuff" for it to be "good" and is a far distance from "electric."

Did the world just shake? Infield and I agree on something.

When I hear a pitcher has good stuff, I never think about him throwing particularly hard. You can throw hard, but if you cant throw strikes, how good is your stuff? Good stuff is having pitches that you can throw for strikes, at any time. Having good stuff is kind of a backhanded compliment, like when they say my son is a crafty lefty. Its a kind way to see he throws slow, but can keep batters off balance and still get them out.

Like RJM said, if a guy is high velo, you say he is bringing it, or that he throws hard!

Yeah, the heavy fastball is one I have been hearing lately. A few people have said my son has a heavy fastball. Since his top velo that I know of is 83, and he hit that ONCE, I figure it to mean that his fastball seems to be faster then it really is.

I love that term, electric stuff! Always have.

And I love being in a ballpark when a pitcher has it and the crowd knows it.

quote:

Originally posted by justbaseball:
I love that term, electric stuff! Always have.

And I love being in a ballpark when a pitcher has it and the crowd knows it.

Now that is the parent of a pitcher, for sure.
From the perspective of a hitter, those terms, and seeing it in action, are not much fun.

Cool question indeed!

For me, I know it when I see it. The ball tends to move in the strike zone and at least have the illusion of rising as it reaches home plate. I think of a young Jim Palmer and how the ball seemed to effortlessly explode out of his hand. There are tons we could name such as Gibson and Feller. Goose Gossage had good stuff.

This much I know, that kid that pitched the other night for Arkansas against South Carolina had good stuff. Electric stuff. An elementary school kid could tell you that. Kind of like anyone (including 80 year old grandmothers and school children) could tell you Michael Jordan was a good basketball player. I have no doubts that kid from Arkansas will be a high draft choice.

Pitchers that get lots of strikeouts, whether looking or swinging. Pitchers that consistently fool batters into poor swings and weak contact (off balance, on the front foot, late, lunging, etc) High velocity is not a prerequisite for this.

quote:

justbaseball asked... So what does it ("Good Stuff") mean to you? Do you just know it when you see it?

Lots of swings and misses or not being able to put the bat barrel on the ball.

So it seems we can agree (mostly) that Greg Maddux had 'good stuff.'

Did he have 'electric stuff?'

When he wins, of course.

When they lose, the announcer always says "he just didn't have his good stuff tonight".

Maddux had "great" stuff for many, many years. Felix Hernandez, Verlander and a select few other starters have "electric" stuff, but how many years can they maintain it?

Bob Gibson probably had "electric" stuff! He was "nasty" too, in more ways than one!

quote:

Originally posted by justbaseball:
So it seems we can agree (mostly) that Greg Maddux had 'good stuff.'

Did he have 'electric stuff?'

Greg Maddux was the ultimate "Pitcher", IMO. He obviously didn't have an "Electric" Fastball...but he had "Electric Command" of all his pitches, with arguably the nastiest (movement) two seam fastball ever. He won numerous gold gloves, struck out over 3,000, and won over 300 games. He did this with an upper 80's (occasional low 90's) FB the majority of his career.

My favorite pitcher was Nolan Ryan growing up, but I really enjoyed watching Maddux pitch in his prime!

Ryan, Koufax, R. Johnson, Clemens, Verlander, etc...had/have electric arms that translate into electric stuff and are very few and far between. Same can be said with guys like Maddux who got by on their command. One thing everyone can agree on, they all COMPETE!

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bsbl247 said.....Greg Maddux was the ultimate "Pitcher", IMO.

I agree 100%. One of my fondest pro baseball memories was watching Greg Maddux warm up in the bullpen before a Braves game at Turner field back in the mid-90s. Our seats were right up agains this cement wall that had the bullpen underneath. Maddux was unbelievable on TV but even more so in person. We got to contrast Maddux with John Rocker a few innings later. I swear Rocker had the mitt popping before he even threw the ball. But Maddux was an absolute artist, and a joy to watch.

quote:

Maddux had "great" stuff for many, many years. Felix Hernandez, Verlander and a select few other starters have "electric" stuff...

I think thats a very good description!

I always thought that "good stuff" measured everything without particular reference to velocity. "That kid may never hit 90 but he has good stuff." More of a nod to the ability to get batters out without the overlay of velocity one way or another.

Interesting question...my take on "good stuff" is a pitcher that has an arsenal that is not one dimensional. I think you can have an "electric fastball" however not necessarily have "good stuff". For me, to be considered to have “good stuff” you need to have more than just one killer pitch…

I guess it’s relative to the level being played however at the pro level I would say "good stuff" is a guy with two plus pitches and at least one other MLB average pitch to go with it. One example might be a pitcher with a 93-96 FB with run, 84-90 slider/sinker with bite and a 80-83 changeup/curve than can be thrown for strikes. I guess any of those pitches could be changed around and still be considered to have good stuff (i.e. average MLB fastball with two other plus pitches) however in most cases you need to be able to work off your FB to have success at the professional levels.

Bottom line is a pitcher has to get batters out on a consistent basis to be successful however I have seen a number of players that I would consider to have "good stuff" but can't seem to consistently miss bats or find the strike zone. In my opinion "good stuff" is only part of the equation to be a success on the mound...

Good stuff to me is a guy who has the type of stuff that can get hitters out in the zone. And the type of stuff that can make hitters chase out of the zone. He can make his strikes look like balls and his balls look like strikes. And he can throw in the zone in hitters counts and create poor swings and swing and miss results.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
Good stuff to me is a guy who has the type of stuff that can get hitters out in the zone. And the type of stuff that can make hitters chase out of the zone. He can make his strikes look like balls and his balls look like strikes. And he can throw in the zone in hitters counts and create poor swings and swing and miss results.

Hey Coach, that sounds like Maddux in his prime!

Good Stuff was always more about movement, especially late movement in the zone. Velocity is required for a pitcher to have good stuff, but it is not what makes him tough to hit. Its that sharp break on his curve or that running fastball that surprises the hitter.
That is when that hitter walks back to the dugout shaking his head, mumbling to himself saying that guy has good stuff.