The Pitching Appreciation Thread

[Medford Bronco]

The main reason why I enjoy baseball so much is because of great pitching. A great pitcher can shut down a great offense 9 times out of 10.

I am a Red Sox fan and am so looking forward to Beckett vs Pedro (yes I would cheer Him :beer: ) and tomorrow of Shilling vs Glavine (combined almost 500 wins!)

I was watching John Smoltz pitch earlier today and even at 40 he still has it. A misnomer about great pitching is that you have to throw hard ala Nolan Ryan to be successful. It helps but if you do not know how to attack a hitter, you have no chance to be really special. Talent helps, but smarts help more. A right handed pitcher must go inside on a lefty to keep him honest. You can not live on the outside corner or you will eventually get hit hard and not be successful. Vice versa on lefties on right handed batters.

Some of my favorite active pitchers are Johan Santana. He throws 95 but has a nasty slider and changeup at 82 MPH. This guy has filthy stuff and knows how to pitch. I also enjoy watching Mike Mussina pitch. He might only throw 90-91, but he moves the ball in and out and has a great curve to compliment his fastball.

Curt Shilling also comes to mind. He almost single handedly beat the Yanks with his gutty performance in the 2004 ALCS. Others who I enjoy are also relief pitchers, Mariano Rivera, Eric Gagne (before the injuries fit the mold above), Jon Papelpon (yes he is young, but already gets it in his first full season)

Some of my favs of yesteryear are Ferndando Valenzuela, Orel Hershisher, Tommy John, Dennis Eckersly, Roger Clemens (yes he is still active, but I am talking about the young CLemens with Bos who was overpowering and had pinpoint control)
Greg Maddux (when younger), Jim Palmer, Lamarr Hoyt, Dennis Lenard, Jack Morris and Frank Viola, (I could go on and on but I will spare you :laugh: )

I am just curious everyones opinion. MLB is littered with people who can throw hard, but that does not make you special (just ask Jose Mesa and Armando Benitez)

Any thoughts from anyone :D

[keithbishop]

Great pitcher's duel in the Yankees/Braves game.

Smoltz: 7 IP 110 pitches 1 ER 6 H 1 BB 4 K 7 GO.

Wang: 8 IP 7 H 2 ER 1 BB 2 K 91 pitches...... and.... are you ready for this??

19 Groundball outs :eek: :eek: !!
What a game!!



Oh yeah....someone hit a 2-run walkoff HR, too.

[Medford Bronco]

Great pitcher's duel in the Yankees/Braves game.

Smoltz: 7 IP 110 pitches 1 ER 6 H 1 BB 4 K 7 GO.

Wang: 8 IP 7 H 2 ER 1 BB 2 K 91 pitches...... and.... are you ready for this??

19 Groundball outs :eek: !!
What a game!!



Oh yeah....someone hit a 2-run walkoff HR, too.

thanks for the update lol

Also some other team hit the crap out of Pedro today. I wonder who :confused: :laugh:

Josh Beckett looked awesome. The Sox look awfully good now. This is going to be an interesting rest of the season for them.

[Snapping Turtle]

The only MLB I watch is the rockies..so I don't have much to say, but my little brother is a pitcher...and a heck of a good one at that. I'm not just saying that cuz he's my bro either. Anyway...I know how hard he works at it and I know how much pressure he has placed on him and he's only a Sophomore in High School! I can only IMAGINE what kind of pressure the MLB pitchers feel. It would be a tough job and I have a ton of respect for them.

[Medford Bronco]

The only MLB I watch is the rockies..so I don't have much to say, but my little brother is a pitcher...and a heck of a good one at that. I'm not just saying that cuz he's my bro either. Anyway...I know how hard he works at it and I know how much pressure he has placed on him and he's only a Sophomore in High School! I can only IMAGINE what kind of pressure the MLB pitchers feel. It would be a tough job and I have a ton of respect for them.

great post :D

Pitching and defense wins championships. You need to hit, but without pitching you have no chance. If you hit and can not pitch, you are the Texas Rangers. :laugh:

Some new good young pitchers in baseball are this kid Lirano from Minnesota and Pabelbon from Boston. These are the two that will go neck and neck for the AL Rookie of the year, unless they fall off the table in the last 3 months of the season. It is not likely to happen :coffee:

[BroncoBailey024]

I am just curious everyones opinion. MLB is littered with people who can throw hard, but that does not make you special (just ask Jose Mesa and Armando Benitez)

Any thoughts from anyone :D
Watch out for Joel Zumaya in Detriot, he has been mentioned in trades for John Smoltz and he will become the Braves closer.

They clocked him at 104 on one of his pitches.

That is heat! :jawdrop:

[Medford Bronco]

Watch out for Joel Zumaya in Detriot, he has been mentioned in trades for John Smoltz and he will become the Braves closer.

They clocked him at 104 on one of his pitches.

That is heat! :jawdrop:

sound good, but if I am Det and what 54-25, why trade a guy with all that talent now?

I love Smoltz obviosly, but do not give up the future to get him ala Jeff Bagwell (minor league Red Sox player ) for Larry Anderson of the Astos to win now for one Year. Anderson was long out of baseball and Bagwell won MVPs and is a borerline Hall of Famer.

[BroncoBailey024]

sound good, but if I am Det and what 54-25, why trade a guy with all that talent now?

I love Smoltz obviosly, but do not give up the future to get him ala Jeff Bagwell (minor league Red Sox player ) for Larry Anderson of the Astos to win now for one Year. Anderson was long out of baseball and Bagwell won MVPs and is a borerline Hall of Famer.
True but they already have Todd Jones.

I would keep Zumaya but I am not the general manager. :heh:

[Medford Bronco]

True but they already have Todd Jones.

I would keep Zumaya but I am not the general manager. :heh:

I know you are not GM, you can give an opinion, this is for fun. (you are not in GD so I will not bash you LOL)

Todd Jones is not that great, Trust me he throws 90 and does it with mirrors. They should keep this kid and eventually let him close ala Papelbon.

Smoltz is on the downside of his career(although still great). IF I was Det, just do not make a colossal mistake like Boston did with Bagwell.

[BroncoBailey024]

I know you are not GM, you can give an opinion, this is for fun. (you are not in GD so I will not bash you LOL)

Todd Jones is not that great, Trust me he throws 90 and does it with mirrors. They should keep this kid and eventually let him close ala Papelbon.

Smoltz is on the downside of his career(although still great). IF I was Det, just do not make a colossal mistake like Boston did with Bagwell.
Jones is 6th in the league in saves and he is on my fantasy team so he has to be good. :D

I got Papelbon too. :salute:

[Medford Bronco]

Jones is 6th in the league in saves and he is on my fantasy team so he has to be good. :D

I got Papelbon too. :salute:

you have the possible ROY, Cy young award winner and MVP candidate

great pick my friend
:beer:

[WhoDeyBengals]

Pitching appreciation, eh? I have to get nostalgic to really appreciate anything the Reds have done, because it's been so long since they've had solid pitching all around (although Harang and Arroyo have been great for us this year).

The Reds team of 1990 boasted arguably one of the best bullpens in baseball. Randy Johnson, Norm Charlton, and Rob Dibble were always waiting in the wings, and you knew, and I mean KNEW that the Reds would win if the game got to the 7th with the Reds ahead. Like him or not, Rob Dibble was awesome. They truly were the Nasty Boys.

I miss those days. :ugh:

... but the Reds will rise again! Yes! :D

[Medford Bronco]

Pitching appreciation, eh? I have to get nostalgic to really appreciate anything the Reds have done, because it's been so long since they've had solid pitching all around (although Harang and Arroyo have been great for us this year).

The Reds team of 1990 boasted arguably one of the best bullpens in baseball. Randy Johnson, Norm Charlton, and Rob Dibble were always waiting in the wings, and you knew, and I mean KNEW that the Reds would win if the game got to the 7th with the Reds ahead. Like him or not, Rob Dibble was awesome. They truly were the Nasty Boys.

I miss those days.

... but the Reds will rise again! Yes! :D

great post whodey :salute:

do not forget Tom Browning, Mario Soto, Danny Jackson, Tom Seaver and many others

These are the Reds I remember growing up that were awesome every year :D

[Emancipator]

Medford, I think you are correct about pitching.
I played baseball all through college. Good pitching is what it takes for team success. That is starting pitching and relief pitching.

Throwing hard is good. Throwing the good fast ball is good. However, pitchers who are good at placing the ball in the right spots are the most successful pitchers.

You can throw fast and hard, but if you throw it over the plate you will get hammered most of the time. However, if you throw fast and hard and hit those inside corners or outside corners you'll be more productive.

The best pitchers are ones with great control and good movement. They also know how to pitch both inside and outside.

Pitchers that are student's of the game and are good scouts of the other teams players hitting abilities are the pitchers that survive the longest at any level and especially the pro level.

[keithbishop]

Yankee Pitching Appreciation:

A 1+ hour rain delay cost Moose his 10th win.

Moose: 4 IP 0 H 0 BB 4 K.
Villone: 2 IP 1 H 1 BB 2 K (including one when Posada gunned down the baserunner)1 Pickoff. W (2-1)
Proctor: 1 IP 1 K .
Farnsworth: 1 IP.
Rivera: 1 IP 1 K. SV (18).

Mets: 1 reached on an error vs. Moose. 1 H 1 BB.

El Duque pitched very well (2 ER in 7 IP), but took the loss.

Yankees 2 Mets 0.

It's unusual to have 5 pitchers combine on a 1-hit shutout, to say the very least.

[Medford Bronco]

Yankee Pitching Appreciation:

A 1+ hour rain delay cost Moose his 10th win.

Moose: 4 IP 0 H 0 BB 4 K.
Villone: 2 IP 1 H 1 BB 2 K (including one when Posada gunned down the baserunner)1 Pickoff. W (2-1)
Proctor: 1 IP 1 K .
Farnsworth: 1 IP.
Rivera: 1 IP 1 K. SV (18).

Mets: 1 reached on an error vs. Moose. 1 H 1 BB.

El Duque pitched very well (2 ER in 7 IP), but took the loss.

Yankees 2 Mets 0.

It's unusual to have 5 pitchers combine on a 1-hit shutout, to say the very least.

sounded like my kind of game to watch :D

Now if only Brad Penny can follow suit tonight (in progress as I post this) So far so good 7 IP and 1 Er. Dodgers lead 4-1 in the top of the 8th.

** Grady do not pull him, the Dodger bullpen sucks, I trust Penny tired over most in the pen*** Please listen

[PsychoChicken]

I never ever thought I'd post something like this.

Josh Fogg pitching Appreciation (more like Admiration):

Friday, June 30 COL @ SEA

The game itself lasted just 1 hour, 52 minutes. Seattle's Jamie Moyer pitched very well - a complete game with 2 ER, 5 H.

But Josh Fogg was dominant (did I just say that?)! He threw a complete game (his 2nd CG of his career) shutout with 2 hits and 1 BB. All three baserunners ended up out on double plays. That means Josh Fogg faced the MINIMUM. 27 batters faced, 27 outs. I'm in complete shock.

[keithbishop]

I never ever thought I'd post something like this.

Josh Fogg pitching Appreciation (more like Admiration):

Friday, June 30 COL @ SEA

The game itself lasted just 1 hour, 52 minutes. Seattle's Jamie Moyer pitched very well - a complete game with 2 ER, 5 H.

But Josh Fogg was dominant (did I just say that?)! He threw a complete game (his 2nd CG of his career) shutout with 2 hits and 1 BB. All three baserunners ended up out on double plays. That means Josh Fogg faced the MINIMUM. 27 batters faced, 27 outs. I'm in complete shock.

Awesome!! Fogg has never been accused of being dominant before, but I love pitching duels.

[Medford Bronco]

I never ever thought I'd post something like this.

Josh Fogg pitching Appreciation (more like Admiration):

Friday, June 30 COL @ SEA

The game itself lasted just 1 hour, 52 minutes. Seattle's Jamie Moyer pitched very well - a complete game with 2 ER, 5 H.

But Josh Fogg was dominant (did I just say that?)! He threw a complete game (his 2nd CG of his career) shutout with 2 hits and 1 BB. All three baserunners ended up out on double plays. That means Josh Fogg faced the MINIMUM. 27 batters faced, 27 outs. I'm in complete shock.

I wish I saw that game :salute:
sounds great man

[Snapping Turtle]

I just wanted to let you all know that my brother called me about an hour ago from his tournament he's at in Arizona, and he threw a no-hitter and his team is going to the championship game! :D

[Kapaibro]

I'm all about appreciating pitchers like Mark Mulder!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm


appreci-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-tionnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn :D

[keithbishop]

The Yankees eaked out a win tonight in an old-fashioned pitcher's duel.

Yankees hitters: 1 R 3 H 1 BB.

Yankees pitchers:

Jaret Wright--6 IP 4 H 0 BB 10 K.

Scott Proctor--1 IP 0 H 0 BB 2 K.

Kyle Farnsworth: 1 IP 0 H 0 BB.

Mariano Rivera--1 IP 0 H 0 BB 2 K.

14 K +0 R +0 BB= :beer: :beer:

Wright allowed a single and a double to the first 2 hitters, stranded the runners.... then cruised for the rest of the night. :salute: