What is it that most of us baseball fans like to watch? Great pitching.
What makes great pitching fun to watch? When a pitcher has absolutely filthy stuff.
So how do we define stuff? It's very subjective, because of all the different factors to take into consideration. You can take into account a pitcher's velocity, movement, control, breaking stuff among a few other things.
So after doing a poll with our dedicated readers, whose opinions are held in very high regard, here are the top 20 pitchers that came as a result of polling many different people.
No. 1 Jake Peavy
With a tailing fastball that goes anywhere between 92-97 to go along with a very sharp slider and a filthy changeup, Peavy came out as the top pitcher in our circle. He has very good command of the strike zone and his ¾ arm slot allows him to keep the ball down in the zone which leads to a lot of swings and misses at balls in the dirt.
What makes great pitching fun to watch? When a pitcher has absolutely filthy stuff.
So how do we define stuff? It's very subjective, because of all the different factors to take into consideration. You can take into account a pitcher's velocity, movement, control, breaking stuff among a few other things.
So after doing a poll with our dedicated readers, whose opinions are held in very high regard, here are the top 20 pitchers that came as a result of polling many different people.
No. 1 Jake Peavy
With a tailing fastball that goes anywhere between 92-97 to go along with a very sharp slider and a filthy changeup, Peavy came out as the top pitcher in our circle. He has very good command of the strike zone and his ¾ arm slot allows him to keep the ball down in the zone which leads to a lot of swings and misses at balls in the dirt.
No. 2
Tim Lincecum
By the time he is 30, Lincecum will probably be the most dominant pitcher in baseball and will have been so for a number of years. His fastball, which is a two-seamer that boars into righty's and tails away from lefties, goes from 94-98. His curveball is sharp and gets a lot of swing through's even when it's bounced. His changeup is getting much, much better and has gotten quite nasty.
No. 3
Felix Hernandez
With velocity that can run up to 100, that's right, 100, Felix is downright nasty. His fastball tends to hang around 96-98. He breaks off a very sharp curveball in the lower 80's and has a changeup that goes 90 mph and has a sharp dive that bites right at the end. And he's just a kid.
No. 4
Josh Beckett
Beckett stays with two pitches basically, his fastball and his curveball, and for good reason. Both are among the best in baseball. His fastball is usually 95+ and can get up to 98 mph. His curve is very sharp and it gives him about a 20 mph change in velocity between that and his fastball. His changeup is basically a two-seamer that goes 90. It is just an average pitch and he only uses it once in a while.
No. 5
Brandon Webb
Webb scored very high by most and much lower by some. His stuff is very objective, but when broken down he's among the best. His sinker, which he throws most of the time, is in the low 90's and even though you know it's coming, it's nearly impossible to hit. He has a great changeup, but only uses it once in a while which makes it very effective when he does.
No. 6
Rich Harden
For him to be this high in our poll, tells you something. His stuff supersedes people's thoughts of his injuries and for good reason. His fastball is in the upper 90's, touching as much as 100 mph and is consistently 95-96. His splitter might be the best in the game and he features a plus slider and an above average changeup.
No. 7
Justin Verlander
We know he can throw 100 mph, but he usually lives around 94-95, reaching back for more if he needs it. He has a sharp curveball that gets a lot of people chasing in the dirt and his out pitch is actually his changeup which has a 10-12 mph difference from his fastball and just falls off the table.
No. 8
Johan Santana
He doesn't blow you away with 97 anymore, but locates with 91-93 and tries to put you away with his devastating changeup. His slider isn't quite what it used to be and he goes to the changeup to put people away more often these days. Two or three years ago, Santana would have topped the list.
No. 9
Ben Sheets
Now that he is starting to feature a changeup, Sheets is even filthier. With a fastball that runs from 94-98, he uses his sharp, 12-6 hammer of a curveball to put people away. Like Harden, his health issues probably keep him from being top five.
No. 10
Cole Hamels
Just like Santana, Hamels uses one of the best changeups in the game to go with a plus fastball that is even more devastating when you are waiting for a changeup. He has above average breaking stuff that he can go to in order to keep hitters honest if he needs to.
No. 11
Carlos Zambrano
If he wasn't so crazy, he would be nearly unhittable. With a fastball he can get to tail in and out with velocity from 94-98, he can break off a sharp slider or a splitter to get hitters out.
No. 12
Matt Cain
This youngster is still getting better and he features four quality pitches. His fastball is very good and goes from 92-96, and his other pitchers are all plus as he will throw a changeup, curveball or slider in any count.
No. 13
Roy Halladay
Halladay doesn't throw 96-97 anymore, but his 91-94 with all that movement is just not fair. He moves his fastball all over the place and will break off his very good slider, a plus splitter and an above average palm ball (I know, a frickin' palm ball!).
No. 14
Erik Bedard
Once the weather warms up, so does Bedard. Once he gets loosened up, his fastball climbs to 95-96 to go with a plus curveball and an above average change.
No. 15
John Smoltz
The old man can still bring it. He still throws mid 90's, his slider is very tight and sharp and gets on you in the high 80's while his splitter still gets a lot of people to swing and miss. Injuries have finally caught up with him. If the poll was done a month from now, he might have been out of sight, out of mind.
No. 16
C.C. Sabathia
With ease he can bring his fastball in the mid 90's and pumps it up there at 97-98 when needed. He relies on his slider to off-set the fastball, throwing it down and in to righty's and down and away from lefty's.
No. 17
Roy Oswalt
His fastball isn't 95-96 anymore, but he still brings it at 92-93 and with his herky jerky wind up, his arm explodes and the ball seems to get on the batter fast. His slider is still very sharp and he still throws that big slow curve that makes batters look bad.
No. 18
Dan Haren
Haren is about 92-93 with his fastball and he constantly pounds the strike zone with it. He will throw his slider to keep you off balanced and once he gets two strikes on you, expect him to try and break off his very nasty splitty.
No.19
John Lackey
Lackey brings his arm across his body which makes his 95 mph fastball get on you very quickly and it gives it a lot of movement. His best pitch is his slider which he can go to in any situation because it's one of the best in baseball.
No. 20
Tim Hudson
Huddy still throws in the low 90's and everything has movement. His fastball is constantly darting, his sinker falls off the table and his spitter is still one of the better ones around.
Others receiving votes: Brad Penny, Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Clay Buchholz, Dustin McGowan, Fausto Carmona, Ubaldo Jimenez, Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Daniel Cabrera. Joba Chamberlain received a vote, but the poll was being based on starting pitchers.
April surprises: With the calendar turning from April to May, the first month of the baseball season is over and with it there were some surprise teams. Among them were Marlins, Orioles, Rays, Cardinals, A's and White Sox who were all unexpectedly at or around first place.
So which of these teams has staying power? Here's the case for them:
Rays: They are very talented and a month of winning is only going to make them more confident which is basically what they lacked the most. With talented young hitters and improving young pitchers, expect the Rays to hang around until August.
Orioles: The Orioles are very much overachieving. The pitching is so unproven and can't keep this up meanwhile the lineup has a lot of holes that will catch up with them.
Marlins: The series against the Dodgers answered the question of how long their pitching could hold up. They have a very talented lineup, but pitching will keep them from being in the race after May is over.
Cards: Again, everyone is pitching way over their head and there are too many questions in the lineup. The Cards always hang around, but by the trade deadline, they will not be close enough to the top of the division to be taken seriously.
A's: A winning culture has been breed in Oakland, so it's no wonder they are winning. Billy Beane made great trades again because Dana Eveland and Greg Smith have turned out to be solid lefties. They're lineup is ragtag as usual, but they're doing enough. They will hover just below .500, but they will play everyone tough.
White Sox: They are taking advantage of the rest of the division playing poorly as well as Jim Thome and Paul Konerko hitting timely home runs. They can't hit around .200 all year if the team wants to win. The pitching has been a little bit better than expected, so I can see this team fading away in mid-July.
Tim Lincecum
By the time he is 30, Lincecum will probably be the most dominant pitcher in baseball and will have been so for a number of years. His fastball, which is a two-seamer that boars into righty's and tails away from lefties, goes from 94-98. His curveball is sharp and gets a lot of swing through's even when it's bounced. His changeup is getting much, much better and has gotten quite nasty.
No. 3
Felix Hernandez
With velocity that can run up to 100, that's right, 100, Felix is downright nasty. His fastball tends to hang around 96-98. He breaks off a very sharp curveball in the lower 80's and has a changeup that goes 90 mph and has a sharp dive that bites right at the end. And he's just a kid.
No. 4
Josh Beckett
Beckett stays with two pitches basically, his fastball and his curveball, and for good reason. Both are among the best in baseball. His fastball is usually 95+ and can get up to 98 mph. His curve is very sharp and it gives him about a 20 mph change in velocity between that and his fastball. His changeup is basically a two-seamer that goes 90. It is just an average pitch and he only uses it once in a while.
No. 5
Brandon Webb
Webb scored very high by most and much lower by some. His stuff is very objective, but when broken down he's among the best. His sinker, which he throws most of the time, is in the low 90's and even though you know it's coming, it's nearly impossible to hit. He has a great changeup, but only uses it once in a while which makes it very effective when he does.
No. 6
Rich Harden
For him to be this high in our poll, tells you something. His stuff supersedes people's thoughts of his injuries and for good reason. His fastball is in the upper 90's, touching as much as 100 mph and is consistently 95-96. His splitter might be the best in the game and he features a plus slider and an above average changeup.
No. 7
Justin Verlander
We know he can throw 100 mph, but he usually lives around 94-95, reaching back for more if he needs it. He has a sharp curveball that gets a lot of people chasing in the dirt and his out pitch is actually his changeup which has a 10-12 mph difference from his fastball and just falls off the table.
No. 8
Johan Santana
He doesn't blow you away with 97 anymore, but locates with 91-93 and tries to put you away with his devastating changeup. His slider isn't quite what it used to be and he goes to the changeup to put people away more often these days. Two or three years ago, Santana would have topped the list.
No. 9
Ben Sheets
Now that he is starting to feature a changeup, Sheets is even filthier. With a fastball that runs from 94-98, he uses his sharp, 12-6 hammer of a curveball to put people away. Like Harden, his health issues probably keep him from being top five.
No. 10
Cole Hamels
Just like Santana, Hamels uses one of the best changeups in the game to go with a plus fastball that is even more devastating when you are waiting for a changeup. He has above average breaking stuff that he can go to in order to keep hitters honest if he needs to.
No. 11
Carlos Zambrano
If he wasn't so crazy, he would be nearly unhittable. With a fastball he can get to tail in and out with velocity from 94-98, he can break off a sharp slider or a splitter to get hitters out.
No. 12
Matt Cain
This youngster is still getting better and he features four quality pitches. His fastball is very good and goes from 92-96, and his other pitchers are all plus as he will throw a changeup, curveball or slider in any count.
No. 13
Roy Halladay
Halladay doesn't throw 96-97 anymore, but his 91-94 with all that movement is just not fair. He moves his fastball all over the place and will break off his very good slider, a plus splitter and an above average palm ball (I know, a frickin' palm ball!).
No. 14
Erik Bedard
Once the weather warms up, so does Bedard. Once he gets loosened up, his fastball climbs to 95-96 to go with a plus curveball and an above average change.
No. 15
John Smoltz
The old man can still bring it. He still throws mid 90's, his slider is very tight and sharp and gets on you in the high 80's while his splitter still gets a lot of people to swing and miss. Injuries have finally caught up with him. If the poll was done a month from now, he might have been out of sight, out of mind.
No. 16
C.C. Sabathia
With ease he can bring his fastball in the mid 90's and pumps it up there at 97-98 when needed. He relies on his slider to off-set the fastball, throwing it down and in to righty's and down and away from lefty's.
No. 17
Roy Oswalt
His fastball isn't 95-96 anymore, but he still brings it at 92-93 and with his herky jerky wind up, his arm explodes and the ball seems to get on the batter fast. His slider is still very sharp and he still throws that big slow curve that makes batters look bad.
No. 18
Dan Haren
Haren is about 92-93 with his fastball and he constantly pounds the strike zone with it. He will throw his slider to keep you off balanced and once he gets two strikes on you, expect him to try and break off his very nasty splitty.
No.19
John Lackey
Lackey brings his arm across his body which makes his 95 mph fastball get on you very quickly and it gives it a lot of movement. His best pitch is his slider which he can go to in any situation because it's one of the best in baseball.
No. 20
Tim Hudson
Huddy still throws in the low 90's and everything has movement. His fastball is constantly darting, his sinker falls off the table and his spitter is still one of the better ones around.
Others receiving votes: Brad Penny, Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Clay Buchholz, Dustin McGowan, Fausto Carmona, Ubaldo Jimenez, Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Daniel Cabrera. Joba Chamberlain received a vote, but the poll was being based on starting pitchers.
April surprises: With the calendar turning from April to May, the first month of the baseball season is over and with it there were some surprise teams. Among them were Marlins, Orioles, Rays, Cardinals, A's and White Sox who were all unexpectedly at or around first place.
So which of these teams has staying power? Here's the case for them:
Rays: They are very talented and a month of winning is only going to make them more confident which is basically what they lacked the most. With talented young hitters and improving young pitchers, expect the Rays to hang around until August.
Orioles: The Orioles are very much overachieving. The pitching is so unproven and can't keep this up meanwhile the lineup has a lot of holes that will catch up with them.
Marlins: The series against the Dodgers answered the question of how long their pitching could hold up. They have a very talented lineup, but pitching will keep them from being in the race after May is over.
Cards: Again, everyone is pitching way over their head and there are too many questions in the lineup. The Cards always hang around, but by the trade deadline, they will not be close enough to the top of the division to be taken seriously.
A's: A winning culture has been breed in Oakland, so it's no wonder they are winning. Billy Beane made great trades again because Dana Eveland and Greg Smith have turned out to be solid lefties. They're lineup is ragtag as usual, but they're doing enough. They will hover just below .500, but they will play everyone tough.
White Sox: They are taking advantage of the rest of the division playing poorly as well as Jim Thome and Paul Konerko hitting timely home runs. They can't hit around .200 all year if the team wants to win. The pitching has been a little bit better than expected, so I can see this team fading away in mid-July.
great piece, matty. lots of fun to play these kinds of games.
But I have to ask, where's billingsley? No dodgers at all? wtf?!?
I can't believe I'm saying this: What about Wang? He's been outstanding so far this year. Good call on Beckett. That must have hurt your heart to put him so high.
mcgowan 94-99 with fastball. nasty slider and curveball.