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re: 100 mph fastball isn’t what it used to be.
Posted on 6/21/22 at 1:46 pm to XenScott
Posted on 6/21/22 at 1:46 pm to XenScott
I caught one of the local radio shows the other day, had a couple former LSU guys talking (I didn't catch the names, sorry).
What they were saying makes a good bit of sense- the radar guns "back in the day" were way more bulky and simplistic, and calibrated differently. One of the guys talked about how either the pitching coach or pitcher might do something (brush his glove a certain way, etc) to tip off the radar guy that he was going to throw a fastball, because they couldn't leave the gun turned on (battery would run down or something). That way, they could get timed on the fastball.
The overall point they were making was, the pitches aren't faster now, they simply are measured different, the gun now is calibrated differently and reads it higher.
And now, just like back then, a good hitter can feast on a straight-line fastball without movement, unless it's significantly hotter than what they're used to.
So now, we see a lot of 96-100 mph fastballs, when you used to see 92-95. Batters are still lining it up.
What they were saying makes a good bit of sense- the radar guns "back in the day" were way more bulky and simplistic, and calibrated differently. One of the guys talked about how either the pitching coach or pitcher might do something (brush his glove a certain way, etc) to tip off the radar guy that he was going to throw a fastball, because they couldn't leave the gun turned on (battery would run down or something). That way, they could get timed on the fastball.
The overall point they were making was, the pitches aren't faster now, they simply are measured different, the gun now is calibrated differently and reads it higher.
And now, just like back then, a good hitter can feast on a straight-line fastball without movement, unless it's significantly hotter than what they're used to.
So now, we see a lot of 96-100 mph fastballs, when you used to see 92-95. Batters are still lining it up.
1
Posted on 6/21/22 at 1:49 pm to Scoob
I think there is probably something to that, but average fastball velo is up 3-5 mph even in the last 10 years where we've had similar technology the whole time. Guys just throw harder due to training, lifting, focus on speed, etc and all that stuff that has "advanced" the last 10-20 years.
Of course, hitters are also much more used to seeing speed than they were in 1997 because they see it every weekend and saw it their entire travel ball career. So it does even it out a little.
Of course, hitters are also much more used to seeing speed than they were in 1997 because they see it every weekend and saw it their entire travel ball career. So it does even it out a little.
This post was edited on 6/21/22 at 1:51 pm
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