Matt
09-21-2006, 08:24 AM
Zumaya gives boost to Tigers' playoff hopes
Posted: September 14, 2006
It was the slowest of pitches, it was the fastest of pitches. Kenny Rogers loaded the bases against Texas with no outs in the sixth inning, and not one of his pitches topped 86 mph. In came rookie Joel Zumaya. After walking the first batter, which forced in a run, he blew invisiballs past the next three Rangers. The radar gun reported a 102-mph fastball. There have been no reports confirming Hank Blalock saw it. Zumaya's slowest pitch that inning: 86.
It was a tale of two pities. Pity the Rangers for being unable to feast on the maddeningly effective dribs and drabs of Rogers, whose refusal to throw over the meat of the plate has him at 15-6 with a 3.91 ERA. Pity them more for starving against Zumaya, who grabs the meat of the plate like it's a brontosaurus leg and swallows it whole. Pity the rest of the league, too, because Zumaya -- who has a 1.98 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings -- and the rest of the Tigers' pitchers have barbecued opponents all season.
The contrast of Rogers' cunning and Zumaya's cannon makes the Tigers' pitching staff the best in baseball -- and gives the team great hope if they complete their run into the postseason. And it's not just the Rogers-Zumaya dichotomy. When Zumaya comes in after rookie Justin Verlander -- who throws high-90s pellets -- the song remains the same, yet opponents still get rocked.
Read the rest of the article: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=127743
i read this article in the Sporting News and the craziest part was a diagram they had comparing 86mph, 90mph, and 103mph pitches. being the baseball noob that i am, i was amazed that the differences between the pitches is about 4 and a half feet. so if the two pitchers threw fastballs, one at 86mph and another at 103mph, the 86mph ball would more than 8 feet behind the 103mph ball. that's insane!!
"Zumaya winds up for a fastball"
http://www.shinmugen.net/gifs/capcom/Ryu/ryu-fireball-charge.gif
[smilie=duck.gif]
Posted: September 14, 2006
It was the slowest of pitches, it was the fastest of pitches. Kenny Rogers loaded the bases against Texas with no outs in the sixth inning, and not one of his pitches topped 86 mph. In came rookie Joel Zumaya. After walking the first batter, which forced in a run, he blew invisiballs past the next three Rangers. The radar gun reported a 102-mph fastball. There have been no reports confirming Hank Blalock saw it. Zumaya's slowest pitch that inning: 86.
It was a tale of two pities. Pity the Rangers for being unable to feast on the maddeningly effective dribs and drabs of Rogers, whose refusal to throw over the meat of the plate has him at 15-6 with a 3.91 ERA. Pity them more for starving against Zumaya, who grabs the meat of the plate like it's a brontosaurus leg and swallows it whole. Pity the rest of the league, too, because Zumaya -- who has a 1.98 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings -- and the rest of the Tigers' pitchers have barbecued opponents all season.
The contrast of Rogers' cunning and Zumaya's cannon makes the Tigers' pitching staff the best in baseball -- and gives the team great hope if they complete their run into the postseason. And it's not just the Rogers-Zumaya dichotomy. When Zumaya comes in after rookie Justin Verlander -- who throws high-90s pellets -- the song remains the same, yet opponents still get rocked.
Read the rest of the article: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=127743
i read this article in the Sporting News and the craziest part was a diagram they had comparing 86mph, 90mph, and 103mph pitches. being the baseball noob that i am, i was amazed that the differences between the pitches is about 4 and a half feet. so if the two pitchers threw fastballs, one at 86mph and another at 103mph, the 86mph ball would more than 8 feet behind the 103mph ball. that's insane!!
"Zumaya winds up for a fastball"
http://www.shinmugen.net/gifs/capcom/Ryu/ryu-fireball-charge.gif
[smilie=duck.gif]