Hardest thrower ever?

[hifigator]

sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=sh-strasburg032409&prov=yhoo&type=lgns


This guy stands to make a serious amount of money.

[HeartAttackHoya]

not to mention he has Bor-ASS as his agent. Nats are going to have to shell out some major $ if they pick him #1

[hifigator]

Yeah, the money seems to be the only stumbling block. The rumors I hear is that they want a virtually done deal or they aren't going to risk it. That would set up the Mariners to snatch him with the second pick. I think San Diego has the third pick and that would be a golden opportunity for them to have the home town boy as their ace in a couple of years, but unfortunately for them, I seriously doubt he will still be there at 3.

[washingtonhoya]

If he falls to the Mariners at #2 and actually signs I will do a dance of glee...

which will end when he promptly tears something in his arm in his third appearance in the minors and requires Tommy John surgery and has it performed by someone who graduated from Hollywood Upstairs Medical College, ending his career.

(Ryan "The Little Unit" Anderson, where have you gone?)

If you haven't seen it yet, here's the video of him striking out 23 Utah batters in a game

Fastball up at "100-102" mph? Yeah, okay I'll believe it when it's on a gun not property of the SDSU athletic department. Still, a college pitcher with a high-90s fastball and two plus pitches already--change and slider-- and a 19.4 K/9 ratio as a starter? Yes please.

(Personally I don't know how someone named Strasburg can end up with any team other than the Metz.)

[RDF]

JR RICHARD was the hardest throwing pitcher I ever saw. His slider was nastier then most guys' fastball.

[hifigator]

It's hard to compare guys from different eras, but Richard was certainly among the elite. I think Billy Wagner would be on the short list as well. And in his prime, Randy Johnson was probably as feared as anyone. If you were a lefty, you just didn't get a good look ever.

[hoyarooter]

Don't forget Nolan Ryan.

And I remember that back in the day, that Walter Johnson could really bring it. ;D

[SFHoya99]

Mar 27, 2009 12:12:25 GMT -5 hoyarooter said:

Don't forget Nolan Ryan.

And I remember that back in the day, that Walter Johnson could really bring it. ;D

People do estimate that Johnson threw at least mid-90s -- and SIDEARM.

Virtually every number 100 or higher is likely on a "fast gun." There's no incentive to have a slow one at a stadium. Does anyone think Zumaya really hit 103+?

Strasburg may be the best pitcher on that list other than Johnson, though. He's got the secondary stuff and conrol. We'll see -- so much can happen to a pitcher and he's just in college (see Mark Prior), but he's being hyped as Prior with an extra 5-7 mph on his fastball.

[RDF]

Mar 27, 2009 12:12:25 GMT -5 hoyarooter said:

Don't forget Nolan Ryan.

And I remember that back in the day, that Walter Johnson could really bring it. ;D

My former HS Coach--Craig Kusick (RIP) said that he'd face Nolan Ryan any day of week over facing JR Richard. Now he had a pretty good BA against Ryan too--but he said Richard's slider was faster then most guys fastballs--and that included the hard throwers.

[SFHoya99]

Richard had fantastic stuff. I can see why your HS coach thought it was better than Ryan. Never really harnessed the control and then was done. Amazing when he was on, though.

[hifigator]

Ryan was almost "sneeky fast" if that's possible with someone so well known. He was so under control and threw almost effortlessly and it wouldn't seem like such a fast pitch. That's what mechanics are for and clearly one of the main reasons that Ryan could have such a long career. Richard, on the other hand, seemed to labor on every pitch and put everything he had into the throw. He was damn good though, just not for as long a period.

[RDF]

Mar 27, 2009 13:57:19 GMT -5 hifigator said:

Ryan was almost "sneeky fast" if that's possible with someone so well known. He was so under control and threw almost effortlessly and it wouldn't seem like such a fast pitch. That's what mechanics are for and clearly one of the main reasons that Ryan could have such a long career. Richard, on the other hand, seemed to labor on every pitch and put everything he had into the throw. He was damn good though, just not for as long a period.

Richard had a stroke and was never same. He was easy/smooth as they came. When your slider is about 100MPH and your fastball is "easily" over 100+, you are smooth. I'll take word of a former major league player who faced both over yours. Ryan had perfect mechanics--which is why he was able to sustain his velocity so long. Both were fun to watch and tough to hit--but word from man who faced both--he'd rather see Ryan then Richard when they were in prime due to the nastiest stuff he ever "Heard--you didn't see it--you heard it".

[EasyEd]

Back in my day, Bob Feller wasn't too shabby either.

[hifigator]

Mar 27, 2009 14:19:08 GMT -5 RDF said:

Mar 27, 2009 13:57:19 GMT -5 hifigator said:

Ryan was almost "sneeky fast" if that's possible with someone so well known. He was so under control and threw almost effortlessly and it wouldn't seem like such a fast pitch. That's what mechanics are for and clearly one of the main reasons that Ryan could have such a long career. Richard, on the other hand, seemed to labor on every pitch and put everything he had into the throw. He was damn good though, just not for as long a period.

Richard had a stroke and was never same. He was easy/smooth as they came. When your slider is about 100MPH and your fastball is "easily" over 100+, you are smooth. I'll take word of a former major league player who faced both over yours. Ryan had perfect mechanics--which is why he was able to sustain his velocity so long. Both were fun to watch and tough to hit--but word from man who faced both--he'd rather see Ryan then Richard when they were in prime due to the nastiest stuff he ever "Heard--you didn't see it--you heard it".

I'm not arguing that a bit. All I meant was that Ryan didn't "look" like he was throwing that hard to the casual eye. Richard looked like he was. I wasn't being critical of either one, and in fact, enjoyed those Braves games at the Astrodom, in spite of those hideous uniforms they had. (the Astros, not the Braves)