Best fastball in the minors.

by SenorGato on Mar 17, 2010 1:31 AM EDT

So who's got it? Feliz? Meija? Strasburg? Perez (LHP)? Bard? One of the many other guys. Henry Rodriguez....Kelly because of the sink...Chapman....Aumont....Drabek...

My vote would go to Bard in the long run, but Strasburg and Feliz for the next 5-8 years. Bard has the advantages of having the best combination of size, mechanics, and coaching in the long run. The Rangers are improving at coaching pitching, but the Rex Sox have been ahead of alot of teams in that department. Strasburg could be Wade Miller rather than Roger Clemens.

Since Bard probably won't start, I'll vote for Chapman because him being left handed makes it easy.

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Strasburg

command, velocity, and movement. not a tough one for me.

baseball rules.

by doublestix on Mar 17, 2010 1:34 AM EDT reply actions

Texas has 2 great options in Feliz and Scheppers

Was has Stras

I would probably put then as Feliz, Stras, Scheppers until we see Stras and Scheppers get some MILB/MLB regular season innings.

JD’s like, "you want some fucking pitching? Here’s all the pitching you can stand. Now choke on it, bitches!"- RCCook

by laxtonto on Mar 17, 2010 1:36 AM EDT reply actions

Strasburg, Feliz, Scheppers

I have to agree with laxtonto.

Chapman obviously, too.

You can probably throw Mejia in there, as well

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by alskor on Mar 17, 2010 1:55 AM EDT reply actions

Feliz

That's why they call them business sox

by egriffey on Mar 17, 2010 2:31 AM EDT reply actions

Chapman from the left and Meija from the right

Who loves orange soda?

by Kenan and Kel on Mar 17, 2010 3:30 AM EDT reply actions

Mejia

Velocity isn’t everything, though he has plenty. The movement on his fastball is ridiculous, and is going to be very hard for even major leaguers to touch.

by PissedMick on Mar 17, 2010 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

True, but I’ll take Strasburg’s greater velocity and command over Mejia’s greater movement.

by PhillyFriar on Mar 17, 2010 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

For me

Strasburg, Feliz, Mejia, Scheppers.
I wouldn’t list Mejia if not for his unbelievable movement.

by Conjunction on Mar 17, 2010 10:24 AM EDT reply actions

Oh

forgot about Chapman. Aroldis over Scheppers.

by Conjunction on Mar 17, 2010 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Re:

Bard spent most of last season in the majors. Feliz spent enough there that I wouldn’t consider him a “minor leaguer” either.

I’d say it’s Chapman from the left and Strasburg from the right.

by Dfarth on Mar 17, 2010 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

This

by Havok1517 on Mar 18, 2010 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe Callis was asked this question recently in one of his ESPN chats

His answer was basically Strasburg #1 and Feliz #1a. Those two’s fastballs are leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else.

by guru4u on Mar 17, 2010 12:13 PM EDT reply actions

Strasburg

For the velocity and the movement

The wind is in the buffalo.

by journeymen on Mar 17, 2010 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

Question on Strasburg and command

Are the people talking about Strasburg’s command of his fastball going off college walk rates or what? The command certainly isn’t bad or anything at this point, but he has had some problems with location thus far in ST (its early I know and it may be rust, but its worth watching) and his lack of walks in college was as much of a function of overmatched hitters chasing his fastball anywhere close to the zone as it was due to great command on his part.

I’ll freely admit that I may be missing something here, but from what I’ve seen I don’t get the love for Strasburg’s fastball command yet. Let’s see how it plays out against professional hitters before we go crazy making conclusions based on BB rates against MWC hitters.

by nixa37 on Mar 17, 2010 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

Kershaw

statistically in 09 anyway

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=7&season=2009&month=0

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by yoda1 on Mar 17, 2010 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

oops

I am retarded. I read Majors not Minors. :)

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by yoda1 on Mar 17, 2010 5:21 PM EDT reply actions

In the majors....

as far as starters go I like Greinke’s and Verlander’s.

by SenorGato on Mar 18, 2010 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Madison Bumgarner

the numbers he put up with 89 MPH heat means its got to be good right.

"This has got to hurt"

by Da.aron on Mar 17, 2010 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

wow

just wow

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Mar 17, 2010 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

and no secondary pitches

but still was unhittable, that’s a good fastball

"This has got to hurt"

by Da.aron on Mar 17, 2010 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

The batteries are dead in my sarcasm meter, but I have to assume this is a joke

Pinella: Where th f*ck was that pitch at?
Ump: Lou, don't you know that you're not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition?
Pinella: Where the f*ck was that pitch at, a$$h*le?

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 18, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

ITS OVER NINE THOUSAND!!!

Who loves orange soda?

by Kenan and Kel on Mar 18, 2010 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Unfortunately, I think he is serious…

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Mar 18, 2010 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

a little surprised that Aumont isn't getting talk other than the OP

Might be questions about the overall package . . .but if you told me that Aumont actually has 2 of the top 10 fastballs in the minors right now (4 seamer and sinker), I wouldn’t complain.

by mrkupe on Mar 17, 2010 11:16 PM EDT reply actions