As a pitcher, when you have velocity, location, and movement, there is a good chance you will end up in Cooperstown. As we just witnessed last week. This year’s inductees knew how to use these pitching commodities. They also knew how to still pitch when the most popular of the three, was either not needed, or no longer there. Their results speak for themselves.

 

Velocity Location and Movement
Setting the Tone

Mike Mussina in his prime was throwing 95 plus+. Combined with the ability to locate down & away, his devastating Knuckle curve and how he could elevate his fastball in correspondence to the hammer, earned him 270 wins, to make the Hall of Fame pitcher he is.

 

The late Roy Halladay had velocity. However, he didn’t rely on it. He pitched in a lower gear. It was his pitches that started in the zone and broke off of both sides of the plate that made him so efficient. Three 20 win seasons and 2 Cy Youngs. Not to mention, his Perfect Game and postseason No Hitter in the second Cy Young campaign in 2010 propelled him into the Hall.

 

Mariano Rivera.  Mr. Unanimous. So fitting that he is the first player to receive 100% of the vote. Obviously, known for the Cutter.  He could put it wherever he wanted. Almost robotic like. When Joe Girardi mentored Jorge Posada early in his career, he warned him,

“Be careful where you set up the target for the Cutter with Mariano, because he will hit it!”

The movement on the cutter obliterated bats and absolutely Dominated left handed hitters. In his prime, the cutter was sometimes times more of a 95 mph Slider. That was long before anyone knew about Noah Syndergaard. Let’s also not forget about that 2 seamer he threw later in his career. A stark mirror image of his cutter.

Velocity Location and Movement
Finishing Strong

If you have 2 of the 3 attributes, you will still have a damn good career. As long as one of them is location. Because the velocity may not be around forever…

Mussina’s fastball averaged 86 MPH in his last season when he won 20 games. He also had his lowest BB/9 total of his career at 1.39.

Despite throwing in the high 90s when he first came up, Halladay maintained his velocity in the 90-92 MPH range during the prime of his career. His ball kept moving and he kept runners off base with less than 2 BB/9. Consequently, his efficiency helped pile up 67 Complete Games.

Rivera was as good as ever to the very end, despite his average velocity declining each season all the way to 90.8 MPH. Not to mention that, in the last ⅓ of his career, he had 3 seasons with single digit walk totals. 3!

 

Velocity Location and Movement
Still in Play Today

Don’t let modern trends fool you. Of course velocity gets you in the door. However, as the velo will be on the down tick as the career wages on, it is the location and movement which maintain results. When the velocity is no longer the Dominating asset, the best pitchers find ways to extend their careers. Location shows hitters that you are in command. Needless to say, none of them like the sharp, late breaking movement. Therefore, if you have Plus+ velocity to go along with it….Enjoy the ride!

Keep Dominating!!!