somebody explain Hughes fastball to me?

Pharmcat · Post #1 » by **Pharmcat** » Fri May 14, 2010 5:16 pm

I dont understand his fastball, the gun says like 93 most of the time, but the guys are whiffing on his fastball like eddy curry whiffs on his training program, why is this? it seems to have like a late explosion when it hits the plate and the guys are behind on it. is it just the movement on it or what?

thanks

:dontknow:

Jitpal · Post #2 » by **Jitpal** » Fri May 14, 2010 5:46 pm

It's movement and I think his delivery as well. He isn't like Joba where it's full force, all out, Hughes looks so easy throwing it, you think its going to come at you at 90mph and the extra 3-4 MPH adds a ton. Hughes has excellent command in the zone as well, so he is able to manipulate hitters by changing eye level and keep them on the defensive by throwing strikes. Look at most of the Minnesota Twins pitchers in the past couple of years, most of them haven't been anything special but they threw strikes and changed eye level. Look how they were able to put up decent ERAs and wins in the teens. Additionally, don't discount Hughes use of the cutter. It looks like a fastball, it's only a couple MPH slower and it has really good movement. They have to be ready for both because he throws the Cutter in fastball situations. I also wouldn't be shocked if Hughes' domination in the pen last season has given hitters the idea that he is that unhittable. In turn it's given Hughes confidence and hitters see that he has that. As Yogi said, 90% of the game is half mental. -Jitpal

Post #3 » by **nykgeneralmanager** » Sat May 15, 2010 9:25 pm

This has been the case with Hughes' fastball from his time in the minors before he dealt with his injuries and lost his stuff a little bit. The reason his strikeout numbers in A and AA were so absurd wasn't because of a changeup or cutter, he was a 2 pitch pitcher at the time, but his fastball. The scouting report was always that he threw 92-94 but hitters said it seemed more like 95-96. When he got injured and came back he was only throwing about 90, so it probably felt like 92 to hitters which is pretty hittable when you only have two pitches and are struggling with command. Now hitters feel like Hughes is throwing 95 with pinpoint command, it is tough to keep up with.

And even though he may not look it, don't forget that he is 6'5'', so that certainly adds to the trouble for hitters.