Every morning we review the nastiest pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious HD GIFs. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite pitch and check back this weekend to see if it will be in contention for the GIF of the First Half Contest. Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @ThePitcherList and we’ll GIF it up + give you a shoutout here in the article.
Gio Gonzalez’s Curveball – It’s breaking ball day here on Pitcher List and Gio’s Curveball may have been the best. Watch this pitch start in the center of the plate before diving to Yoenis Cespedes’ ankles for an easy whiff and a well deserved strikeout.
Justin Verlander’s Curveball – We still aren’t back to seeing vintage Verlander on the mound, though he’s able to give us moments of brilliance that remind us of what used to be. For example, this hook to Michael Martinez elegantly fell for three strike as he flinched just like any normal person would have. (Thanks to Redditor jimmcdermont for the tip!)
Nick Pivetta’s Slider – Sure, this is cheating slightly as it came against Chris Sale, but Pivetta got some sweet drop on this pitch as it cruised underneath the opposing pitcher’s bat. No wonder he had nine strikeouts last night in a breakout start.
Jeff Hoffman’s Curveball – It wasn’t the exuberant display of strikeouts we were getting used to from Hoffman, but after his first at-bat of the game to Denard Span we sure thought it was going to be. Hoffman turned to his Curveball for the final strike and it fell a ton to fall below the veteran outfielder’s swing.
Rich Hill’s Curveball – It was an incredibly rocky start from Hill once again where his consistency eluded him. However, when his Curveball works, it works and it got a ton of horizontal movement against Erik Gonzalez to close the third frame.
GIF Of The Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the First Half Contest.
[polldaddy poll=9770066]
Don’t sleep on Hoffman, although, not sure how you can at this point.