Every week we review the nastiest pitches from the previous week in glorious HD GIFs. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite pitch and and check back this weekend to see if it will be in contention for the GIF of the First Half. 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.
Hisashi Iwakuma’s Splitter – This week didn’t feature the best of Iwakuma, but his Splitter was flat out nasty at times. Watch this incredible movement down-and-in that tied up Delino DeShields. (Thanks to Reddit user SeaTownMariners for the tip!)
Francisco Liriano’s Changeup – It was nothing new for Liriano as he fanned 10 batters while walking 5 en route to a dominating performance against the Cardinals. He was getting tons of movement on all of his pitches, including this Changeup that Randall Grichuk doesn’t come close to touching.
Jake Arrieta’s Changeup – The reigning NL Cy Young winner flexed his muscles in Anaheim on Monday, silencing the Angels in dominating fashion through seven frames. For those unaware, this Changeup that strikes out Mike Trout – one of the best hitters in the MLB – is Arrieta’s fourth best pitch. Absurd.
Noah Syndergaard’s Slider – We were freaking out about this pitch on Twitter, and I still haven’t fully gotten over it. This is a 95 MPH Slider that doesn’t have the traditional horizontal movement found in a Cutter, but rather late dipping bite that is impossible to hit. Unreal.
Francisco Rodriguez’s Curveball – With the bases loaded and ahead by four, K-Rod managed to get slugger Giancarlo Stanton to strike out on this vicious Curveball that danced well off the plate to seal the win. (Thanks to @rutledge_josiah for the tip!)
Cody Allen’s Curveball – Allen may be one of the least talked about closers with some of the best stuff. He dismantled Xander Bogaerts on three pitches, the second of which was this beautiful Curveball that darted off the plate at the last moment. (Thanks to Reddit user ottervomit for the tip!)
Chris Sale’s Slider – It was more of the same from Sale in his 2016 debut, fanning eight in seven innings as his Slider led the charge. It’s still tough to comprehend the insane horizontal movement Sale gets on his signature breaking ball.
GIF Of The Week
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the First Half contest.
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