Spring training has come and gone, with the real games already underway. There has already been a load of impressive pitches to start the regular season, but spring training had quite a few worth noting.
Before we start any tournaments involving the 2019 regular season, let’s decide which was the best pitching GIF from spring training. Eight were cut from the initial field of 16 in the first round, leaving the following eight in play.
While none of these games mattered, winning this tournament is another story entirely.
Here are the rules:
- All GIFs were pulled from 2019 spring training.
- You can only vote on a matchup once, so make sure you pick the one you absolutely want.
- Voting will continue until 12:00 a.m. EST the following morning. This is the second round.
Here are the results from for Round 1:
American Bracket
1. Yusei Kikuchi’s Curveball def. 8. Dakota Hudson’s Slider
2. Adam Ottavino’s Slider def. 7. Kyle Wright’s Slider
3. Chris Paddack’s Curveball def. 6. Nathan Eovaldi’s Fastball
5. Aaron Nola’s Changeup def. 4. Jack Flaherty’s Changeup
National Bracket
1. Jordan Hicks‘ Fastball def. 8. Trevor Bauer’s Changeup
2. Adam Ottavino’s Fastball def. 7. Andrew Miller’s Slider
3. Jordan Hicks‘ Slider def. 6. Justus Sheffield’s Changeup
4. Matt Boyd’s Slider def. 5. Alex Reyes‘ Curveball
Here are the matchups for Round 2:
American Bracket
1. Yusei Kikuchi’s Curveball vs. 5. Aaron Nola’s Changeup
2. Adam Ottavino’s Slider vs. 3. Chris Paddack’s Curveball
National Bracket
1. Jordan Hicks‘ Fastball vs. 4. Matt Boyd’s Slider
2. Adam Ottavino’s Fastball vs. 3. Jordan Hicks‘ Slider
Watch the GIFs in the Links Below!
Yusei Kikuchi’s Curveball vs. Aaron Nola’s Changeup
Aaron Nola was the only pitcher to pull off an upset in the first round of the tournament. Yusei Kikuchi, on the other hand, entered the tournament as the number one overall seed and barely won. Does that mean Nola can pull off another upset? Maybe. But if he does, I’m really going to wonder what’s going through our voters’ minds. I’m pro-change over curve, but give credit where it’s due. It’s not easy to make Joey Votto look like a kid seeing his first legitimate curveball. That being said, vote for whichever pitch you want!
https://gfycat.com/BrownWideeyedFairybluebird
VS.
https://gfycat.com/excitableraggedindigowingedparrot-pitcher-list
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10284843]
Adam Ottavino’s Slider vs. Chris Paddack’s Curveball
Adam Ottavino is a Pitcher List favorite when it comes to the GIF game. His command of this wacky slider really is remarkable. But he’s going up against this Chris Paddack kid, who throws some sick stuff — when he’s not getting hosed at first base on a hit to right field. Seriously though, look at Herman Perez’s reaction to this hook. That body language screams “looks like the hype was real.”
https://gfycat.com/BruisedMediocreCygnet
VS.
https://gfycat.com/HardtofindGlassErin
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10284844]
Jordan Hicks‘ Fastball vs. Matt Boyd’s Slider
Wasn’t it Albert Einstein who said “An object in motion stays in motion … and if it’s moving 100-plus, it can’t have run,” or was that Ben Franklin? Either way, 103 isn’t supposed to tail. Does that mean Jordan Hicks has mutant powers? Maybe. Probably. But can he flip a slider in like Matt Boyd’s? Nope. (That’s because Hicks throws his slider almost 10 miles per hour hard than Boyd, but that’s not the point.)
https://gfycat.com/flawedimpartialgoosefish-pitcher-list
VS.
https://gfycat.com/clutteredformalkentrosaurus-pitcher-list
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10284846]
Adam Ottavino’s Fastball vs. Jordan Hicks‘ Slider
I swear, I did not plan to have a second round matchup featuring two Philadelphia Phillies hitters looking like infants swinging. I’m not sorry, though, Philadelphia.
Two Pitcher List titans square off, though it’s not a battle of their sliders, unfortunately. What’s so tough about Ottavino’s fastball and Hicks’ slider is these two pitches looked very, very hittable up until the last second. By then it’s too late and the hitter is already fully committed. Picking between these two is a big ask, but y’all can figure it out.
https://gfycat.com/tautgranularkingsnake-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/HappygoluckyImaginativeDobermanpinscher
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10284847]