May was a big month for pitchers. Mike Fiers threw another no-hitter and other pitchers are starting to come to full form. Most importantly, some absurd GIFs emerged in May. So ridiculous that the list of honorable mentions from this month probably would have made most other tournaments in the past. Now it’s time to crown the best pitching GIF of them all from May.
The best 16 from May were pulled aside and eight were eliminated on Tuesday. Now it’s on you, the voter, to decide which stands above the rest.
Here are the rules:
- All GIFs were pulled from the month of May.
- 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 Round 1:
American Bracket
1. Chaz Roe’s Slider defeated 8. Marcus Stroman’s Changeup
7. Zach Wheeler’s Slider defeated 2. Gerrit Cole’s Curveball
3. Chris Sale’s Slider defeated 6. Justin Verlander’s Curveball
4. Chaz Roe’s Slider 2.0 defeated 5. Homer Bailey’s Splitter
National Bracket
1. Adam Ottavino’s Slider defeated 8. Justin Verlander’s Fastball
7. Kyle Hendricks‘ Changeup defeated 2. Jordan Hicks‘ Fastball
6. Trevor Bauer’s Curveball defeated 3. Joakim Soria’s Curveball
5. Jose Alvarado’s 2-Seamer defeated 4. Zack Greinke’s Curveball
Here are the matchups for Round 2:
American Bracket
1. Chaz Roe’s Slider vs. 4. Chaz Roe’s Slider 2.0
3. Chris Sale’s Slider vs. 7. Zach Wheeler’s Slider
National Bracket
1. Adam Ottavino’s Slider vs. 5. Jose Alvarado’s 2-Seamer
6. Trevor Bauer’s Curveball vs. 7. Kyle Hendricks‘ Changeup
Watch the GIFs in the Links Below!
Chaz Roe’s Slider vs. Chaz Roe’s Slider 2.0
Both of these Chaz Roe sliders had to be included in the tournament. They’re just too good! And it wouldn’t be right to penalize these specific pitches just because they came from the same human. That being said, the powers that be may have set this up so if these pitches met, it wouldn’t be in the finals. Because that would be obnoxious. And it wouldn’t be surprising if this is the first ever 100-0 result. There’s a reason one of these Roe sliders has a 2.0 attached at the end.
https://gfycat.com/dimwittedbabyishirishwaterspaniel-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/officialperiodiclarva-chaz-roe-sl-5-12-19-baseball
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10335929]
Chris Sale’s Slider vs. Zach Wheeler’s Slider
I have to admit: The Zach Wheeler first-round upset was surprising. He definitely earned his spot—it was a blowout—but if Wheeler wins this whole thing he better thank Juan Soto; Soto sold this thing as well as anyone. Though, it’s not like Gleybar Torres looked particularly great on this Chris Sale slider. As sick as Sale’s slider looks here, wouldn’t it be fun to see Wheeler make a deep run? (Not to persuade you to vote one way or another.)
https://gfycat.com/barrensophisticatedadder-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/lazysimpleegg-washington-nationals-new-york-mets-baseball
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10335933]
Adam Ottavino’s Slider vs. Jose Alvarado’s Fastball
Adam Ottavino’s slider is on a collision course for a finals matchup with Chaz Roe’s slider. It’s hard to imagine the poster child for Pitcher List getting knocked off until then. However, Jose Alvarado’s fastball wasn’t projected to make it out of the first round either? But it’s one thing to knock off a Zack Greinke curveball. It’s another to take down the king. A king people vote for, no less. (Kind of like Game of Thrones, except we let everyone have a say, unlike those selfish, power-hungry lords and ladies.)
https://gfycat.com/weakfrightenedblueandgoldmackaw-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/skinnydelayedherald-baseball
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10335937]
Trevor Bauer’s Curveball vs. Kyle Hendricks‘ Changeup
So… somehow a sixth seed and a seventh seed are matched up in the second round. Don’t tell the guy who sets these matchups, but he is brutal. How do you slot this nasty Trevor Bauer hook as a sixth seed? (Unless you’re Nick Hundley. Clearly, he wasn’t a fan of the pitch.) Much like the Zach Wheeler upset win over Gerrit Cole on the other side of the bracket, Kyle Hendricks knocking off Jordan Hicks was surprising. Hicks is like a guaranteed final four contestant every month. That being said, I think the voters got it right. No matter what, Hendricks never gets enough love for doing what he does in this day and age.
https://gfycat.com/terrificamusedblackrussianterrier-baseball
VS.
https://gfycat.com/dapperevenafricanparadiseflycatcher-baseball
Which was the better pitch? Vote to decide which pitch advances to the next round!
[polldaddy poll=10335939]