The Nastiest 32 Pitching GIFs from 2015 to 2018 — Finals

Spring training is just around the corner, but we can’t last that long without another GIF tournament. We’re only human. So we’ve put together a 32-pitch free-for-all featuring eight pitches each from 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

In a battle of timeless GIFs versus instant classics, you decide where these knee-buckling breaking balls and NOS-powered fastballs rank. But there can only be one GIF that stands above the rest in the Nastiest 32 Pitching GIFs from 2015 to 2018 Tournament (sort of like the movie Highlander). Thirty-two pitches entered the tournament. You all sent 16 home packing, then eight more, and then another four on Wednesday. Two more just got chucked out the window. That can only mean one thing: It’s time for the final round. So if you feel really passionate about one of these two pitches, make sure you tell your friends to hop on and vote. Because there’s a good chance these two pitches will need all the help they can get.

Here are the rules:

• All GIFs were pulled from the winners and top finishers in GIF tournaments from 2015 through 2018.
• You can only vote on a matchup once, so make sure you pick the one you absolutely want. No take-backsies (very strict policy).
• Voting will continue until 12:00 a.m. EST the following morning. This is the final round.

 

Graphic by Justin Paradis (@freshmeatcomm on Twitter)

Here are the results for Round 1:

 

American Bracket

 

Chris Sale’s Slider 2018 defeated Drew Storen’s Slider 2016
Steven Wright’s Knuckleball 2016 defeated Jose Berrios’ Curveball 2018
Lance McCullers’ Fastball 2017 defeated Blake Treinen’s Slider 2018
Clayton Kershaw’s Curveball 2015 defeated Jose Berrios’ Curveball 2017
Chaz Roe’s Slider 2016 defeated R.A. Dickey’s Knuckleball 2015
Justin Verlander’s Curveball 2017 defeated Core Kluber’s Slider 2017
Aaron Sanchez’s Fastball 2015 defeated Aaron Nola’s Fastball 2017
Dylan Maples’ Slider 2018 defeated Rich Hill’s Curveball 2015

 

National Bracket

 

Marcus Stroman’s Slider 2017 defeated Lance McCullers’ Fastball 2018
Steven Wright Knuckleball 2015 defeated Blake Treinen’s Fastball 2018
Aroldis Chapman’s Fastball 2016 defeated Noah Syndergaard’s Fastball 2016
Clayton Kershaw’s Curveball 2016 defeated Aaron Sanchez’s Fastball 2.0 2016
Chris Sale’s Slider 2016 defeated Aroldis Chapman’s Slider 2017
Noah Syndergaard’s Fastball 2015 defeated Aroldis Chapman’s Fastball 2018
Adam Ottavino’s Slider 2018 defeated Gerrit Cole’s Fastball 2015
Aaron Sanchez’s Fastball 2016 defeated Blake Treinen’s Fastball 2017

 

Here are the results for Round 2:

 

American Bracket

 

Clayton Kershaw’s Curveball 2015 defeated Chris Sale’s Slider 2018
Steven Wright’s Knuckleball 2016 defeated Lance McCullers’ Fastball 2017
Chaz Roe’s Slider 2016 defeated Dylan Maples’ Slider 2018
  Aaron Sanchez’s Fastball 2015 defeated Justin Verlander’s Curveball 2017

 

National Bracket

 

Marcus Stroman’s Slider 2017 defeated Clayton Kershaw’s Curveball 2016
Aroldis Chapman’s Fastball 2016 defeated Steven Wright Knuckleball 2015
Chris Sale’s Slider 2016 defeated Aaron Sanchez’s Fastball 2016
Noah Syndergaard’s Fastball 2015 defeated Adam Ottavino’s Slider 2018

 

Here are the results for Round 3:

 

American Bracket

 

Steven Wright’s Knuckleball 2016 defeated Clayton Kershaw’s Curveball 2015
Chaz Roe’s Slider 2016 defeated Aaron Sanchez’s Fastball 2015

 

National Bracket

 

Aroldis Chapman’s Fastball 2016 defeated Marcus Stroman’s Slider 2017
Chris Sale’s Slider 2016 defeated Noah Syndergaard’s Fastball 2015

 

Here are the matchups for Round 4:

 

American Bracket

Chaz Roe’s Slider 2016 defeated Steven Wright’s Knuckleball 2016

 

National Bracket

 

Chris Sale’s Slider 2016 defeated Aroldis Chapman’s Fastball 2016

 

 

Here in the matchup for the Final Round:

Chaz Roe’s Slider 2016 vs. Chris Sale’s Slider 2016

 

Watch the GIFs in the Links Below!

These two top-seeded sliders have powered through some potent pitches along the way without really breaking a sweat. Now it’s time to decide if Chaz Roe’s slider or Chris Sale’s slider was the best pitch of the past four seasons. Both are products of supernatural ability or mastery of the mystic arts, so it’s hard to give an edge to one over the other. But keep in mind there is, in fact, a correct answer when assessing which pitch is better. That’s right, be sure to think long and hard before you submit that vote. You do not want to be the one on the losing side of history.

 

Chaz Roe’s Slider 2016 vs. Chris Sale’s Slider 2016

 

VS.

 

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