Why is a pitcher who can throw 105mph only a relief pitcher?

[JEDI]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/aroldi...-pitch-ties-his-own-mlb-record-135341122.html

Instead of a starter?

 

[tynopik]

because he can't throw many at that speed, and once he can't throw super fast he doesn't have anything else to use.

 

[glenn1]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/aroldi...-pitch-ties-his-own-mlb-record-135341122.html

Instead of a starter?

He was a failed starter and now has repeatedly says he wants to be a closer.

And while I'm impressed by his 105+ heater, I'm more impressed by the filth that closer Zach Britton throws. 98MPH sinkers that wind up at your shoelaces are just plain unfair.

 

[TwiceOver]

Because in an uncapped market you can spend as much as you want on as many players as you want.

 

[soulcougher73]

Probably cant sustain that speed for long. Then starts to suck would be my guess.

 

[Homerboy]

He was a failed starter and now has repeatedly says he wants to be a closer.

And while I'm impressed by his 105+ heater, I'm more impressed by the filth that closer Zach Britton throws. 98MPH sinkers that wind up at your shoelaces are just plain unfair.

TOTALLY agreed.
Chapman is a freak, but can be hit. Britton (and a few others) have pitches that are just dirty.

 

[Homerboy]

I don't understand all this talk about this 105.1mph pitch either. Pretty sure he's thrown 106 mph before (though for a ball)

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Why would he want to try and throw 105 for 100+ pitches? That would ruin his arm so fast.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I don't understand all this talk about this 105.1mph pitch either. Pretty sure he's thrown 106 mph before (though for a ball)

This was on sports center. his top was 105.1.

 

[Imp]

Speed isn't everything and while few in the general populace can probably throw that fast, enough in the MLB can to make it not as special.

 

[MixMasterTang]

A starter needs to be able to pitch 100 pitches consistently every 5 or so days. Obviously he cannot or he would be a starter.

 

[HumblePie]

starter or main pitchers need to be consistent, have a variety of pitches, and be good with those pitches. Closers/relief pitchers need to bring their specialty pitch for the short time they are able to and then they are done.

 

[dainthomas]

Speed isn't everything and while few in the general populace can probably throw that fast, enough in the MLB can to make it not as special.

Very few even in MLB can approach that. The human arm just isn't built for it.

In fact I read an article somewhere that said people who throw north of 100 too often are invariably damaging their arms from the strain on the tendons, and most will need TJ surgery eventually (aside from freaks like Nolan Ryan).

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Why isn't Usain Bolt a world class marathon runner? He can just blow those joggers away.

 

[jman19]

Speed isn't everything and while few in the general populace can probably throw that fast, enough in the MLB can to make it not as special.

Actually throwing 100+ mph frequently is quite special even in the majors.

 

[Imp]

Very few even in MLB can approach that. The human arm just isn't built for it.

Actually throwing 100+ mph frequently is quite special even in the majors.

Okay, I haven't kept up on baseball lately. The "can't do it for too many pitches" sounds like the best explanation.

But I'm still not the biggest fan of fast throwing because I remember watching a reliever years back who could throw very fast, but he was blowing games more often than a fan would like. Meanwhile, the starters with the "slower" curve / knuckle / breaking balls and consistency actually threw complete games, often winning.

 

[Blackjack200]

Okay, I haven't kept up on baseball lately. The "can't do it for too many pitches" sounds like the best explanation.

But I'm still not the biggest fan of fast throwing because I remember watching a reliever years back who could throw very fast, but he was blowing games more often than a fan would like. Meanwhile, the starters with the "slower" curve / knuckle / breaking balls and consistency actually threw complete games, often winning.

Even your fastball needs to have movement on it, or it will get crushed. Though at 105, that's pretty tough to hit either way.

 

[Homerboy]

This was on sports center. his top was 105.1.

And for what it's worth, Feller was clocked at 107.6 and Ryan at 108.1
Granted those are older probably less accurate technologies, but I recall reading somewhere where they "revisited" Ryan's pitch and still had him at 107+

 

[manly]

If Chapman was a starter, he wouldn't have the energy left to punch out his girlfriend.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

If Chapman was a starter, he wouldn't have the energy left to punch out his girlfriend.

Zing

 

[Imp]

If Chapman was a starter, he wouldn't have the energy left to punch out his girlfriend.

lol... Had to look that one up.

Bla bla, (alleged) domestic violence isn't funny.

 

[TheGardener]

Not a starter because he won't take enough steroids.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Because he can't do this?

 

[rudder]

Speed isn't everything and while few in the general populace can probably throw that fast, enough in the MLB can to make it not as special.

Sure it is. The difference to the batter trying to hit a 92 mph fastball vs one that is going 100+ is phenomenal. A batter trying to hit a 92 mph fastball can process 25X more visual data vs a 100mph fastball. At 100mph the human mind cannot keep up with the processing of where the ball is going to be traveling which is crucial in order for a batter to make contact with a ball. Hitting a 100mph pitch is basically a lucky guess. Crazy when you think the difference between those two pitches is milliseconds... something like 392 milliseconds

Did I sleep in a holiday inn? No, I watched Fastball on Netflix last night. If you like watching baseball this is a very interesting documentary on every pitchers bread and butter pitch... the fastball.

But you are right when you say that not a whole lot of pitchers can hit 100+. Greg Maddux wasn't a speed demon with his fastball but he could paint the corners and is a hall of fame pitcher because of his control of where wanted to ball to go.

 

[shabby]

Did I sleep in a holiday inn? No, I watched Fastball on Netflix last night. If you like watching baseball this is a very interesting documentary on every pitchers bread and butter pitch... the fastball.

Amazing doc, can't believe nolan ryan pitched for 27 years and only at the end his arm gave out.