Braves...
Javier Vazquez - Vazquez has a repertoire that consists of a fastball, slider, changeup and curveball. His fastball can reach 94 MPH, but he has a proclivity to overthrow, negatively affecting his command. A deceptive changeup thrown with outstanding arm action all but neutralizes any lefthanded advantage and many scouts believe it to be his most effective pitch. His curveball is a quality third pitch, but problems with mechanics frequently leave Vazquez hanging it on the inner third. In light of early career overuse, it is imperative that Vazquez find an efficient, repeatable delivery.
Derek Lowe - Lowe is known for his sinker, which he throws most of the time. When it's on, it is a thing of beauty. He can vary the speed of it through the 80s, and hitters usually beat it into the ground or miss it entirely. Lowe also throws effective sliders and curves to complement his primary offering. Whatever he throws, he almost always keeps the ball down. Lowe produces roughly three times as many groundballs as flyballs, making his success as dependent on his infield defense as any pitcher in the game. Last season, one defensive miscue behind him often snowballed into a big inning, leading to questions about his mental makeup.
Tim Hudson - Hudson is a serious competitor when on the hill. He possesses a good low-90s fastball, along with an excellent changeup and slider. But it is a dirt-biting splitter, which tantalizes before the bottom falls out, that leaves hitters shaking their heads as they walk back to the dugout. Those who do make contact generally whack the ball into the ground, as Hudson secured twice as many groundouts as flyouts in 2004. That's a well-established ratio that works in Hudson's favor.
Javier Vazquez - Vazquez has a repertoire that consists of a fastball, slider, changeup and curveball. His fastball can reach 94 MPH, but he has a proclivity to overthrow, negatively affecting his command. A deceptive changeup thrown with outstanding arm action all but neutralizes any lefthanded advantage and many scouts believe it to be his most effective pitch. His curveball is a quality third pitch, but problems with mechanics frequently leave Vazquez hanging it on the inner third. In light of early career overuse, it is imperative that Vazquez find an efficient, repeatable delivery.
Derek Lowe - Lowe is known for his sinker, which he throws most of the time. When it's on, it is a thing of beauty. He can vary the speed of it through the 80s, and hitters usually beat it into the ground or miss it entirely. Lowe also throws effective sliders and curves to complement his primary offering. Whatever he throws, he almost always keeps the ball down. Lowe produces roughly three times as many groundballs as flyballs, making his success as dependent on his infield defense as any pitcher in the game. Last season, one defensive miscue behind him often snowballed into a big inning, leading to questions about his mental makeup.
Tim Hudson - Hudson is a serious competitor when on the hill. He possesses a good low-90s fastball, along with an excellent changeup and slider. But it is a dirt-biting splitter, which tantalizes before the bottom falls out, that leaves hitters shaking their heads as they walk back to the dugout. Those who do make contact generally whack the ball into the ground, as Hudson secured twice as many groundouts as flyouts in 2004. That's a well-established ratio that works in Hudson's favor.
Mets...
Johan Santana - Santana has three dominating pitches-a 94-MPH fastball, an 87-MPH slider and a 76-MPH changeup. The changeup is the most devastating, because it comes out of his hand looking just like his fastball. When it arrives 18 MPH slower than the heater, hitters swing and miss by embarrassing margins. The difference between 2003 and 2004 was his ability to locate his pitches, while in the past he relied more on changing speeds. Santana also learned to throw his slider with different breaks at different speeds, giving him a slurve-like alternative to his other pitches.
John Maine - While his fastball can reach the mid-90s, Maine is more comfortable and effective throwing it in the 92-93 MPH range. His fastball has solid sinking action, limiting the number of home runs he allows. He continues to improve his sharp slider and it's close to being an out pitch. Maine also throws a curveball and changeup, though he's inconsistent in keeping them in the strike zone. Because of his lanky frame, his move to first is mechanical and he's no more than an adequate fielder.2005 SeasonMaine has made a quick ascent to the majors. He's expected to vie for a starting rotation spot in spring training. His limited experience and inconsistent mechanics will make for some rough stretches in 2005. Yet, we'll see some promising efforts based on his natural ability alone.
Oliver Perez - Perez can often be dominating with his power arsenal. He can throw his fastball as high as 97 MPH, though it is usually sits in the 90-94 MPH range. Perez has two kinds of sliders, one with a sharp late break against righthanded hitters and another that sweeps and eats up lefties. His changeup is developing, but he is erratic with the pitch at this stage of his career. Perez is still prone to walking people, but his command improved dramatically last season after pitching coach Spin Williams completely overhauled his mechanics in spring training. Perez is fragile looking with thin legs but has good stamina and keeps his stuff deep into games.
Johan Santana - Santana has three dominating pitches-a 94-MPH fastball, an 87-MPH slider and a 76-MPH changeup. The changeup is the most devastating, because it comes out of his hand looking just like his fastball. When it arrives 18 MPH slower than the heater, hitters swing and miss by embarrassing margins. The difference between 2003 and 2004 was his ability to locate his pitches, while in the past he relied more on changing speeds. Santana also learned to throw his slider with different breaks at different speeds, giving him a slurve-like alternative to his other pitches.
John Maine - While his fastball can reach the mid-90s, Maine is more comfortable and effective throwing it in the 92-93 MPH range. His fastball has solid sinking action, limiting the number of home runs he allows. He continues to improve his sharp slider and it's close to being an out pitch. Maine also throws a curveball and changeup, though he's inconsistent in keeping them in the strike zone. Because of his lanky frame, his move to first is mechanical and he's no more than an adequate fielder.2005 SeasonMaine has made a quick ascent to the majors. He's expected to vie for a starting rotation spot in spring training. His limited experience and inconsistent mechanics will make for some rough stretches in 2005. Yet, we'll see some promising efforts based on his natural ability alone.
Oliver Perez - Perez can often be dominating with his power arsenal. He can throw his fastball as high as 97 MPH, though it is usually sits in the 90-94 MPH range. Perez has two kinds of sliders, one with a sharp late break against righthanded hitters and another that sweeps and eats up lefties. His changeup is developing, but he is erratic with the pitch at this stage of his career. Perez is still prone to walking people, but his command improved dramatically last season after pitching coach Spin Williams completely overhauled his mechanics in spring training. Perez is fragile looking with thin legs but has good stamina and keeps his stuff deep into games.
Random info I found on Arizona's Max Scherzer...
Pitches
Fastball (91-98 mph)
He has a plus-plus fastball that has sinking action when thrown down in the zone. It also has a slight tail when it's elevated to his arm side of home plate. Scherzer also throws a four-seam, straight fastball to his glove side, and that pitch has plus life through the zone. He has the ability to throw strike one and work ahead of the hitters. He is able to successfully challenge hitters with his fastball. Against the Astros he did leave his fastball up in the zone a few times, but because of the late life on the pitch he was able to get away with it.
Slider (84-86 mph)
Scherzer only used his slider a couple of times, but it had average depth with a late break -- and he kept it down in the zone. After hitters saw his plus fastball, they weren't able to adjust to the slider. Once we see Scherzer a few times as a starter, we'll get a better feel for this pitch.
Changeup (81-88 mph)
Scherzer used his changeup as his second pitch against the Astros, and he used it as an out pitch when he was ahead in the count. His changeup has plus sinking action to his arm side, and it broke late and was down in the zone. He did a good job of keeping this pitch down in the zone and getting hitters to chase it.
Pitches
Fastball (91-98 mph)
He has a plus-plus fastball that has sinking action when thrown down in the zone. It also has a slight tail when it's elevated to his arm side of home plate. Scherzer also throws a four-seam, straight fastball to his glove side, and that pitch has plus life through the zone. He has the ability to throw strike one and work ahead of the hitters. He is able to successfully challenge hitters with his fastball. Against the Astros he did leave his fastball up in the zone a few times, but because of the late life on the pitch he was able to get away with it.
Slider (84-86 mph)
Scherzer only used his slider a couple of times, but it had average depth with a late break -- and he kept it down in the zone. After hitters saw his plus fastball, they weren't able to adjust to the slider. Once we see Scherzer a few times as a starter, we'll get a better feel for this pitch.
Changeup (81-88 mph)
Scherzer used his changeup as his second pitch against the Astros, and he used it as an out pitch when he was ahead in the count. His changeup has plus sinking action to his arm side, and it broke late and was down in the zone. He did a good job of keeping this pitch down in the zone and getting hitters to chase it.
