2026 ST Thread

According to baseball savant these metrics are 100% accurate. That’s roughly average rise and 3 mph above average. This chart grades it as plus, and since I have no idea how they weight each component I can’t really disagree, but I think I’d grade it 65.

The whiff rate he got in the game was likely some combination of terrible batters seeing a plus or better heater for the first time, and the fact Didier seemed to locate it well a lot of the time.

So the fastball is really nice, but the hyperbole of comparing it to anything resembling strider's 80 grade pitch is silly. We can be happy to see Didier improve his fastball into a weapon without going full posi derptard.
Didier’s velocity (97.4) and IVB (17) in that game nearly match Strider’s 2023 (97.2), (18). So if those numbers are legit then comparing him to prime Strider isn’t that hyperbolic, considering he led the league in FIP that year.
 
Didier’s velocity (97.4) and IVB (17) in that game nearly match Strider’s 2023 (97.2), (18). So if those numbers are legit then comparing him to prime Strider isn’t that hyperbolic, considering he led the league in FIP that year.

Review your data. He did not average 17” of rise over 20 pitches. He also did not peak at anything near a peak strider fastball.

Please, stop with the hyperbole. Can’t people just be happy with Didier having a great heater, and resist the urge to compare it to one of the best ones ever thrown? Just a shred of rationality. That’s all.
 
Review your data. He did not average 17” of rise over 20 pitches. He also did not peak at anything near a peak strider fastball.

Please, stop with the hyperbole. Can’t people just be happy with Didier having a great heater, and resist the urge to compare it to one of the best ones ever thrown? Just a shred of rationality. That’s all.
No idea how long he can sustain it, but it was his first ST outing this season, so that seems at least like something to consider
 
Only on this board could the statement “his heater is great, but not nearly as good as peak strider” be argued against haha.
I just think it's too early to know. At what age do pitchers' stuff usually peak? What did the statcast say about SS#1's fastball in 2021 when he was 22 compared to DF now at 20?
 
I just think it's too early to know. At what age do pitchers' stuff usually peak? What did the statcast say about SS#1's fastball in 2021 when he was 22 compared to DF now at 20?
The obvious safe bet is DF doesn't become SS#1, but the increase (in a SSS) from last season (in a SSS) is exciting, and I will dream on that bc that's fun
 
DF just needs to be DF. I don't care that he's not Strider, he's going to be good as long as he gets the seasoning he needs and polishes his secondary pitches. What should excite us all, is that he has good velocity, his slider is good enough and he's not even using 2 other pitches that are serviceable. Prime Strider is a different pitcher than Didier, but Didier is coming along at his own pace.
 
Review your data. He did not average 17” of rise over 20 pitches. He also did not peak at anything near a peak strider fastball.

Please, stop with the hyperbole. Can’t people just be happy with Didier having a great heater, and resist the urge to compare it to one of the best ones ever thrown? Just a shred of rationality. That’s all.
I didn’t say it. I’m just going by what was reported.
 
Carrasco on the mound

J Mateo (R) 2B
D Baldwin (L) DH
M Olson (L) 1B
A Riley (R) 3B
M Yastrzemski (L) LF
E White (R) RF
M Harris II (L) CF
J Heim (S) C
M Dubón (R) SS
 
Back
Top