2026 ST Thread

FB 95-96, with what appears to be improved command of his secondary pitches.

It seems clear he has been focused on working on his secondary pitches today. If he can have the command he has shown today, it should play. Not the overwhelming power of the past, but still effective..
 
Hulavol said:
Struck out the side on 95….
Got a feeling he’s taking a page out of Sale’s book. He can probably burn one at 99 if he really wants to…. Maybe not….who knows
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I don't think he can. I would be fascinated to understand the mechanics behind this though. He clearly had the strength/flexibility and deliver to hit that.,.. but with the brace.. did that change one or more of those things to be able too.. Is it he just isn't even trying to max out to maintain longevity of his career.
 
Start 1: 93.1 with 18 IVB
Start 2: 95 with 17 IVB
Start 3: 95.1 with 17 IVB

I guess at this point I'm in the 'he is who he is' camp. It seems like what you see right now is about what you're going to get. I think he can be a middle of the rotation pitcher with his current stuff, I think he's smart enough that he'll continue to find new ways to get outs, and he can certainly be worth $12.5m or whatever we are paying him. But I do think it's highly unlikely we see anything resembling the strikeout numbers we saw when he first came up. He's just not that guy anymore.
 
McCann'sCans said:
Start 1: 93.1 with 18 IVB
Start 2: 95 with 17 IVB
Start 3: 95.1 with 17 IVB

I guess at this point I'm in the 'he is who he is' camp. It seems like what you see right now is about what you're going to get. I think he can be a middle of the rotation pitcher with his current stuff, I think he's smart enough that he'll continue to find new ways to get outs, and he can certainly be worth $12.5m or whatever we are paying him. But I do think it's highly unlikely we see anything resembling the strikeout numbers we saw when he first came up. He's just not that guy anymore.
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this is where I am. I think he will continue to work the secondaries and still be worth his contract as long as the brace can hold up.
 
The guy is incredibly in tune with his body. My best guess is he could get back to where he was but it would cost him his arm after another year or two. So this is who he is - a high-end No. 2 who can be better or slightly worse some years.
 
Throwing 20% curveballs today and 10% changeups. As others have said, it seems like this is where we are headed. And this is when I'm glad that Strider is as competitive and intelligent as he is- he's not going to run out there trying to be the guy he was in 2023 when the pitches aren't there.
 
You could write down everything I know about baseball on the back of a postage stamp with a laundry marker, but he looks pretty dang effective to me….
 
So Mexico has to score five runs tonight for the US to advance. Or Italy has to win.
Nola is pitching for Italy.
I suddenly like our chances….. Nola may just implode…..
 
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