What is a fastball? A fastball is a pitch that can be spun for different purposes, such as a riding, or rising fastball, which is spun in order to drop less than its natural velocity would suggest, or a sinking fastball, which is spun in order to break in or out on a batter, and sometimes break down. We usually identify fastballs as 4-seam or cross seam fastballs, which are closer to the rising fastball, as 2-seam or sinking fastballs, which usually are slower than cross-seam fastball, and move inward, outward, or downward, or a cut fastballs, which are spun to break  inward on an opposite-handed hitter.

***

One of the advantages of utilizing pitch f/x technology is that the system specifically and overtly measures the spin of any recorded pitch. The spin of a pitch is measured against the path of a spinless ball thrown with the same velocity as the recorded pitch -- naturally, due to manner in which our universe behaves, a pitch that is thrown with spin will behave much differently than a pitch thrown without spin.

One of the unstated advantages of measuring pitches in this way is to discern the very specific manners in which pitchers throw fastballs. If we think of fastballs as how they are spun, rather than simple top speed velocity, we suddenly have an invaluable resource in our possession. We can utilize pitch f/x data in order to classify specific fastballs, and the similarities and differences of fastballs with more or less spin, or different types of spin. Josh Kalk collects, corrects, and publishes this data in his excellent website and excellent pitcher cards, which is my source of research (and I should say, these lists that follow are my interpretations of his data, and not his endorsed position. I love using Kalk's site for creating series previews and writing about pitchers and their arsenals, but in order to construct this survey, I used some of my own assumptions that may or may not deviate from his stated use of the data, which I might add is much more scientific and specialized than my reading of the data).

Here's what I did: not long ago I classified the top NL pitchers with 100+ IP according to runs prevented, VORP, and basic runs average and IP stats. My second survey of pitchers combined those performance markers with judgments of the pitchers' two most frequently selected pitches in their pitching approaches -- which usually meant some type of fastball or sinker, and some type of off-speed pitch (but not always).

That survey was conducted in order to display the basic types of stuff thrown by pitchers of various performance levels. One of the drawbacks of that survey was my broad description of fastballs -- I differentiated between a fastball and sinker depending upon how much vertical and horizontal break a given pitchers' fastball displayed; however, I did not go into great detail classifying different fastballs.

And so, the following survey, which focuses on differentiating distinct types of fastballs based on differences in break, differences in velocity, and so on. Note:

-A sinker is still a pitch that rides lower than 9" vertically, and breaks in more than 6" horizontally (on a like-handed batter). I have produced four different sinker classifications for this survey, which will hopefully provide us some ground for discerning whether or not a pitcher throws a specific sinker or a two-seam fastball (the difference being that some recognize a sinker as a pitch in which the pitcher snaps his wrist, a two-seamer as a more standard fastball that simply varies the grip of the cross-seam or 4-seam fastball, but not the release type).

-I realize that it is impossible to discern whether or not a pitcher snaps his wrist when throwing a sinker. Luckily we have scouting reports for that, and my second classification of this list will incorporate traditional scouting reports to verify data.

-I placed pitchers who threw both fastball and sinker pitches as their primary and secondary pitch selections, and threw both pitches more frequently than any other breaking pitch. I placed these pitches together to see if their cross-seam fastball, or main fastball, exhibited any different traits.

Here is the list of pitches I organized, and I listed the most successful pitcher of each group:

(avg. break in: 5.00”; 94.64 MPH)

(avg. ride: 10.65”; avg. break in: 3.75”; 92.89 MPH)

(avg. break in 6.13”; 92.10 MPH)

(avg. break in: 3.99”; 92.01 MPH)

(avg. ride: 9.18”; avg. break in: 3.89; 92.10 MPH)

Sinker One (rides 8” to 9” and breaks in more than 6”) (Dempster)

(avg. break in: 6.96”; 91.15 MPH)

Sinker Two (rides 7” to 8” and breaks in more than 6”) (Peavy)

(avg. break in: 8.38”; 89.98 MPH)

Sinker Three (rides 6”-7” and breaks in more than 6”) (Moyer)

(avg. break in: 7.01”; 88.97 MPH)

(avg. break in: 8.30”; 89.46 MPH)

(avg. ride: 11.22”; avg. break in: 5.32”; 89.38 MPH)

(avg. break in: 6.40”; 89.47 MPH)

(avg. ride: 9.48”; avg. break in: 2.91”; 89.75 MPH)

(avg. ride: 11.18”; avg, break in: 3.64”; 86.18 MPH)

In these basic classifications, we can see some of the advantages of thinking about fastballs as spinning pitches, rather than pitches that are simply classified due to velocity.

(a) Riding, rising fastballs do not necessarily depend upon velocity. Pitchers who throw fastballs in the mid-80s, 89-90 range, or 93+ range possess riding fastballs that rise above a spinless pitch at similar levels; in fact, the slower riding fastballs on this list have better vertical ratings than the faster fastballs in some cases. The reason for this is mainly physical -- spinless pitches at 84-87, 89-90, and 93+ will each perform differently, and therefor the vertical "rise" measured at each velocity will be different.

But the point is crucial: fastballs rise because of how they are thrown -- that is, it is a specific spin, a specific type of pitch that a pitcher is executing when he throws a rising fastball. This is one way to differentiate a fastball from simple, raw ability -- a rising fastball does not simply rise because a certain pitcher has a specifically live arm, or can throw a ball at a certain high velocity.

(b) There seem to be two types of sinkerball pitchers; the first two groups, exemplified by Jake Peavy and Ryan Dempster, appear to be pitchers who throw specific two-seam fastballs, thrown with less "sink," but not necessarily less horizontal movement. So, we might classify this group of pitchers as falling somewhere between a fastball and a sinkerball pitcher, depending upon the movement of their pitch -- due to an inability to fully discern pitch release points and release strategies with these numbers, we might simply call gray-area fastballs, between sinkers and fastballs, "moving fastballs."

I am very pleased with how sinker groups three and four turned out: both groups include the pitchers we fully identify with sinkerball pitchers, and pitchers who actually throw sinkers according to scouting reports (and also, pitchers who might not possess a standard cross-seam fastball).

(c) The most boring groups of pitchers are the 91-93 MPH and 88-90 MPH pitchers who throw fastballs with less than 5" of horizontal break. It seems to me that the best and most exciting pitchers do tend to throw fastballs with more pronounced horizontal movement, regardless of how the fastball "rides" vertically through the zone -- this seems to make sense, intuitively, because it is generally known that the effectiveness of a specific pitch is not necessarily its velocity, but its movement.

How often do we hear analysts say, "it doesn't matter how fast the pitch is, an MLB batter can hit a straight pitch"...?

With that, here are the fastball classifications:

(avg. break in: 5.00; 94.64 MPH)

1. Lincecum, SF (72.5 VORP; 227 IP, 72 R): 95.06 MPH; -10.69 MPH

            Fastball (95.06) rides 11.04” and in 3.3” on righties

            Change (84.37) breaks down 6.32” from fastball and in 3.52” on righties

3. Sabathia, Mil (52.2 VORP; 130.7 IP, 31 R): 94.87 MPH, -13.45 MPH

            Fastball (94.87) rides 8.48” and in 5.67” on lefties

            Slider (81.42) breaks down 8.54” from fastball and 5.6” away from lefties

12. Volquez, Cin (44.3 VORP; 196 IP, 82 R): 83.07 MPH, +10.97 MPH

            Change (83.07) rides 1.83” and in 6.98” on righties

            Fastball (94.04) rises 7.59” from change and in 4.47” on righties

28. Jimenez, Col (32.7 VORP; 198.7 IP, 97 R): 95.76 MPH, -13,73 MPH

            Sinker (95.76) rides 7.75” and in 7.27” on righties

            Slider (82.03) breaks down 7.41” from sinker and 2.84” away from righties

37. Maine, NYM (18.6 VORP; 140 IP, 70 R): 94.29 MPH, - 8.35 MPH

            Fastball (94.29) rides 10.05” and in 7.84” on righties

            Change (85.94) breaks down 4.88” and in 5.02” on rightiess

34. Kershaw, LAD (17.4 VORP; 107.7 IP, 51 R): 94.86 MPH, -20.79 MPH

            Fastball (94.86) rides 10.13” and in 2.73” on lefties

            Curveball (74.07) breaks down 17.03” from fastball and 3.56” away from lefties

52. Cueto, Cin (11.5 VORP; 174 IP, 101 R): 94.49 MPH, -8.47 MPH

            Fastball (94.49) rides 10.33” and in 5.01” on righties

            Slider (86.02) breaks down 8.53” from fastball and 0.69” away from righties

**

(avg. ride: 10.65; avg. break in: 3.75”; 92.89 MPH)

7. Sheets, Mil (52.4 VORP; 198.3 IP, 74 R): 93.54 MPH, -12.98 MPH

            Fastball (93.54) rides 10.76” and in 4.17” on righties

            Curveball (80.56) breaks down 13.51” from fastball and 3.15” away from righties

14. Nolasco, Fla (44.7 VORP; 212.3 IP, 88 R): 92.45 MPH, -16.2 MPH

            Fastball (92.45) rides 10.37” and in 3.75” on righties

            Curveball (76.25) breaks down 15.90” from fastball and 6.28” away from righties 

18. Cain, SF (43.2 VORP; 217.7 IP, 95 R): 93.39 MPH, -7.31 MPH

            Fastball (93.39) rides 11.28” and in 4.04” on righties

            Slider (86.08) breaks down 8.69” from fastball and 2.68” away from righties

22. Wellemeyer, StL (37.3 VORP; 191.7 IP, 84 R): 92.9 MPH, -7.85 MPH

            Fastball (92.9) rides 10.36” and in 3.9” on righties

            Slider (85.05) breaks down 7.18” from fastball and 2.42” away from righties

62. Reyes, Atl (-5.5 VORP; 113 IP, 77 R): 91.3 MPH, -9.11 MPH

            Fastball (91.3) rides 10.14” and in 2.93” on lefties

            Change (82.19) breaks down 1.12” from fastball and in 3.79” on lefties

65. McClung, Mil (19.9 VORP; 105.3 IP, 47 R): 93.74 MPH, -15.98 MPH

            Fastball (93.74) rides 11” and in 3.68” on righties

            Curveball (77.76) breaks down 14.64” from fastball and 4.09” away from righties

**

(avg. break in 6.13; 92.10 MPH)

2. Santana, NYM (73.4 VORP; 234.3 IP, 74 R) : 92.81 MPH; -11.59 MPH

            Fastball (92.81) rides 9.62” and in 5.92” on lefties

            Change (81.22) breaks down 1.66” from fastball and in 6.33” on lefties

9. Haren, Ari (53.2 VORP; 216 IP, 86 R): 91.59 MPH, -10.88 MPH

            Fastball (91.59) rides 9.75” and in 5.74”on righties

            Curveball (80.71) breaks down 12.26” from fastball and 4.39” away from righties

21. Lohse, StL (39.2 VORP; 200 IP, 88 R): 91.31 MPH, -7.3 MPH

            Fastball (91.31) rides 9.45” and in 5.69” on righties

            Slider (84.01) breaks down 9.63” from fastball and 3.66” away from righties

26. Jurrjens, Atl (33.0 VORP; 188.3 IP, 87 R): 92.49 MPH, -7.95 MPH

            Fastball (92.49) rides 9.24” and in 6.75” on righties

            Change (84.54) breaks down 3.16” from fastball and in 8.76” on righties

41. Ol. Perez, NYM (21.0 VORP; 194 IP, 100 R): 92.42 MPH, -12.65 MPH

            Fastball (92.42) rides 9.99” and in 6.81” on lefties

            Slider (79.77) breaks down 7.81” from fastball and 5.42” away from lefties

51. J. Sanchez, SF (11.1 VORP; 158 IP, 90 R): 91.86 MPH, -6.60 MPH

            Fastball (91.86) rides 9.4” and in 5.67” on lefties

            Change (85.21) breaks down 4.22” from fastball and in 6.79” on lefties

61. Redding, Was (3.1 VORP; 182 IP, 110 R): 91.26 MPH, -8.90 MPH

            Fastball (91.26) rides 9.7” and in 5.86” on righties

            Slider (82.36) breaks down 6.9” from fastball and 2.85” away from righties

73. A. Miller, Fla (-12.4 VORP; 107.3 IP, 78 R): 93.04 MPH, -4.21 MPH

            Fastball (93.04) rides 9.12” and in 6.56” on lefties

            Change (88.83) breaks down 1.37” from fastball and in 9.28” on lefties

**

(avg. break in: 3.99”; 92.01 MPH)

43. Myers, Phi (19.3 VORP; 190 IP, 103 R): 91.06 MPH, -5.53 MPH

            Fastball (91.06) rides 9.95” and in 3.07” on righties

            Slider (85.53) breaks down 7.84” from fastball and 2.38” away from righties

44. Parra, Mil (15.0 VORP; 166 IP, 91 R): 92.38 MPH, -16.72 MPH

            Fastball (92.38) rides 9.95” and in 4.52” on lefties

            Curveball (75.66) breaks down 12.74” from fastball and 4.55” away from lefties

47. de la Rosa, Col (9.2 VORP; 130 IP, 77 R): 92.81 MPH, -11.89 MPH

            Cutter (92.81) rides 9.03” and in 4.21” on lefties (?)

            Slider (80.92) breaks down 8.52” from cutter and 1.39” away from lefties

45. Baek, SD (7.7 VORP; 111 IP, 60 R): 91.78 MPH, -5.57 MPH

            Fastball (91.78) rides 9.43” and in 4.17” on righties

            Slider (86.21) breaks down 4.09” from fastball and 1.23” away from righties

**

(avg. break in: 3.89; 92.10 MPH)

8. Billingsley, LAD (51.6 VORP; 200.7 IP, 76 R): 92.72 MPH, -1.94 MPH

            Fastball (92.72) rides 9.05” and in 2.38” on righties

            Sinker (90.78) breaks down 2.60” from fastball and in 7.86” on righties

15. Oswalt, Hou (44.1 VORP; 208.7 IP, 89 R): 93.47 MPH, -1.02 MPH

            Fastball (93.47) rides 8.86” and in 3.93” on righties

            Sinker (92.45) breaks down 2.47” from fastball and in 7.48” on righties

20. Pelfrey, NYM (39.6 VORP; 200.7 IP, 86 R): 95.04 MPH, -0.67 MPH

            Fastball (95.04) rides 8.9” and in 7.2” on righties

            Sinker (94.37) breaks down 3.11” from fastball and in 9.95” on righties

40. Moehler, Hou (16.8 VORP; 150 IP, 79 R): 89.12 MPH, +0.29 MPH

            Fastball (89.12) rides 9.97” and in 3.99” on righties

            Sinker (89.41) breaks down 3.39” from fastball and in 7.63” on righties

55. Pineiro, StL (5.7 VORP; 148.7 IP, 89 R): 89.62 MPH, +0.53 MPH

            Sinker (89.62) rides 5.91” and in 5.83” on righties

            Fastball (90.15) rises 3.19” from sinker and in 1.97” on righties

**

Sinker One (rides 8” to 9” and breaks in more than 6”) (5)

(avg. break in: 6.96”; 91.15 MPH)

4. Dempster, ChC (57.5 VORP; 206.7 IP, 75 R): 91.81 MPH, -6.86 MPH

            Sinker (91.81) rides 8.26” and in 6.72” on righties

            Slider (84.95) breaks down 8.18” from sinker and 1.23” away from righties

36. Looper, StL (25.7 VORP; 199 IP, 101 R): 90.59 MPH, -8.69 MPH

            Sinker (90.59) rides 8.3” and in 7.65” on righties

            Change (81.9) breaks down 7.27” and in 6.81” on righties

56. Eaton. Phi (-1.9 VORP; 107 IP, 71 R):  90.43 MPH, -6.09 MPH

            Sinker (90.43) rides 8.18” and in 7.32” on righties

            Change (84.34) breaks down 2.14” and in 3.38” on righties

68. Snell, Pit (-1.9 VORP; 164.3 IP, 107 R): 92.92 MPH, -8.49 MPH

            Sinker (92.92) rides 8.4” and in 6.27” on righties

            Slider (84.43) breaks down 6.13” from sinker and 0.38” away from righties

74. Backe, Hou (-7.9 VORP; 166.7 IP, 114 R): 89.98 MPH, -6.67 MPH

            Sinker (89.98) rides 8.04” and in 6.86” on righties

            Slider (83.31) breaks down 6.30” from sinker and 1.53” away from righties

**

Sinker Two (rides 7” to 8” and breaks in more than 6”) (6)

(avg. break in: 8.38”; 89.98 MPH)

5. Peavy, SD (51.5 VORP; 173.7 IP, 57 R): 93.13 MPH, -8.97 MPH

            Sinker (93.13) rides 7.15” and in 8.49” on righties

            Slider (84.16) breaks down 5.3” from sinker and 3.14” away from righties

32. R. Johnson, Ari (27.2 VORP; 184 IP, 92 R): 91.52 MPH, -7.86 MPH

            Sinker (91.52) rides 7.76” and in 10.21” on lefties

            Slider (83.66) breaks down 6.18” from sinker and in 0.22” on lefties

33. Bush, Mil (26.5 VORP; 185 IP, 92 R): 88.38 MPH, -18.93 MPH

            Sinker (88.38) rides 7.17” and in 10.17” on righties

            Curveball (69.45) breaks down 11.95” from sinker and 4.97” away from righties

49. Francis, Col (10.6 VORP; 143.7 IP, 84 R): 87.22 MPH, -7.96 MPH

            Sinker (87.22) rides 7.77” and in 7.49” on lefties

            Change (79.26) breaks down 2.12” from sinker and in 4.93” on lefties

57. Duke, Pit (7.4 VORP; 185 IP, 111 R): 89.56 MPH, -15.59 MPH

            Sinker (89.56) rides 7.01” and in 7.79” on lefties

            Curveball (73.97) breaks down 12.26” from sinker and 4.26” away from lefties

58. P. Martinez, NYM (-2.0 VORP; 109 IP, 70 R): 90.08 MPH, -0.96 MPH

            Sinker (1) (90.08 MPH) rides 7.25” and in 6.13” on righties

            Sinker (2) (89.12 MPH) breaks down 3.83” from sinker (1) and in 8.59” on righties

**

Sinker Three (rides 6”-7” and breaks in more than 6”) (7)

(avg. break in: 7.01”; 88.97 MPH)

19. Moyer, Phi (40.3 VORP; 196.3 IP, 85 R): 82.06 MPH, -6.91 MPH

            Sinker (82.06) rides 6.13” and in 9.01” on lefties

            Change (75.15) rises 1.93” from sinker and in 8.2” on lefties

27. Kuroda, LAD (31.2 VORP; 183.3 IP, 85 R): 92.8 MPH, -8.44 MPH

            Sinker (92.8) rides 6.48” and in 8.34” on righties

            Slider (84.36) breaks down 3.55” from sinker and in 0.53” on righties

35. Lannan, Was (25.1 VORP; 182 IP, 89 R): 88.01 MPH, -7.2 MPH

39. Marquis, ChC (20.8 VORP; 167 IP, 87 R): 90.89 MPH, -6.59 MPH

            Sinker (90.89) rides 6.48” and in 7.61” on righties

            Slider (84.4) breaks down 3.57” from sinker and 0.87” away from righties

53. Wolf, SD (4.7 VORP; 119.7 IP, 69 R): 89.06 MPH, -0.13 MPH

            Sinker (1) (89.06) rides 6.27” and in 9.99” on lefties

            Sinker (2) (88.93) rises 2.62” from sinker (1) and in 4.95” on lefties

64. Kendrick, Phi (-2.9 VORP; 155.7 IP, 103 R): 90.65 MPH, -7.45 MPH

            Sinker (90.65) rides 6.33” and in 8.41” on righties

            Slider (83.4) breaks down 3.12” from sinker and 1.5” away from righties

60. Owings, Ari (-5.8 VORP; 104.7 IP, 73 R): 89.35 MPH, -6.61 MPH

Sinker (89.35) rides 6.93” and in 1.86” on righties

Slider (82.74) breaks down 4.10” from sinker and 1.93” away from righties

(avg. break in: 8.30”; 89.46 MPH)

11. Webb, Ari (50.8 VORP; 226.7 IP, 95 R): 88.61 MPH, -10.48

            Sinker (88.61) rides 1.28” and in 7.22” on righties

            Change (78.13) drops 1.31” from sinker and in 4.83” on righties

10. Lowe, LAD (49.7 VORP; 211 IP, 84 R): 89.98 MPH, -6.39 MPH

            Sinker (89.98) rides 4.25” and in 9.54” on righties

            Slider (83.59) breaks down 2.14” from sinker and 0.78” away from righties

13. Hudson, Atl (37.0 VORP; 142 IP, 53 R): 90.72 MPH, -4.83 MPH

            Sinker (90.72) rides 5.08” and in 8.93” on righties

            Slider (85.89) breaks down 1.18” from fastball and in 0.75” on righties

24. Cook, Col (36.5 VORP; 211.3 IP, 102 R): 91.39 MPH, -7.39 MPH

            Sinker (91.39) rides 5.04” and in 6.89” on righties

            Slider (84) breaks down 2.31” from sinker and 1.13” away from righties

23. Zambrano, ChC (35.7 VORP; 188.7 IP, 85 R): 91.84 MPH, -1.14 MPH

            Sinker (91.84) rides 4.17” and in 9.57” on righties

            Cutter (90.7) rises 2.96” from sinker and in 2.23” on righties

42. Maddux, SD (15.0 VORP; 153.3 IP, 80 R): 84.23 MPH, -5.98 MPH

            Sinker (84.23) rides 4.34” and in 7.63” on righties

            Change (78.25) breaks down 0.64” from sinker and 1.79” away from righties

**

(avg. ride: 11.22”; avg. break in: 5.32”; 89.38 MPH)

6. Hamels, Phi (56.3 VORP; 227.3 IP, 89 R): 90.92 MPH, -10.34 MPH

            Fastball (90.92) rides 12.09” and in 2.68” on lefties

            Change (90.58) breaks down 4.06” from fastball and in 7.77” on lefties

17. Wainwright, StL (33.2 VORP; 132 IP, 51 R): 90.76 MPH, -6.61 MPH

            Fastball (90.76) rides 10.3” and in 5.82” on righties

            Slider (84.15) breaks down 6.22” from fastball and 3.92” away from righties

25. Lilly, ChC (35.3 VORP; 204.7 IP, 96 R): 88.13 MPH, -5.23 MPH

            Fastball (88.13) rides 11.43” and in 5.98” on lefties

            Slider (82.9) breaks down 7.7” from fastball and 0.31” away from lefties

46. Olsen, Fla (18.0 VORP; 201.7 IP, 106 R): 88.14 MPH, -6.89 MPH

            Fastball (88.14) rides 11.78” and in 6.27” on lefties

            Change (81.23) breaks down 3.49” from fastball and in 4.78” on lefties

48. Harang, Cin (15.5 VORP; 184.3 IP, 104 R): 90.31 MPH, -9.04 MPH

            Fastball (90.31) rides 10.57” and in 5.91” on righties

            Slider (81.27) drops 9.22” from fastball and 1.24” away from righties

66. Villanueva, Mil (15.7 VORP; 108.3 IP, 53 R): 88.01 MPH, -5.57 MPH

            Fastball (88.01) rides 11.13” and in 5.27” on righties

            “Slider” (82.54) breaks down 6.38” from fastball and in 0.61” on righties

**

(avg. ride: 9.12”; avg. break in: 6.40”; 89.47 MPH)

30. W. Rodroguez, Hou (22.4 VORP; 137.3 IP, 65 R): 75.76 MPH, +14.21 MPH

            Curveball (75.76) breaks down 7.41” and 5.65” away from lefties

            Fastball (89.97) rises 16.9” from curve and in 7.11” on lefties

50. Od. Perez, Was (12.0 VORP; 159.7 IP, 87 R): 89.02 MPH, -6.16 MPH

            Fastball (89.02) rides 8.37” and in 5.68” on lefties

            Slider (82.86) breaks down 4.75” from fastball and 0.81” away from lefties

63. Hendrickson, Fla (-4.3 VORP; 133.7 IP, 87 R): 88.43 MPH, -14.79 MPH

            Fastball (88.43) rides 9.36” and in 6.99” on lefties

            Curveball (73.64) breaks down 13.09” from fastball and 4.02” away from lefties

67. Sampson, Hou (14.6 VORP; 117.3 IP, 60 R): 83.93 MPH, +4.74 MPH

            Slider (83.93) rides 2.89” and 0.89” away from righties

            Fastball (88.67) rises 5.13” from slider and in 5.04” on righties

70. Bergmann, Was (-6.3 VORP; 139.7 IP, 94 R): 90.41 MPH, -5.32 MPH

            Fastball (90.41) rides 9.8” and in 5.87” on righties

            Change (85.09) breaks down 3.86” from fastball and in 2.21” on righties

72. Gorzelanny, Pit (-11.4 VORP; 105.3 IP, 79 R): 90.32 MPH, -6.86 MPH

            Fastball (90.32) rides 9.67” and in 7.73” on lefties

            Change (83.46) breaks down 5.78” from fastball and in 7.61” on lefties

**

(avg. ride: 9.48”; avg. break in: 2.91”; 89.75 MPH)

16. Maholm, Pit (42.7 VORP; 206.3 IP, 89 R): 90.64 MPH, -13.73 MPH

            Fastball (90.64) rides 8.92” and in 4.72” on lefties

            Curveball (76.91) breaks down 12.61” from fastball and 3.25” away from lefties

54. Arroyo, Cin (13.1 VORP; 200 IP, 116 R): 74.27 MPH, +15.09 MPH

            Slider (74.27) rides 0.96” and 8.3” away from righties

            Fastball (89.18) rises 8.93” from slider and in 3.67” on righties

71. Correia, SF (-9.9 VORP; 110 IP, 80 R): 89.43 MPH, -6.92 MPH

            Fastball (89.43) rides 9.64” and in 0.33” on righties

            Slider (82.51) breaks down 9.13” from fastball and 3.95” away from righties

**

(avg. ride: 11.18; avg, break in: 3.64”; 86.18 MPH)

29. Campillo, Atl (25.8 VORP; 158.7 IP, 74 R): 81.43 MPH, +5.01 MPH

            Slider (81.43) rides 4.85” and 0.79” away from righties

            Fastball (86.44) rises 6.38” from slider and in 4.22” on righties

31. Young, SD (17.6 VORP; 102.3 IP, 46 R): 87.51 MPH, -9.09 MPH

            Fastball (87.51) rides 12.62” and in 1.04” on righties

            Slider (78.42) drops 8.38” from fastball and 0.48” away from righties

38. D. Davis, Ari (19.3 VORP; 146 IP, 76 R): 82.38 MPH, +2.34 MPH

            Cutter (82.38) rides 5.53” and in 0.78” on righties

            Fastball (84.72) rises 5.24” from cutter and in 3.37” on lefties

59. Suppan, Mil (3.6 VORP; 177 IP, 110 R): 87.3 MPH, -3.98 MPH

            Fastball (87.3) rides 9.56” and in 6.19” on righties

            “Cutter” (83.32) breaks down 5.24” from fastball and in 2.45” on righties

69. Zito, SF (-0.9 VORP; 180 IP, 115 R): 84.92 MPH, -10.52 MPH

            Fastball (84.92) rides 11.7” and in 3.36” on lefties

            Change (74.4) breaks down 6.74” from fastball and in 6.98” on lefties

**

Note: Mistakes made classifying Owings and Lannan as sinker pitchers. Will be edited.