Fastest Fastballs

As Fangraphs previously noted, strikeouts and velocity are correlated. Who packed the heat in 2009? Even Matt Lindstrom's K/9 improved last season and Bill James expects it to go up even more in 2010. So who packed the best heat in 2009?

Starting Pichers (min. 100 IP):

Excluding the 3 pitchers at the very bottom of the list, who combined to be 120 years old (Jamie Moyer, Livan Hernandez and Tim Wakefield), no pitcher who logged 100+ IP in 2009 had a fastball slower than 85 MPH. And people wonder why I refuse to call Rich Harden's "change up" (85.5 MPH) a "change up." Could once uber prospect Homer Bailey be a sleeper in 2009? He did post a 2.08 ERA/3.07 FIP with 42 Ks and 4 Ws over his last 43.1 IP.


Relievers (min. 30 IP)


With a fastball that averages near 100 MPH, its no wonder Zoom-Zoom walked the crap out of batters in 2009 (6.39 BB/9). Maybe he needs to Randy Johnson a few hitters. Thorton and MacDougal each seemingly have one pitch. Too bad MacDougal has absolutely no command of his only pitch.

Oh, and because google images is our number one referral, enjoy this hilarious picture I found of Barack Obama: