Hanging sliders when you throw 100

[hmoss859]

Wow

[Baseball Savant]

Falls in love with slider way too much

[hugeCardfan]

Yeah...but you can't make a career in MLB just throwing 99 mph heaters.

[DwaininAztec]

It was his curve ball.

[jw0595]

When people start yammering about Helsley, things must be going pretty well.

[Ozziesfan41]

Yeah...but you can't make a career in MLB just throwing 99 mph heaters.

+1 I’ve heard it from a lot of broadcasters it doesn’t matter how hard you throw if the fastballs the only pitch you have you will get hit

[Swuhgen]

Wow

Helsley has been smoke and mirrors.
Not remotely close to the pitcher he was last season.

[ramfandan]

Yeah...but you can't make a career in MLB just throwing 99 mph heaters.

+1 I’ve heard it from a lot of broadcasters it doesn’t matter how hard you throw if the fastballs the only pitch you have you will get hit

Correct ! Ask any manager , at the major league level the easiest pitch for them to hit is the fastball . It's the breaking curves, sliders, changeups that get them . Maybe in AA ball , the 99-100 guys will throw the ball by 90% of those hitters but that same pitcher will get bombed throwing only fastballs to the big boys.

[zbasspro]

That was just a terrible pitch.

[CardsBest]

Wow

Last year his most hittable pitch was his fastball. His breaking stuff was what he got swing and misses on.

[CCard]

You can't JUST throw 100 all the time. Occasionally you're going to "hang" a slider. It happens to the best and make no mistake, Helsley is arguably the best closer in the game.

[3dender]

Wow

Helsley has been smoke and mirrors.
Not remotely close to the pitcher he was last season.

Yup... fantasy baseball guy said this before yesterday's appearance:

Ryan Helsley is a SELL for me right now

2024 vs 2025
FB: .276 AVG Against, .338 xwOBA .345 AVG against, .402 xwOBA
SL: 51.0 Whiff% 41.0 Whiff%
xBA: .212 .245
Chase%: 33.5% 28.0%
Whiff%: 36.1% 28.2%
K%: 29.7% 22.9%
BB%: 8.6% 14.3%
Barrel%: 3.7% 4.77
Hard Hit%: 35.4% 44.2%

Also running a 3.99 ERA vs 2.81 actual ERA, 3.95 FIP, and 4.41 xFIP. Regressed stuff, reduced bat missing ability, and poor command while allowing more hard contact isn't a long-term recipe for success

This is exactly what us trade Helsley folks were warning about all winter

https://x.com/Owen_FBB/status/192559355 ... 7m0_g&s=19

[3dender]

Wow

Last year his most hittable pitch was his fastball. His breaking stuff was what he got swing and misses on.

For years now his slider has been his go-to pitch for whiffs. His FB has always been his most hittable pitch.

It's not new that he leans on breaking stuff, what's new is he can't command any of it anymore.

[JDW]

Yeah...but you can't make a career in MLB just throwing 99 mph heaters.

+1 I’ve heard it from a lot of broadcasters it doesn’t matter how hard you throw if the fastballs the only pitch you have you will get hit

So even at the HS level, the kid I started an OP about yesterday was sitting 96-99 mph with his FB against another HS team and one those FB's got hit out for a HR in the 1st inning. The hitters of today are so much better prepared to deal with high velo than ever before. Helsley might have got whiplash with his hanger, but you have to mix it up and he's human just like the rest of us.
The nice thing, the Cardinals WIN ..................... with a little extra drama added at the end.

[ramfandan]

You can't JUST throw 100 all the time. Occasionally you're going to "hang" a slider. It happens to the best and make no mistake, Helsley is arguably the best closer in the game.

Legit question .. Announcer say on breaking pitches hit for HR's ... oh 'he hung that curve ball ' or 'hung the slider '
Can't a curve ball that is NOT hung be hit for a HR ... How about a slider ? Does every breaking pitch hit for a HR only happen because the 'pitcher HUNG that pitch' ?

And what about a fastball jacked for a HR ? Can you hang one of those ? All I hear on fastballs for HR's is usually .. Oh that was a meatball ! That was center cut ! Right down Broadway ! I have seen fastballs hit for HR's that are on the corners ..low, high, in and out What about those ?

[Baseball Savant]

I would trade him ASAP

His metrics pale compared to last year

Trust me a hanging slider is much easier to yard than a 101 heater