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What do you consider a "Soft Tosser" as far as a pitcher goes? I'm not talking about a crafty lefty throwing 76mph sliders out of the pen. I'm more referring to your average MLB starter.

20 years ago it seemed a soft tosser was around 88, while high velocity was considerd 95+. Now, to me at least it seems that a starter throwing 91-92 is a soft tosser, and high velocity is 98+

Interesting how the game evolves. I'm curious to know your views on the subject

(food for thought, In the movie "the Rookie" featuring Dennis Quaid who portrays Jimmy Morris, the high school teacher who ended up making it to the big leagues with the Rays......He hits 98 on the gun and teams were shocked by seeing 98. Now most teams have multiple guys capable of hitting 100. Jimmy Morris debut in the MLB was 1999.)

On our current starting staff I'd consider McG (92.4 mph fastball) a "soft tosser".

While his fastball sits in the bottom 21%, it sits in the top 14% for fastball run value!

Combined w/his superior (top 7%) low BB% + strong groundball rate he's a very efficient #3 starter even w/a "low" velo fastball.

In my college playing days his 92.4 mph heater would've been considered a solid fastball, in today's MLB it's "meh".

At this point if you can't hit 96 with some regularity you're arguably a soft tosser. And definitely if you can't hit 94.

For reference, Mikolas pretty regularly hit 95, at least by the TV velo reading. And wouldn't everyone consider him a soft tosser?

rockondlouie wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 08:53 am On our current starting staff I'd consider McG (92.4 mph fastball) a "soft tosser".

While his fastball sits in the bottom 21%, it sits in the top 14% for fastball run value!

Combined w/his superior (top 7%) low BB% + strong groundball rate he's a very efficient #3 starter even w/a "low" velo fastball.

In my college playing days his 92.4 mph heater would've been considered a solid fastball, in today's MLB it's "meh".

In his case at 92.4 it depends on when you throw it, where you throw it, and to whom you throw it to. With his control, he has a chance.

sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 08:56 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑20 Feb 2026 08:53 am On our current starting staff I'd consider McG (92.4 mph fastball) a "soft tosser".

While his fastball sits in the bottom 21%, it sits in the top 14% for fastball run value!

Combined w/his superior (top 7%) low BB% + strong groundball rate he's a very efficient #3 starter even w/a "low" velo fastball.

In my college playing days his 92.4 mph heater would've been considered a solid fastball, in today's MLB it's "meh".

In his case at 92.4 it depends on when you throw it, where you throw it, and to whom you throw it to. With his control, he has a chance.

One of Mo's biggest screw ups last season, one I SCREAMED about for along time, was keeping McG at Memphis while he let Oli hand the ball to a useless E. Fedde (and even A. Pallante).

Just one of the many reasons it's great Mo is finally gone, should've happened years ago.

It’s not how fast you can throw, it’s where you locate the pitch
For one example, wainwright in his dotage could rarely surpass 88. But when his game was on, and he was able to hit his spots, you couldn’t do much with it.