Fastball Quotations | Page 2

He's a first-pitch fastball guy. Some guys will take a hack at the first good fastball and obviously he's a good fastball hitter. He'll work the count a little bit so if you get ahead maybe he chases one.

He's a guy that will add some depth to our organizational pitching. He'll start at Double-A, in the bullpen. He has an average to plus fastball with pretty good secondary stuff and a good mentality on the mound.

He's a guy that just gets better and better every outing. Today was just more of the same from him. He threw his fastball for a strike, and he was able to throw his breaking ball and split finger for a strike as well.

He's a guy that had arm trouble early in his career, but he's recovered from that nicely. He throws 89-92 mph with downhill sink, attacks the zone and gets groundballs. He has a slider and changeup that he throws for a change of pace, but it's that fastball with the downhill plane that makes him successful.

Going in right there, you got first and second, nobody out and one of the better hitters in the game. My main focus was getting strike one. It's key to get strike one. Get the fastball in on his hands and kind of open up away. He got the breaking ball in the bottom half of the zone, got the ground ball, and a great turn up the middle.

He's always given me trouble. Mike has so many arm angles and he knows how to spot his pitches. He can set you up with that change-up and then throw a fastball right by you.

He seems to be doing OK. He needs to work on things and develop more consistency. We want him to throw a two-seam fastball more.

He's hot. We all know he's a dead fastball hitter.

He's got the stuff to go out and win 17, 18 games, ... He's a lefty with a fastball 95-97, a 12-to-6 curve and a good change.

His pitching was his best performance I've seen in the Classic. He pitched very effortless. His fastball was very powerful. I told him to throw fastballs. I wasn't worried whether the Mexican team could hit them. I didn't think they could.

His stuff was pretty good, I thought, really. He had a sneaky fastball and threw in the low 90s. I think overall he threw the ball pretty well.

Hitting a Major League baseball. I wasn't that good at either one. I think I've got the marriage thing nailed down now and that took me three tries. I know I can't hit the fastball anymore.

His velocity was still good. I thought it was a dominating performance. He showed a good fastball with good angles; his breaking ball was devastating, and I thought he showed a real good change-up.

He's been outstanding since he's been here. He's focused. He came out tonight, located his fastball well, stayed ahead of hitters, kept the ball down, changed speeds when he needed to and showed a nice curveball, something he hadn't thrown too much before.

He's been one of our hotter hitters, better hitters, all year. He's got a good idea at the plate. He took advantage of a fastball and hit it pretty well.

He's done a good job keeping the ball in the zone. He has had short, quick innings. He throws that knuckleball, and then he throws an 83-mph fastball and jams good hitters. He's got some weapons.

He's doing very well. That was a calculated risk ... not putting him on the roster, but he's starting to pitch well. He has a big fastball and one of the best breaking balls in the system. It wouldn't surprise me if we have a need, he could help us this year.

Hopefully, we can work a few more fastballs in there. At the end of the year, I was able to locate my fastball better. That's what I've been working on in the side sessions. I've maybe thrown 10 sliders in the bullpen. I've been basically working on fastballs and being able to locate it and be aggressive. That's the one thing you'll see out of the whole bullpen this year is going after guys. You sit around and talk, and that's the mentality that it'll be.

He was just trying to run the fastball inside.

He wasn't as sharp as his first game, but he still had a good fastball. He struggled with the breaking ball and the change-up. But when he needed it, he had his fastball and he located it.

He was outstanding. He didn't really overthrow. He used his fastball on both sides of the plate, two-seam and four-seam. He was a lot of fun to watch.

He was our most consistent pitcher. He did a good job of getting the fastball over with the changeup. He's a great athlete who fields well and does a good job of holding runners on. He never seems to get rattled.

He was only supposed to go two innings, but the way he threw, we stretched him out to three. He had real good command of his fastball and a real good breaking ball.

He was pretty impressive. He had a good fastball and curveball the first four innings. Then he found a changeup somewhere and brought that out with him. He had three quality pitches and he was as a good as advertised, I know that.

He was spotting the outside fastball and they were going after it.

He was mixing in the breaking ball and moving his fastball around. He kept them off balance.

He was locating his fastball pretty well. He had a good slider and he didn't walk anybody. That's really important as a pitcher, getting ahead. We didn't do the things we should have done at the plate either. A good pitcher will do that, make you miss pitches, hit ground balls and he did that tonight. He kept us off balance, he threw well.

He's pitched some good baseball against us, but that was probably the best game he's pitched against us. When his fastball was off he got his breaking ball over.

He was a late-inning stud all through college and continued in his first pro year. He has an 88-90 fastball with a good slider. He's an outstanding strike thrower, missing bats down in the zone with a low, three-quarters delivery. He has presence, confidence and instincts on the mound with a history of success.

He was ahead of hitters the whole game. He really spotted his fastball well and later got out of trouble with some big strikeouts with his breaking ball.

He wants you to have that slow breaking ball of his in the back of your mind so he can sneak his fastball in on you. He pitched me tough. I might have swung at some bad pitches, but he gets the credit.

He wanted the victory and knew we needed it. His fastball was moving.

He was awesome tonight. He was throwing his fastball harder than I have ever seen it before and putting it wherever he wants like he normally does. He was throwing a good curve. You have to give a lot of credit to the defense. Buster (Posey) made a couple great plays, (Ryan) Strauss made a great catch. Everyone played a great game today.

He did a very nice job. He had a pretty nice fastball and was locating it pretty well, and they just stayed with it all night long. It was kind of an unusually pitched game. You don't see a guy use primarily fastballs. He had a little life on it.

He can set you up with a changeup, then throw an 88-mph fastball by you.

He just threw me another fastball inside and I just told myself, 'Don't let him beat you inside again and try to hit the ball up the middle' and that happened. I'm not trying to hit a home run, but I'm just trying to hit the ball hard and that's what happened.

He kept sending somebody to the (scorer's) table, and I kept shaking him off. It was like a pitching coach calling a fastball and I wanted to throw the curve.

He just got a fastball in and I tried to get the bat on it and I was lucky enough to get it up in the air and wrap it around the pole.

He left a fastball right outside and I just went with it, did what I could with it.

I was just aggressive in that situation, ... He threw me a fastball and I went with it.

I was looking forward to finally putting this last stretch out of its misery and put the illness behind us. My fastball has some life in it.

I was looking for a fastball in and something I could drive. It was pretty much in the exact spot I took my warm-up swings.

Kevin is great to play behind. He works relatively fast, uses his fastball and throws strikes, and makes it easier on his defense.

Keith threw the ball really well, also. He threw some really good changeups. And his location of his fastball was pretty good.

Keeping them off my fastball made my fastball that much better. I think that's the big key for that lineup, because they're such a good fastball-hitting team.

Just so many times before, we've had a lead in the bottom of the seventh and then not come away with the win. I mean, holy cow, their pinch hitter comes up with two outs and two strikes and slaps an outside fastball by the second baseman, and you go holy cow again. I mean, you think, what do we have to do to win?

Jose's going to get his stolen bases. If you get a good fastball to hit, and you're a good fastball hitter, I want you to swing at it, almost like a hit-and-run.

Josh relied heavily on his fastball because he couldn't get his other pitches across the plate. Fortunately we gave him a lot of run support.

John is not 100 percent, ... But if he's 95 percent that's good enough. He is feeling good. . . . It's just a matter of at one time locating his fastball and feeling a little bit better.

I think it's going to be totally different, just from that aspect that he's got his legs back underneath him. He's got more velocity on his fastball and he's just able to be sharper.

It could help, because I can work even more on my spins. If you're just a fastball pitcher, it's going to hurt you.

It changed it a little bit. I was trying to get Olerud to ground into a double play. I just think he was prepared for a fastball the whole time.

I thought Wright looked really good. It looked like he got his fastball back. We didn't see that early in the year.

I threw three straight changeups to Boone, then a fastball inside and he turned on it. That club is doing all the things right, right now.

I threw some pretty good breaking balls, a lot of curveballs. I tried to throw a few more change ups. I was able to work on that a little bit. My curveball was real good. My fastball command was not as good as it usually is. I walked a couple of guys.

I threw my fastball for strikes a lot better than I did the last time out. I felt more relaxed today. It felt like a normal start. I got myself in a routine. My best pitch was my fastball. It was pretty good with from both sides of the plate. I was keeping it down for the most part.

I threw him a fastball up and away, ... He just put the bat on the ball. It was there, and he hit it. There's nothing you can do about it.

I threw all my pitches that were ready today. The split's always the last pitch to come around for me. My fastball command was good, and that's key for me.

I threw all my pitches that were ready today. My fastball command was good, and that's key for me.

Kyle was swinging the bat with authority all day. He had a good cut early in the game, but struck out. Actually, he looked good up there during all three of his trips to the plate. He got a fastball he could handle, low and in, and he didn't miss it.

Last year, I was just so wild. I didn't have any life. This year, I feel like I have some extension on my fastball and a little life on the end. That's the biggest difference from last year. I just couldn't do that.

I was working on throwing my fastball away and inside to left-handed hitters. They haven't told me what plans they have for me yet. That's all I can do whether I am a starter or in the bullpen.

I was waiting on a good pitch to hit. I was trying to stay out of a double play in that situation. I fouled off some pretty good pitches. I got on top of a fastball and I got it into the gap.

I was able to throw my fastball tonight, both inside and outside the plate. My nail was bleeding in the third inning. Right now, it's not looking good. I was in a little pain in the sixth.

I was able to make pitches right from the get-go. The biggest focus is trying to establish the strike zone early with my two-seam fastball and throw some changeups.

I want to work on changeups to lefties. I'd just thrown a fastball and he pulled it foul, so I thought it was a good time for something slow. He hit it out on his front foot, but he kept his hands back.

I was just looking for a fastball and he came in, and I got a good swing on it and got it out of here. On the double, I was able to get a slider away and get it into the gap.

I was keeping everything in. I still had the fastball I could throw him (outside). I hadn't shown him the curveball the whole at-bat. (A count of) 2-2 was the time to do it.

I was just trying to sit on the fastball, looking for something hard, and he threw me a fastball middle-away and I was able to drive it.

I was locating my fastball well. I didn't feel bad about not finishing the game. It's all about the win.

Just got a fastball out over the plate and did what I wanted to do. I think the ball was carrying. I think the wind was bouncing off the stands and sending the ball back out.

Just a fastball in the middle. It was down. I didn't expect him to hit it out, especially to left field. I thought for sure if I was going to get beat, I was going to get beat in, it was away. I'm still amazed that it went out, really.

Jason threw exceptionally well. He had great command of his fastball and mixed his off-speed in well. He kept them off balance and had a real strong outing.

Kris threw the ball well. He threw his fastball very well.

I see a guy with a quick bat. I don't see the end here. I compare the guy with Hank Aaron, who could hit a fastball to the end.

I saw him on TV. He's got a good curve, a sneaky fastball and he pitches inside. I was impressed. But we're going to attack him. You don't give him too much respect. He's a young player, and you've got to attack him. You don't let him get too comfortable.

Our pitchers have different styles, and I think all five can take the mound at any time. Stella is probably as quick as anyone we've had in terms of her fastball and rise ball.

Real spotty comment on my fastball today and to go out against a kid that's throwing the ball as well as Brendan threw the ball today,

Paul had an average fastball and average curve. He was going to pitch in the major leagues, but there was nothing that would particularly distinguish him from lots of other guys.

Payne picked everybody up (Saturday). We've been struggling in all areas, but he came up with a big effort. He really spotted his fastball well.

People might wonder why we weren't up there taking a pitch in the seventh. Well, if you get first pitch fastball down the middle, we're going to hack. The disappointing part was we didn't get on top of the ball and hit ground balls and line drives the last couple of innings.

My shoulder feels really strong. I have zip on the fastball that I haven't had in a long time. This feels better than even last year on those days when, after rehab, I would come out and feel strong.

My mechanics were good. I had command of my fastball ... I was changing speeds.

Mario's been the missing link. I wouldn't be surprised if he hit 90 or 91 mph (on his fastball Saturday). The way he was pitching, he could've beaten anyone.

I won six league games last year, and Matt won five of them. He's the one you throw out there to get wins. Fastball pitcher, with a good breaking ball when he needs it.

I was thinking I had to keep the fastball low to get as many groundballs as possible. I used fastballs and sliders. ... I feel very proud of having thrown a no-hitter, and I really don't have any other words to describe it.

I was thinking I had to keep the fastball low to get as many ground balls as possible. I used fastballs and sliders. ... I feel very proud of having thrown a no-hitter, and I really don't have any other words to describe it.

I was trying to go fastball in and I just got it in too deep. I don't care who gets upset about it. I'm still trying to work on my command; I've been struggling this whole spring.

I was trying to go fastball down and away. You don't want the guy to hit the ball to left field with power, and he's got some power. Dougie set up down and away. The ball was middle up, and he just tomahawked it.

I was upset about not getting the first bunt down, ... I think they (the Brewers) probably figured I'd be bunting again with Lance on deck, and he (Santos) threw a fastball right down the middle.

I was trying to throw a good fastball down and away. I just left it up a little bit. Like I say, this guy's got tremendous power. This guy is an All-Star.

I was trying to throw a good fastball down and away and I left it a little bit up. The guy has tremendous power. Not much I could do but take my hat off. The guy is an All-Star.

I was throwing my fastball on either side of the plate, and that's always the main thing you want to do from the get go is to be able to locate your fastball.

I was going fastball away and just overthrew it a little bit. It kind of rode back closer to the plate than I wanted.

I was getting up in the count early and my fastball was working. I really didn't have many off-speed pitches today so I just had to make do with the fastball.

I think once he's able to pinpoint his fastball a little bit better, he's going to be awesome.

I stopped by Rangers camp for just two days and only pitched one of those days. I have not faced any batters, but in the bullpen, my fastball and slider look good.

I thought he was strong. He came out throwing a good fastball to both sides of the plate. His curves and changes, he kept them down. He threw a couple splits to get a feeling for it. He looks solid. (His fastball) is probably nowhere near where it is when he's full strength, but he was getting it in there pretty hot.

I thought he was pretty good. He was able to throw the fastball for strikes on both sides of the plate. His breaking pitch was good.

I thought I located my fastball pretty well. I made some mistakes, but for the most part I think I did pretty well. If I can throw like I did today, then why can't I do it in a week? We'll find out down the stretch.