Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Discuss all things Cardinals Baseball
User avatar
Big Amoco Sign
Master of Hyperbole
Posts: 14402
Joined: December 1 17, 11:05 am

Re: Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Post by Big Amoco Sign »

Welp the strikeouts are climbing way way up.

He has to be the closer from here on out.

Last 14 games pitched:

0.7 fWAR
2.35 xFIP
11.02 K/9

Fat Strat
Official GRB Sponsor of Larry Bigbie
Posts: 28050
Joined: April 17 06, 9:16 pm
Location: No. 16 on the Cards Top 15 Prospect List

Re: Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Post by Fat Strat »

Big Amoco Sign wrote:Welp the strikeouts are climbing way way up.

He has to be the closer from here on out.

Last 14 games pitched:

0.7 fWAR
2.35 xFIP
11.02 K/9
I don't know. I think I prefer him in that fireman's role where he can come in when needed and not necessarily just in the 9th. If I trusted Matheny to be able to balance it all, I would go to a platoon where sometimes Norris closed and sometimes Hicks, depending on situation. But, I don't trust Matheny with that kind of arrangement. So, let Norris close and let Hicks pitch in key spots and often for multiple innings.

User avatar
Big Amoco Sign
Master of Hyperbole
Posts: 14402
Joined: December 1 17, 11:05 am

Re: Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Post by Big Amoco Sign »

Definitely okay with Hicks playing the Andrew Miller and pitching in fireman role/2-3-4-5 lineup spots.

User avatar
Jocephus
99% conan clips
Posts: 63657
Joined: April 18 06, 5:14 pm

Re: Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Post by Jocephus »

Jordan Hicks, Now with Command
by Craig Edwards
June 14, 2018
We aren’t dealing with a ton of innings, obviously, but whatever problems Hicks was having, they appear to be solved. As to what exactly was solved involves a few different theories that all likely relate to one another. The most noticeable change in terms of results that Hicks has made is with the slider. Joe Schwarz of The Athletic highlighted the differences between the slider of late and the one earlier in the season. Schwarz mentioned velocity, release point, horizontal movement, and spin rate. With another couple weeks of data, it looks like the spin rate isn’t actually that much different in June than what it was in April. The added velocity is certainly a help, though his fastball has gone up a tick, as well.
https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jordan- ... h-command/

User avatar
Jocephus
99% conan clips
Posts: 63657
Joined: April 18 06, 5:14 pm

Re: Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Post by Jocephus »

From High School Outfielder to Cardinals Flamethrower

Jordan Hicks was drafted by St. Louis with the No. 105 pick in the 2015 draft and has thrown pitches at 105 miles per hour in the majors.

By Tyler Kepner

June 23, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/23/spor ... hicks.html

User avatar
go birds
-go birds
Posts: 31896
Joined: February 5 10, 9:54 am

Re: Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Post by go birds »

watching the braves broadcast...they said that hicks has like 222 100+ mph pitches thrown this season.

100 more than chapman.

jkline
Veteran Player
Posts: 797
Joined: December 15 14, 3:02 am

Re: Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Post by jkline »

I don't understand how he's not the closer yet, maybe if Norris goes on the dl we'll see it. I feel like everytime I hyperbole a pitcher he starts to suck so, I'm cautious even talking about Hicks....... I feel like he's a different pitcher than he was at the beginning of the year, still a little wild, probably doesnt know where its going yet but, he's actually getting strikeouts now.

User avatar
Big Amoco Sign
Master of Hyperbole
Posts: 14402
Joined: December 1 17, 11:05 am

Re: Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Post by Big Amoco Sign »

Hicks should remain the fireman role. That's more important than closer.

Hicks vs. 2-3-4-5 guys whenever they're due up first in innings 7-9.

tlombard
tl;dr
Posts: 5053
Joined: May 21 09, 12:41 pm

Re: Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Post by tlombard »

I kind of prefer Hicks in the role where he is brought in at the most critical stage of the game and counted on to get them out of the jam and maybe go two innings if they need him to get to the closer. I feel comfortable with Norris in the closer role so let his role stay as it is (that finger issue pending of course) and continue to use Hicks where they need him most instead of settling into the situation where they only use him in the ninth or only use him in the 8th. If the game needs to be saved in the sixth or seventh then that is where he needs to come in right now.

I am really enjoying watching the kid pitch this season so far.

jkline
Veteran Player
Posts: 797
Joined: December 15 14, 3:02 am

Re: Jordan Hicks Is the Hardest-Throwing Pitcher in Baseball

Post by jkline »

I guess you guys are right, he gets more high leverage situations than anyone else. I just really like watching him pitch.

Post Reply