ARM-AGEDDON

The TBL’s Best Pitchers (according to the hitters)

 

 

With pitchers and catchers reporting to the schoolyard in approximately 2 months, we asked the TBL’s best hitters who the toughest guys are out there on the mound.  And though the response was somewhat limited, the results were a clear reflection of just how much pitching talent there is in the league. Here’s a rundown of what some of the league’s best bats had to say…

 

 

Luciano Perna, Joe Callaghan, Jason Darby, Troy Weston and Adrian Golombek all say they have the toughest time hitting Jon Gurnham.  “That wipeout slider to righties is a really tough pitch,” quips Darby, who nominates Gurnham without hesitation.

 

 

When we asked Gurnham for a comment, he modestly pointed out that Marcus Belardi was in fact the best pitcher in the league last year.  Sean Briggs, 2018 League MVP, agrees. “That heat & slider were impressive.”  Hey, the numbers don’t lie… neither does Marcus’ stuff.

 

 

Jeff Snow, Ashley Allinson and Matt Kowall all agree that Art Stoner is the toughest pitcher to face.  “I sure did prefer having Arthur on my team,” says Allinson.  Matt Kowall adds that “his changeup/knuckle-curve is a great pitch and he is usually around the zone with everything.  He has great deception on his secondary stuff.”  Arthur continues to defy the laws of nature… it’s tough to find a 69-year-old in better shape.

 

 

And then there’s the case for Papa Joe Callaghan.  Many of the long-timers still tip their cap to the legend.  He’s got Jeremy Perry’s vote, as well Rocky Parejo’s, Greg Majster’s & Art Stoner’s… the list goes on.  And according to TBL record-holder Jack Cherry, “although we saw Joe slightly slow down this year, when he has a fresh arm he’s the toughest pitcher to hit.  The ability to throw a curve ball with that much movement and throw as hard as anyone sets him apart.  You have to be locked in and a lot of the time.  With Joe you have to guess pitches to be able to hit them.  With most other pitchers you can react and hit strikes no matter what type of pitch.  It's hard to use that approach with Joe.”

 

 

An honorable mention goes out to Kevin Leach for being one of the OG flame-throwers and always part of the conversation.  And to Jeff Snow, whose name came up with almost all of the hitters surveyed.  Had the injury bug not reared its ugly head, Jeff would no doubt be higher on the list.  No hitter is relieved when Snow is brought into the game to pitch some relief.  “He’s a great asset to have in the bullpen to use at the manager’s discretion; that’s for sure.”

 

 

Stay tuned for part 2 of this series, where we ask the best pitchers in the league who the toughest outs are.  All pitchers can participate in the second article by providing your take on the league’s toughest hitters to the Commish.

 

AA