Alvarado throwing his cutter for strikes is more important than the difference between 97 and 99.
Because it's perceived velocity, not actual velocity, that matters.
His cutter looks like a FB with movement, it's harder to pick up than a slider and throws hitters' timing off.
The gap in velocity (and movement) between pitches matters at least as much as velocity once above a minimum (and there are still outliers like Moyer).
There are numerous young pitchers who throw 95-98 and aren't good pitchers.
Because for one thing, it's hard to sustain that level for more than a few innings, Greene started 99-100 but was down to 97-98 after a couple innings.
What makes Wheeler effective isn't 95 or 97 but his high spin rate on his 4 seamer. Still, even as good as he's been, he's working on a splitter (b/c his motion makes it difficult to throw a changeup) to handle LH hitters.
There was one pitcher, can't remember his name, who threw mostly FBs, but would vary speeds from 88-95 on his FB, and drove hitters crazy.
Changing speed, location, movement are more effective than throwing 1-2 MPH faster.
One thing that makes Ranger hard to hit is the spread between a 93 MPH FB, 85 slider, 82 changeup, 77 curve.
2023 pitching leaders (FG WAR):
Wheeler 95.0, t98
Strider 97.0, t99.7
Gausman 94.1 t98
Gray 93.3 t94.7
Cole 96.8, t100
Gallen 93.0, t96.8
Steele 92.2, t95.5 (cutter)
Webb 92.6, t93.5
Eflin 92.4, t94.7
Lopez 94.9 t98.4
Kirby 96.2, t99.6
Vladez 95.3, t98.7
Montgomery 93.3, t95.9
Snell 95.7, t98.7
