105.5 MPH?

[Minimalist]

Amusingly, in today's game Hicks was again in left field and this time a ball was hit up the line.  He ran over, picked it up and was unable to do anything other than throw it in to second where the runner foolishly was attempting to stretch the hit into a double.  Even without the 100+ mph throw, he was out by two feet.  Of course it is a much shorter throw to second.

[Tiberius]

The run up consumes time - time subtracted from the ball in flight. Since the speed in flight is so much greater than running speed, I would think the run up is a liability. It's a necessary one because of the need to plant and orient.

Erm...no, that's not how physics works. You don't subtract time from the ball in flight just because the guy takes some time running. The speed of the ball is measured relative to the ground, not to the runner.

It appears though, that there's no easy answer to whether running and throwing results in a faster ball speed compared to standing still and throwing. Physics says running and throwing should mean a faster ball, because the speed of the runner is added to the speed of the ball, however the throwing technique is different between the two methods.

Multiple kudos to anyone who can find a paper which actually addresses the problem, or who can do an experiment to find out.

[TheRealJoeFish]

FanGraphs Article on outfielders throwing over 100 mph

Not really what you're looking for, Tibs, but a bit of discussion of the thirty-six >100mph throws from the outfield in 2015 (the first year they kept track of them). 15 different players registered one, including Aaron Hicks who had 3. Of note is that one of Hicks's three throws is described by the article as the very worst one all year, and another of them - also off target - is the only one of the 36 where the fielder didn't get a running start. Of course, a big part is that as an outfielder you don't start running only when you get the ball, you start running as the ball's coming to you; you should be going full speed when it hits your glove, meaning that it's all positive momentum.

For those wondering, the best defensive arm in the majors right now - and, possibly, the best defensive outfielder in baseball ever - is Rays' centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier, who threw 9 of the 36 >100mph throws and is putting up ridonkulous defensive numbers

[Minimalist]

You'll find this hysterical, Divi Tiberio, but in checking through some of the research for earlier posts I saw a reference to an opinion by doctors that no human could throw much in excess of 100 MPH because the tendons and ligaments would snap.  Obviously that would be news to Hicks and Chapman but the rash of "Tommy John" surgeries suggests that mere mortals are having a problem sustaining speeds in excess of 90mph.  Pitchers are babied today. 

I was just a kid when this game was played but I still remember it.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_23576938/p...-spahn-era

Marichal and Spahn threw over 420 pitches between them that day.  Not mentioned in the story is the part where Giants' manager, Alvin Dark asked Marichal if he wanted to come out of the game.  Marichal replied, "I'm not coming out until that old man comes out."

[TheRealJoeFish]

That's insane. Not, like, insane to keep them in there... just... insane, like... amazing.

I do recall reading a source I deemed legitimate that put the max pitch speed around 112 or 113 due to the tendons and such

[Minimalist]

Spahn and Marichal were both about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds.  They were normal size for the times.  Today, if you aren't 6"6"and 220 pounds the scouts don't want to look at you.

I've often wondered if the emphasis on strength training and weight lifting is not part of the problem with the elbow ligament injuries.

[Minimalist]

Another magnificent throw last night...this time by the Dodgers' Yasiel Puig.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/173955144/...ible-throw

Not as hard as Hicks' but just as accurate.

[Minimalist]

Speaking of rare plays.... a straight steal of home.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/173924102/...teals-home