If the game were all about velocity and strikeouts, Jamie Moyer would have retired a decade ago. The problem with not having great velocity or a high K rate is you leave yourself little margin for error. Your control has to be exceptionally good. It is rarer to find somebody like that than somebody who just chunks the high cheese but they are out there and some of them do succeed. Look at Chris Young of the Padres. He was topping out in the mid-80s the other night and we still couldn't hit him.

Because there are more free swingers today and less plate discipline, a guy with outstanding control can be more effective now than in the past. We shouldn't be afraid to embrace control pitchers although most will probably not be more than middle-rotation guys.

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