Scouting Report
From 2000 to 2004, Foulke was one of the top closers in baseball. At the peak of his career, he had an effective 87-89 MPH fastball and what many people considered to be one of the best circle changeups in the sport (which he could get down to 76 MPH, making for a 12-14 MPH difference in the two, a sign of a good changeup.) However, later in his career, his fastball ranged from 84-86 MPH while his changeup remained at 76 MPH. While solid against right-handed hitters, he is particularly lethal against lefties. His strikeout pitch is usually an inside circle changeup.
Foulke has good control, as his career strikeout-to-walk ratio reveals. While he doesn't hold runners on base particularly well, he covers his position adequately and throws accurately to the bases. In 2004, he completed a fifth straight season without committing an error (71 total chances in 307 games). In addition, his unusual throwing motion provides him with the ability to mask his changeup well, though runners on base can easily see his grip from his exposed hand and potentially tip his pitches to teammates at-bat.
Read more about this topic: Keith Foulke
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