Best arm in baseball

[smokymountainrain]

This may be one of the shortest threads, in CS history, but what the hell...

The link below is to some commentary from Yahoo!'s Mark Townsend in regard to a ridiculous throw by Aaron Hicks to get Vernon Wells trying to stretch a double into a triple.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/aaron-hicks-cuts-down-vernon-wells-throw-ages-103733621.html

Townsend also includes a video where Rick Ankiel makes two sick throws in the same game against the Rockies. At the end of his commentary he mentions names such as Ichiro, Frenchy and Jose Guillen.

Perhaps it's nostalgia talking, but Raul Mondesi has the best arm I've ever seen from an outfielder. And I'd have to go with Shawon Dunston in terms of infielders.

For the CS baseball fans, who has the best arm you've seen?

[cougjunkie]

Best I have ever seen in person was Vlad Guerrero.

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[il Padrino Ute]

Red Sox RF Dwight Evans.

Dodger RF Joe Ferguson had a good one too.

[Coach McGuirk]

I agree with both Vlad and Mondesi. I would throw in Clemente having seen many of his highlight throws.

[woot]

I'll mention Ken Caminiti, mostly because he insisted on waiting after fielding it at third so that he could throw it as hard as possible to retire the runner without a moment to spare, as if to add suspense. Great arm, but perhaps not the best strategy.

I'd guess that the best arm in baseball is probably connected to a pitcher though.

[Shaka]

Cory Snyder had a very good arm.

[MarkGrace]

Vlad and Mondesi were ridiculous. Guillen was also ridiculous. Anyone else remember this throw?

For me better than that Hicks throw. It was closer to the track and from right instead of center so it had a longer distance to travel. At least I'm assuming it did without knowing the dimensions of the park. But even at that, it's on a lower trajectory (that Hicks throw had more air under it) and more on target (3rd basemen just goes straight down with the tag instead of having to make an actual play on the tag).

Among all-timers Clemente has to be near the top. When you're talking about best arm, to me that strength and accuracy, and he might have been the best combination of both. Typically your strong-armed guys aren't the leaders in outfield assists because teams know not to run on them. Clemente had the reputation that you don't run on him and still led the league in assists 5 times.

[smokymountainrain]

Some great names so far. Snyder definitely had the best LDS arm.

That throw by Guillen...wow. Watchng these guys make some of these throws is so entertaining.

[cougjunkie]

Anyone remember when Vlad threw one from the left field foul line over the right field wall? 370 feet and he did it effortlessly. I know its on YouTube somewhere.

I hate to say it but Puig has to be up there along with Harper as two of the best arms.

What about Yadier Molina and Pudge Rodriguez?

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[Jarid in Cedar]

Bo Jackson

[il Padrino Ute]

Bo Jackson

I can't believe I didn't include Bo.

[Clark Addison]

I've always heard Clemente by reputation, but he was before my time.

Red Sox RF Dwight Evans.

Dodger RF Joe Ferguson had a good one too.

I have a shade of a memory of Joe Ferguson making a great throw to get someone, I think in an all-star game, but I can't remember any of the details beyond that.

[Non Sequitur]

Old School: Clemente and Mays
Grew up watching: Dwight Evans
Modern day: Ichiro

[Indy Coug]

Jesse Barfield, Toronto Blue Jays

[il Padrino Ute]

I've always heard Clemente by reputation, but he was before my time.



I have a shade of a memory of Joe Ferguson making a great throw to get someone, I think in an all-star game, but I can't remember any of the details beyond that.

The one that really sticks out for me was in a World Series game against Oakland when he caught a fly ball and threw out Sal Bando at the plate after Bando had tagged up at third.