What makes a great pitcher great?

The Twins could certainly use some more consistent pitching in the second half of the season, fueling a lot of trade speculation over Seattle ace Cliff Lee.


The Twins could certainly use some more consistent pitching in the second half of the season, fueling a lot of trade speculation over Seattle ace Cliff Lee.

Lee is having another great year — recently throwing his third-straight complete game in a win over the Yankees — and the possibility of landing with the Twins is making Detroit fans nervous.

So, what makes for a great pitcher?

In the case of Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, it’s a cutter that has hamstrung hitters for years.

The New York Times has an amazing feature that takes a three-dimensional (yes – 3D!) look at exactly how Rivera dominates hitters (h/t @ahemphill).

If a deal for Lee doesn’t get done, the Twins will have to look elsewhere for inspiration.

And following Justin Morneau’s induction into Justin Bieber’s “Wolfpack” (h/t @twinsmvb), you’ve got to feel good about the rest of the season. Right?