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Ladder fastball is definitely a valid pitch IF you're somehow able to get away with it at 87...
Vargas and Wash seemed to be able to go up and juuuuusssssst get the batters behind it enough that they'd get under the ball by a quarter inch...
The element of surprise being key, perhaps... or maybe the shape of the pitch or something... 'cause will guarantee you that Jamie Moyer and Mark Buehrle aren't going to tempt fate with letters fastballs...
.........
That is the reality though ghost... Wash and Vargas do change the eye level masterfully... no arguing that...