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And that last comment is very interesting too...
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Average viewer (of which Dr. Gaff is assuredly not one) can slo-mo the sliders and can see (1) the arm speed and (2) the hitters' reactions.
It doesn't take an artist in Pineda's case.  His arm speed is FANTASTIC and the hitters quite obviously have no clue that the pitch is a slider right up THROUGH their swing launches.
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As you say, Pineda was able to throw sliders UP in the zone and still get garbage swings.  ... Also the double-up to Weeks in the 4th was telling.
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One thing the 'average viewer' ;- ) can watch for is the velocity of the pitch after it breaks.  Mushy sliders are traveling slowly after they begin dropping.
Great sliders, such as Pineda's, show on TV as having nice velocity after the break.