The new Nationals leadership does care how hard pitchers throw ball four.
At the beginning of the 2024 season, then Nationals President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo put up signs in Nationals spring training telling pitchers he did not care about how hard pitchers threw ball four. In an era where analytically inclined coaches tell players to chase velocity, Rizzo was emphasizing low walk rates and control over simply throwing balls hard.
Recent moves by Nationals leadership indicate that they do not agree with Rizzo’s philosophy. Paul Toboni and Anirudh Kilambi are modern, analytical baseball thinkers who value velocity.