The fiercest and most transfixing pitch faces from the 2016 season

BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 20: Starting pitcher R.A. Dickey #43 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws to a Baltimore Orioles batter in the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 20, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

We could write something here about the effort it takes to throw MLB-caliber pitches 100 times per game. We could write something about the way that exertion manifests itself on the pitcher's face, how every muscle in their body tightens, etc.

That's all true, surely, but why write anything when we could just show you this photograph of R.A. Dickey?

Ladies and gentlemen, these were the best pitch faces of 2016.

Madison Bumgarner , perennial pitch-face All-Star:

Here's Kenta Maeda 's pitch growl:

Clearly Max Scherzer couldn't have won his second Cy Young Award without this face:

Nor Rick Porcello his first:

Noah Syndergaard 's postseason pitch face:

Someone told Yu Darvish to hold his breath for as long as he could:

Johnny Cueto was quite impressed with this pitch of his:

This is Marcus Stroman 's "Oh geez I hope this pitch is a strike" face:

Chris Archer 's method of intimidation on the mound is inspired by the pufferfish:

J.A. Happ simply smiles while he pitches. Which actually might be the most intimidating pitch face of all:

Also, at this point it should be clear that the Blue Jays win the SAG Award for Best Pitch Face Ensemble. Even Aaron Sanchez 's is great: