PITCHER’S PITCHES The goal of a pitch in baseball is very simple. Throw it for a strike and don’t let the batter hit it. As you journey in to the finer nuances of the game, it becomes more complex. The variety of pitches a player can throw, the mechanics necessary to throw them, and the decision of firing the right pitch in a certain situation morph this straightforward effort in to a challenging artform. So, what are the different pitches used in today’s game?
CURVEBALL
As for off-speed pitches, the curveball is the most well-known. The hand of the pitcher forms a “C shape” with two fingers on the right seam. As the pitcher’s arm comes forward, the ball is snapped downward at the top of the throwing arc to generate a forward spin. This causes the ball to eventually dive. The amount of break on the pitch depends on the pitcher’s arm velocity, the way the ball is snapped, the throw off, the arm angle, etc. The curveball can break straight downwards, which is known as a 12-6 curveball, or slant at an angle while traveling down. On average, a MLB pitcher throws a curveball at 77 MPH. However, with the aid of time, technology, and increasing athleticism, curveballs have more movement than ever before. Two prominent pitchers in today’s game with outstanding curveballs are Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander, while legendary pitchers Sandy Koufax and Orel Hershiser were also known for the deadly breakers.
SLIDER
A close relative to the curveball is the slider, which travels laterally and downward with more speed than a curveball. It is similar to the cut fastball but, has more break and less velocity. Movement of the slider is in direct correlation to the fingertip pressure applied on the ball while a pitcher throws in the same motion as a fastball. With a similar grip to the curveball, pressure is placed on the index (outside) finger instead of the middle (inside) finger. A slider often looks like a fastball out of a pitcher’s hand with a late break, making it exceedingly difficult for opposing batters. Zach Greinke has one of the best sliders amongst current players, while the “Big Unit” Randy Johnson had arguably the greatest slider in MLB history, paired with his 100 MPH fastball. Other pitchers who threw the slider very well were Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, and Dennis Eckersley. *CONTINUED ON PAGE 35 DAY TON
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DRAGONS
