onbaseball
01-24-2002, 12:37 PM
just curious though. I have pretty much mastered my fastball and change. My circle change (breaks away from a lefty or like a screwball), two-seamer- is the same as the circle change, and my four-seamer- i can make it sink like a splitter, but i have to throw completely straight over, but i can make it break either way (like the two seamer or like a cutter.) As my body biologically or maturally, i pretty much almost shave daily. Im exactly 15 1/2yrs old.
Also, if i throw a slider off-center, and throw just like a normal fastball, how does it damage my arm? Just curious. I also need something that breaks away from righties than just a cutter, all my pitches are hard against lefties.
OK, few things ...
First, "mastering" a pitch means you can put it within a few inches of where you want it 80% of the time in practice sessions.
Secondly, if you're throwing a "slider off-center" ... then what I think you mean is you are throwing a "fastball off-center", a la a "cutter". A slider is a pitch that requires a fairly violent "karate chop"-type of action right at the release, and in turn puts a significant amount of stress on the elbow and forearm. A cutter is similar, but is closer to a fastball and is thrown with a bit less of a twist or "chop".
Third, your four-seam fastball sinks? Interesting ... most RH four-seamers either go straight, rise a bit, or tail away from righties. You may want to experiment with your grip and finger pressure --- try applying more pressure with the middle finger upon release, and you may get a nice run away from the righties that you are looking for ... failing at that, try similar pressure with the two-seamer.
If you can throw a fastball that moves down and in and another down and away, using pressure points, and you are able to place it within a few inches of your target between 70-80 percent of the time, AND you are throwing a change-up with movement and good location, AND you are near maturity (you may want to consult a physician in regard to your growth plates), then you may start throwing an overhand curveball, under the supervision of a good pitching coach.
The overhand curve is the most neglected pitch in college and pro baseball because it is difficult to execute well, and because the slider is much easier and quicker to learn. However, the great thing about a curve is that it can and should be thrown for a strike, whereas a GOOD slider should be thrown out of the strike zone --- and if you have control of it, it can be used in any count. And strikes are a pitcher's best friend.
If it sounds like I hate the slider, well, I do ... to me it is an example of "the easy way out" for people looking for a "quick fix" or "instant gratification". The point of the slider is to make a batter swing and miss, and it should be used only by very advanced pitchers, and only very sparingly. However, because even a mediocre slider can be so lethal against poor hitters, pitchers and coaches tend to lean on it, and throw it too often --- which exacerbates its tendency to cause injury, especially to a young arm.
Making batters swing and miss is nice, but great pitchers are more efficient, and make batters HIT THEIR PITCH. The Holy grail of pitching is the three-pitch inning --- and that can't happen with strikeouts.
Also, if i throw a slider off-center, and throw just like a normal fastball, how does it damage my arm? Just curious. I also need something that breaks away from righties than just a cutter, all my pitches are hard against lefties.
OK, few things ...
First, "mastering" a pitch means you can put it within a few inches of where you want it 80% of the time in practice sessions.
Secondly, if you're throwing a "slider off-center" ... then what I think you mean is you are throwing a "fastball off-center", a la a "cutter". A slider is a pitch that requires a fairly violent "karate chop"-type of action right at the release, and in turn puts a significant amount of stress on the elbow and forearm. A cutter is similar, but is closer to a fastball and is thrown with a bit less of a twist or "chop".
Third, your four-seam fastball sinks? Interesting ... most RH four-seamers either go straight, rise a bit, or tail away from righties. You may want to experiment with your grip and finger pressure --- try applying more pressure with the middle finger upon release, and you may get a nice run away from the righties that you are looking for ... failing at that, try similar pressure with the two-seamer.
If you can throw a fastball that moves down and in and another down and away, using pressure points, and you are able to place it within a few inches of your target between 70-80 percent of the time, AND you are throwing a change-up with movement and good location, AND you are near maturity (you may want to consult a physician in regard to your growth plates), then you may start throwing an overhand curveball, under the supervision of a good pitching coach.
The overhand curve is the most neglected pitch in college and pro baseball because it is difficult to execute well, and because the slider is much easier and quicker to learn. However, the great thing about a curve is that it can and should be thrown for a strike, whereas a GOOD slider should be thrown out of the strike zone --- and if you have control of it, it can be used in any count. And strikes are a pitcher's best friend.
If it sounds like I hate the slider, well, I do ... to me it is an example of "the easy way out" for people looking for a "quick fix" or "instant gratification". The point of the slider is to make a batter swing and miss, and it should be used only by very advanced pitchers, and only very sparingly. However, because even a mediocre slider can be so lethal against poor hitters, pitchers and coaches tend to lean on it, and throw it too often --- which exacerbates its tendency to cause injury, especially to a young arm.
Making batters swing and miss is nice, but great pitchers are more efficient, and make batters HIT THEIR PITCH. The Holy grail of pitching is the three-pitch inning --- and that can't happen with strikeouts.