Baseball Basics: Pitching Variations
Throwing the baseball might not seem a complicated task but throwing it to some of the hardest hitters is easier said than done. It requires years of unrelenting hard work and dedication to perfect the throwing variations which are essential at the professional
stage.
The baseball might just be a round ball of 145 grams made of yarn and cork for an ordinary man but a specialist can produce magic from the leather covered ball. Numerous amounts of variations can be produced with the ball helped by wrist and finger actions
combined with seam positions.
However, the pitcher must also exercise precision along with variation and ensure that his pitches land within the “strike zone”. If the pitcher is attempting to swing the ball late, he should make sure that the batter gets the impression that the ball will
be safe and he at least attempts a hit at it.
All pitchers have the option to adapt one or both of the only two legal motions allowed while at the mound and are referred to as the “Wind-up” and the “stretch” motions. The Wind-up motion is the more effective method of pitching and allows the pitcher
to transfer extra force into his throw. However, this method has one disadvantage that it allows runners to steal bases easily as the pitcher cannot withdraw from the motion once he has started it.
The stretch motion, on the contrary, is the more contemporary style of pitching. It requires a quick action and allows the pitcher a chance to get the runner out as he has relatively less time to steal the base.
Whichever motion the pitcher adopts, there is no leniency in the strike zone and any throw outside the strike zone will be declared as a ball. Moreover, scuffing the ball is not allowed and if any of the umpires feel that the ball has been tampered with,
a new ball is brought into play.
While quality pitchers possess a wide range of variations, all pitchers have the basic fastball in their repertoire. The fastball is the easiest pitch to control and can top up to the 100 mph barrier. Two of the basic fastballs are the “four seam” fastball
and the “two seam” fastball. Both are delivered in a similar manner with the index and middle fingers on top of the ball while the thumb supporting the ball from underneath. The only difference is that the fingers are across the seam in the “four seam” ball
and along the seam in the “two seam” ball.
Another variation of the fastball is the cutter which is delivered by with extra pressure on the middle finger while applying side spin with wrist action. This delivery cuts towards the body of the left-handed batter (in case of a right-handed pitcher) and
is effective when the flow of runs has to be blocked.
The “split fingered fastball” and the “changeup” deliveries are the most commonly used pitches to lure the batter into attempting hits. These balls reach the batter later than as expected from the arm movement and thus if the batter fail to read the variation,
he might end up missing the throw.
The most overwhelming delivery is the curveball which is thrown with all fingers, including the thumb on top of the ball to add extra spin from top to bottom as the ball approaches the plate. The ball drops sharply as it reaches the plate and is one of the
hardest deliveries to perfect.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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