Pitch Descriptions

[TwentySeven]

Well, my friend was asking me about what each pitch does, and I was looking for some thread. Couldn't find it, so I figured I'll make one that people could use for general reference. If you want to help by adding some info about the pitches, I'm cool with that.

This isn't complete; I am just starting this...

Four Seam Fastball

Also Called: Heater, fastball, smoke, straight fastball, rising fastball

What It Does: The four seam fastball is the most basic and fundamental pitch - almost every pitcher in baseball throws one. Generally this pitch is thrown with velocity in mind - thus, there is little movement and lots of speed if thrown correctly.

Movement: The four-seam fastball has very little movement.

Average Speed: The speed of a four seamer varies a lot based on how hard the pitcher throws. However, generally the speed varies between 87 and 93 MPH.

Best four-seam fastballs: A. J. Burnett, Joel Zumaya, Kyle Farnsworth, Bobby Jenks, Justin Verlander

Two Seam Fastball

Also Called: Often referred to in similar fashion to a four-seamer, but they are in fact two different pitches. Often referred to as a moving fastball

What It Does: The two-seam fastball is released in a similar fashion to the four-seamer, but a slight difference in the rotation of the hand causes the ball to rotate in an off-center fashion. The ball has a little sink on it because of this motion, but is not considered a breaking pitch. In addition, the two-seam often can have movement similar to that of a reverse slider. The two-seamer is thrown with velocity intended. Generally, controlling this pitch can be slightly more challenging then controlling a four-seamer because of the added movement.

Movement: That of a reverse slider – from a righty pitcher, in on righties and away from lefties, from a lefty pitcher, in on lefties and away from righties. Often also has downward sink.

Average Speed: The two seamer is thrown with velocity and as such the average speed is similar to that of a four-seamer. However, there is slight velocity drop.

Best two-seam fastballs: Felix Hernandez, Greg Maddux

Changeup

Also Called: Change, slowball, change-of-pace, straight change

What It Does: The changeup is a pitch meant to keep the batter on their guard. It is thrown similar to the fastball, from a similar arm angle, but comes in at much slower speeds to throw off the batter's timing. Where the fastball is thrown with a concentrated force, the changeup has the force spread across the hand allowing the ball to be thrown at much slower speeds.

Movement: Generally, very little movement.

Average Speed: The speed of a changeup is also dependent on the fastball speed, but is generally thrown 5-10 MPH slower then the fastball.

Best changeups: Jamie Moyer, Tom Glavine, Trevor Hoffman

Circle Changeup

Also Called: Change, slowball, change-of-pace

What It Does: The circle-changeup is a common variation of the changeup. When thrown, the thumb and forefingers create a circle on the ball. When thrown this way, it adds extra movement similiar to a combination of a screwball and changeup.

Movement: Like the changeup, there is little movement, but when thrown it falls down and away on a hitter of the opposite hand - Thrown by a righty it falls down and away on a lefty and thrown by a lefty, down and away on a righty

Average Speed: Same as regular changeup

Best circle changeups: Johan Santana, Jason Schmidt, Pedro Martinez

Curveball

Also Called: Hook, breaking pitch, drop, Uncle Charlie, drop curve, over-hand-drop, 12-to-6 curve, drop ball

What It Does: The curveball has a unique delivery that causes the ball to have large drop. Generally, the pitch has a breaking movement based on the arm slot the pitcher throws the curve at. The most common curve is the 12-6 curve. The curveball is a pitch designed to cause the batter to swing and miss at a ball, often out of the zone.

Movement: The curveball gains sideways movement based on the arm slot it is thrown at; however, when thrown directly overhand it results in a 12-to-6 drop, and for every slot sideways, it changes to reflect the slot.

Average Speed: This pitch is often even slower then the changeup, however, in general it is thrown at a similar speed to the change. 10-15 MPH slower then fastball.

Best curveballs: Barry Zito, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, David Wells

**It is not recommended to teach children under the age of 15 to throw the curveball as it can cause serious arm problems. It is recommended that the curveball only be taught by an experienced pitching coach to reduce risk of injury.

Slider

Also Called: Slide ball, slide piece

What It Does: The slider is one of the faster pitches.. It is thrown on a tight spin that is similar to that of a fastball, with the added addition of a late break. When the slider is thrown by a right-handed pitcher, the pitch breaks 9-3, in on lefties and away from righties. When thrown by a southpaw, it breaks 3-9, in on righties and away from lefties.

Movement: The slider, when thrown by a righty, breaks in on lefties and away from righties, 9-to-3; When thrown by a lefty, it breaks in on righties and away from lefties, 3-to-9

Average Speed: Around 5 MPH slower then a fastball.

Best slider: Pedro Martinez, Francisco Liriano, Johan Santana, Jeremy Bonderman, Jake Peavy

Split-Finger Fastball

Also Called: Splitter, dry splitter, dry spitter

What It Does: The splitter has tight rotation and good velocity, but has a downward break at the last moments before it reaches the plate, causing batters to swing and miss at a height where the splitter had been only moments before.

Movement: Downward, sharp break

Average Speed: 3-6 MPH below a four-seamer

Best splitters: J. J. Putz, Roger Clemens, Tim Hudson, Curt Schilling, Jose Contreras, Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden

Knuckleball

Also Called: Knuckler, dancer, fluttering ball, dry spitter

What It Does: The knuckleball is a relatively rarely thrown pitch that is considered to be difficult to learn or throw accurately. Ideally thrown, the ball has little speed and gets movement from the movement of the air. Pitchers with knuckleballs generally throw knuckleballs exclusively and are referred to as "knucklers" or some variety of the word. The knuckle ball has so much random movement and is so difficult to time that batters have trouble hitting it; however, it is quite difficult to throw. In addition, because the knuckle ball has such random movement, it is difficult for catchers to receive the ball and passed balls are common. Because of this, knucklers generally get their own private catchers, who are specialists for catching the knuckleball.

Movement: Any movement is possible based on the wind.

Average Speed: 50-70 MPH

Best knuckleball: Tim Wakefield

Cut Fastball

Also Called: Cutter, sailer

What It Does: The cut fastball can be one of the deadliest pitches if thrown well. It is similar to a slider except that it has more speed, but less movement the whole way.

Movement: Similar to a slider – thrown by a righty, it moves in on lefties and away from righties, 9-to-3; thrown by a lefty it goes in on righties and away from lefties, 3-to-9

Average Speed: The speed of a cutter is generally very close to that of a fastball, though perhaps a few MPH less. 2-7 MPH lower then fastball speed

Best cutter: Mariano Rivera, Mark Buerhle, Johan Santana

Sinker

Also Called: Sinking fastball, breaking fastball, moving fastball

What It Does: The sinker is actually a variation of the two-seam fastball. The ball is thrown with a slightly different grip that causes more sinking movement and less rotation

Movement: Downward, with some movement of a two-seam fastball

Average Speed: Like the two-seam fastball, the sinker is thrown at a similiar velocity to the four-seam fastball.

Best two-seam fastballs: Chien-Ming Wang, Roy Halladay, Jake Westbrook

Knuckle Curve

Also Called: Spike curve

What It Does: The knuckle curve is very similar to a regular curve; it is thrown with a slightly different grip that allows the pitcher to have more movement. The knuckle curve is basically identical to a regular curve.

Movement: See curveball

Average Speed: See curveball

Best knuckle curve: Cliff Lee, Mike Mussina

**It is not recommended to teach children under the age of 15 to throw the curveball as it can cause serious arm problems. It is recommended that the curveball only be taught by an experienced pitching coach to reduce risk of injury.

Slurve (combination of slider and curveball)

Also Called: Fast curve, short curve

What It Does: The slurve is thrown as a combination of a slider and a curveball. It generally does not have either the downward break of the curve or the sideways break of the slider, but a combination of the two.

Movement: A combination of a slider and curve, it has some mix of sideways break similar to a slider and the downward break of a curve.

Average Speed: A combination of a slider and a curve, 5-10 MPH slower then the fastball

Best slurves: Dontrelle Willis, Kerry Wood, Derrick Turnbow

**Unlike the knuckleball and regular curveball, this pitch can be thrown by younger pitchers - it is much safer to learn. However, it is always recommended that a trained pitching instructor teaches pitchers proper throwing mechanics.

Palmball

Also Called: Wiggle ball, slipball

What It Does: A palmball is similar to a changeup, thrown with a similar grip and arm slot to a fastball. The palmball, like the changeup, is meant to deceive the hitter into swinging early at what looks like a faster ball then the palmball.

Movement: Very little movement

Average Speed: As changeup (More information needed!)

Best Palmballs: Trevor Hoffman, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, Eddie Guardado, Tony Fiore

Screwball

Also Called: Info needed!

What It Does: The screwball is a rare pitch that has a unique movement breaking opposite that of a curveball. Thrown by a right handed pitcher, it breaks down and in right to left from the point of view of a batter. From a southpaw, it breaks down and in left to right on the batter. Because of the unique movement, the screwball is used by righties against left handed batters and by lefties against righty batters. Because the screwball can be demanding on a pitchers elbow, it is relatively rare; however, some pitchers who throw the screwball believe that the screwball can actually protect the elbow from injury.

Movement: Down and in on the batter. Thrown by a righty, it breaks in on a lefty, and thrown by a righty it breaks in on a lefty.

Average Speed: Around the same speed, possibly slower then a curveball.

Best screwballs: As it is a rare pitch, few pitchers throw it. The last pitcher known to have thrown a screwball was Jim Mecir.

Forkball

Also Called: Poor man's knuckleball, dry spitter

What It Does: The forkball is similar to a splitter, though perhaps a bit slower in terms of speed. The forkball is held between the first two fingers of the hand and thrown hard by snapping the wrist. In terms of movement, a forkball is similar to a splitter, except for the ball dives down later then the splitter does. In addition, the forkball has a "tumble down" movement as it drops which is similar to the movement on a knuckleball. The forkball can be used to deceive the batter into thinking they are being thrown a fastball when it is in fact a forkball.

Movement: Similar to a splitter, except that the ball dives down later then the splitter and has a “tumble down†movement comparable to that of a knuckleball.

Average Speed: Between a splitter and a change: 4-8 MPH below the fastball.

Best Forkballs: Jose Contreras, Hideo Nomo, more info needed!

Gyroball

Also Called: Gyro (More info needed!)

What It Does: The gyroball is a modern pitch invented in a computer laboratory in Japan to create a pitch with movement that would not strain the arm. The gyroball is similar to a sinker, and had it been invented in America, would likely be referred to as such. The pitch is thrown such that the pitcher, rather then bringing his arm into his body during the movement, moves away from their body, towards third base (for a right handed pitcher). This delivery creates a unique rotation similar to the spiral on a well thrown football. Part of what makes the gyroball so challenging to hit is that when thrown properly the seams of the ball are hidden from the batter, and batters often use the seams of a ball to judge the ball's distance from the plate.

Movement: When thrown by a right handed pitcher, the gyroball moves towards lefties and away from righties, and when thrown by a lefty, the reverse occurs. Because the gyroball has bullet-like spinning movement, it can make experienced hitters swing away.

Average Speed: Between a changeup and slider, but closer to a slider.

Best Gyroballs: No major league pitcher has been confirmed to have thrown the gyroball, although Daisuke Matsuzaka has been rumored to throw it. Supposedly, some Japanese pitchers also throw it.

Eephus Pitch

Also Called: Junk ball, floater, hummer, bloop curve, blooper, bugs bunny curve, space ball

What It Does: Absolutely nothing! The Eephus is a "trick pitch" intended to throw batters off guard. The Eephus is thrown over handed with little movement or speed on it, and has an unusually large arc.

Movement: None

Average Speed: Anywhere from 40 to 60 MPH, depending on how hard it is thrown

Best Eephus: Realistically, anyone could throw a good Eephus; however, pitchers famous for throwing it in games include Casey Fossum, Mark Buerhle, and Jose Contreras.

Shuuto

Also Called: More information needed!

What It Does: A shuuto is a similiar pitch to a two-seam fastball. Unlike the two-seam fastball, it is thrown slower, and does not have any downward break - all the movement is lateral.

Movement: Moves 3-9 thrown by a righty and 9-3 thrown by a lefty.

Average Speed: Slower then two-seam

Best shuuto: Greg Maddux - More common in Japan

Illegal Pitches

Some pitches are illegal because they use illegal substances. Most of these pitches are not thrown often because they are illegal. Generally, these pitches involve putting some material on the ball such as dirt or spit so that the ball gains extra movement and is harder to pitch. Materials that are sometimes put on the ball to change the movement can include, but are not limited to: petroleum, water, spit, and dirt.

Pitching Coaches

Please post if you know any good pitching coaches or services to locate pitching coaches

Pitching Websites

Please post if you know any good websites related to pitching

[Myztery]

Good idea...just as a reference...

[fred13]

Thanks TwentySeven, I like this thread, I's sure it will help a lot of people.

[abc006]

Bill James and Rob Neyer's "Guide to Pitchers" is an excellent source for this kind of stuff. It has lots of useful nicknames, I'll see what I can find...

[abc006]

David Wells should be included in the best curveballs. Also note that the 2-seamer's movement is very similar to a slider.

[Immac]

you forgot Gyroball.

[TwentySeven]

you forgot Gyroball.

Its on the list of things I need more info about. Nobody really throws it, so we don't really know a lot about it. When people give me info about it, I will add it.

[RaptorQuiz]

What this guide is missing:

-More info on who throws each pitch; especially 2-seam and knuckleball

-Other pitches including: Sinker, palmball, gyroball, screwball

I found the following (wiki):

In baseball, the palmball pitch is a type of changeup. It requires placing the baseball tightly in the palm and then throwing it as if throwing a fastball. This takes some of the velocity off the pitch, intending to make the batter swing before the ball reaches the plate.

Notable pitchers who have been known to throw the palmball include Orlando Hernandez of the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles reliever Tony Fiore, infamous "changeup" pitcher Trevor Hoffman[1], and 1990s reliever Joe Boever.

In earlier decades, the palmball was thrown by Ewell Blackwell, 1950 Cy Young Award Winner Jim Konstanty, Dave Giusti, Jim Palmer, and Satchel Paige.

A screwball is a baseball pitch that is thrown so as to break in the opposite direction of a curveball. Thrown by a right-handed pitcher, a screwball breaks from left to right from the point of view of the pitcher; the pitch therefore moves down and in on a right-handed batter and down and away from a left-handed batter. Thrown by a left-handed pitcher, a screwball breaks from right to left, moving down and in on a left-handed batter and down and away from a right-handed batter.

Due to this left to right movement of the ball when thrown by a right-handed pitcher, a screwball is often used by right-handed pitchers against left-handed batters in the same way that a slider is used by right-handed pitchers against right-handed batters.

The screwball has become relatively rare because some people believe that it is both difficult to master and demanding on the arm (since it requires that the forearm be powerfully pronated as the ball is released). However, pitchers like Cy Young Award winner Mike Marshall, who has a Ph.D. in kinesiology, believe that throwing the screwball, and powerfully pronating the forearm, actually protects the arm by preventing the bones of the elbow from slamming together.

The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard without snapping the wrist. The forkball differs from the split-fingered fastball, however, in that the ball is jammed deeper between the first two fingers and that the ball starts to dive late comparing to that of splitter.

When released, the forkball, a "poor man's knuckleball" has little spin, causing it to "tumble" down through the strike zone. Though a forkball generally is slower than a split-finger fastball, it can be thrown as hard as 90 mph (145 km/h), so it can (like the splitter) look like a fastball until it breaks near the plate.

This is as opposed to the splitter, which "drops off the table" (that is, it suddenly moves down, towards the batter's knees) without any of the knuckle-like tumbling action of the slower, less-spin forkball.

The forkball is favored by several Japanese pitchers. Hideo Nomo features a particularly good forkball in his repertoire. Jose Contreras is another well known forkballer.

Invented by Elroy Face of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The gyroball is the name given to a breaking baseball pitch purported to be used by players in Japan, although if it were invented in the United States it would probably be called a sinker. The pitch was developed by two Japanese scientists, Ryutaro Himeno and Kazushi Tezuka, who used computer simulations to create a new style of delivery intended to reduce stress on the pitcher. They published their work in a book, currently available only in Japan, whose title is roughly translated as, "The Secret of the Miracle Pitch". According to Himeno and Tezuka, a gyroball is thrown so that, at the point of release, instead of having the pitcher's arm move inwards towards the body (the standard method used in the United States), the pitcher rotates his arm so that it moves away from his body, towards 3rd base (for a right-handed pitcher). The unusual method of delivery creates a bullet-like spin on the ball, like a bicycle tire spins when facing the spokes or a perfectly thrown football. When thrown by a right hander, the pitch moves sharply down and away from right handed batters and towards left handed batters. In baseball, most pitches are thrown with backspin, like the fastball, or with a more forward spinning motion, like the curveball and the slider. Batters use the arm speed of the pitcher and the spin on a baseball, highlighted by the seams, to judge the speed of the ball. The gyroball is thrown with the arm speed of a fastball but goes much slower, and since it has a bullet-like spinning motion, on occasion (perhaps when the seams are hidden from view of the batter) it will make experienced batters swing wildly ahead or behind the ball.

The gyroball pitch is a source of considerable controversy; despite Himeno and Tezuka's simulations, it is not clear whether the pitch is actually usable at the professional level, or even whether such a distinctive pitch exists.[1] Will Carroll, a writer for Baseball Prospectus, convinced the high school pitcher Joey Niezer to learn the pitch, and reported that he'd "seen Joey's [gyroball] break 3 feet. It takes a left turn and heads to the dugout." In an interview, Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Boston Red Sox said that he is trying to learn how to throw the gyroball, and has "done it in a game [in Japan]. But not too much. Sometimes accidentally." Some viewers report that video clips purportedly of Matsuzaka's gyroball actually show a slider [2].

The gyroball is also often confused with a completely different Japanese pitch called the shuuto, due to an error in a well-known article by baseball writer Will Carroll [3]. Although Carroll later corrected himself, the confusion still persists.

[ronmexico]

Also note that the 2-seamer's movement is very similar to a slider.

From what I understood, the movement of the slider would be the opposite of the slider, mine tails back as a result of how it moves against the air currents.

Just a note from the guide, for the 2-seamer it's the difference in the grip that causes the difference in rotation which makes it move, figured you might wanna include that.

Great idea btw for this guide.

[tebjr]

Curveball

Nicknames: Hook, breaking pitch, drop

Another is Old Uncle Charlie.

[tebjr]

From what I understood, the movement of the slider would be the opposite of the slider, mine tails back as a result of how it moves against the air currents.

HUH???

Just kidding Ron.

[ronmexico]

HUH???

Just kidding Ron.

LOL, my bad, the movement of the slider would be the opposite of a 2 seamer.

[GEOLINK]

Should put Ching-Ming Wang for best Splitter

[TwentySeven]

I found the following (wiki):

Thanks, I'll add it when I get back from dinner - going out to Chinese =D

Thanks to everyone else too, I added some of it and when I get back I'll add it too.

[RaptorQuiz]

Oh my I forgot one!

lol.

In baseball, an Eephus pitch is a “junk pitch†which “has nothing on it.†The pitch has very little velocity and catches the hitter off-guard. Its invention is attributed to Rip Sewell of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1930s. Sewell had been shot in the right foot—some sources say in a hunting accident—and had to come up with a delivery that didn’t rely on pivoting the foot. According to Pirates manager Frankie Frisch, the pitch was named by outfielder Maurice Van Robays. When asked what it meant, van Robays replied “Eephus ain’t nothin’.â€

The Eephus pitch is thrown overhand like most pitches, but is characterized by an unusual high arcing trajectory and corresponding slow velocity, bearing more resemblance to a slow-pitch softball delivery than to a traditional baseball pitch. It is considered a trick pitch because, in comparison to normal baseball pitches (which run from 70 to 100 miles per hour), an Eephus pitch appears to move in slow motion. Hitters typically get very anxious, swing wildly, and ground out.

After appearing in over 300 major league games, Rip Sewell only gave up one career home run off the Eephus, to Ted Williams in the 1946 All-Star Game. Williams challenged Sewell to throw the Eephus. Sewell obliged, and Williams missed the pitch. However, Sewell then announced that he was going to throw the pitch again, and Williams clobbered it for a home run. Years later, however, Williams admitted that he had been running towards the pitcher’s mound as he hit the ball, and photographs reveal that he was in fact a few feet in front of the batter’s box when he made contact (which would have resulted in an out if it was spotted by the umpire).

Pitchers known to have employed the Eephus pitch include: Dave LaRoche (whose pitch was known as LaLob), Bob Tewksbury, Kazuhito Tadano, and Orlando Hernandez. Left-hander Bill Lee, known as “The Space Man,†threw a variant of it he called the Space Ball, or, occasionally, the Leephus. In Game 7 of the 1975 World Series, Lee twice retired future Hall of Famer Tony Perez of the Cincinnati Reds with the pitch. The third time Perez came up, however, Lee tried it again, only to have Perez hit a homer that set the stage for a Reds come from behind win of the game and the World Series. There were reports that Perez hit the ball so hard that the Boston outfielders didn’t even bother turning their heads to watch it fly. After the game, the ever-philosophical Lee quipped, “Live by the slow curve, die by the slow curve.â€

Steve Hamilton of the New York Yankees was known for throwing the folly floater. He also developed a pitch called the hesitation hummer. This pitch started with the classic slow delivery of the “folly floater†but then would be “hummed†in as a fastball. The “hesitation hummer†worked with the “folly floater,†and Hamilton had modest success therewith. Fans at Yankee Stadium, during the mid to late 1960s, loved to see Hamilton work these novel pitches in his relief appearances. One of Hamilton's most famous moments involving the "Folly Floater" occurred during a June 24, 1970 game against the Cleveland Indians. Hamilton threw the pitch to Tony Horton, who fouled it out of play behind home plate. Horton asked for another "Folly Floater," and Hamilton again threw one, and again Horton popped it into foul territory behind home plate—this time into Thurman Munson's mitt. Embarrassed, Horton crawled back into the Indians' dugout.

During a 5-hit performance by Ichiro Suzuki versus the Chicago White Sox on September 4th, 2004, Mark Buehrle, who has struggled facing Ichiro throughout his career, threw up an Eephus pitch during Suzuki's 4th at-bat, catching him off guard and injecting a little humor into the game for all those watching. Buehrle later claimed that he'd tried every pitch in his repertoire against Suzuki and had resorted to making up new pitches in his futile attempts to get him out.

Casey Fossum of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays now throws a form of the Eephus that is known to dip below 50 miles per hour. It has been dubbed the Fossum Flip.

Other nicknames for the Eephus pitch include the Bloop Curve, and Bugs Bunny Curve.

[abc006]

Another name for the eephus pitch is a "Blooper" or "Floater", however, it can also be classified as a pitch seperate to an eephus. Orlando Hernandez throws a blooper:

In recent years only Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez has shown off a version of the blooper. He used the pitch, thrown at approxamitely fifty miles per hour and rarely for a strike, a few times per game in 2002...

A Change is also known as a "slow ball" or "Change of Pace". I think you should probably take out that it's called a breaking pitch, in my opinion. Also, maybe you should create a separate entry for the circle change. (Also known as the "circle change-up".) Pedro Martinez, Felix Hernandez (i'm pretty sure), and possibly Moyer throws it.

The Overhand Curve is also known as the "Drop Curve", "Over hand drop", "12-to-6 curve" and "Drop Ball". This is the type of curve that David Wells and Barry Zito (?) throw.

The "Palm Ball", also known as the "Wiggle Ball". It's a variety of the change-up, with slightly more movement as to suggest an overhand "curve-up". Eddie Guardado is the only well-known current MLB pitcher who throws it.

Roger Clemens, Mariano Rivera, and Billy Wagner should be nominated to be on the fastball list, particularly Clemens, as Bill James ranks Clemens having the fourth-best starting pitcher's fastball ever.

A Cut-Fastball can also be known as a "Sailer".

A Slurve, according to some sources, is sometimes called a "Fast Curve" and a "Short Curve", though that's in question. Kerry wood throws (or threw) a very good slurve.

A slider is also known as a "Slide Ball" or "Slide Piece".

I think you should take out in the two-seamer's nicknames that it's the same as a four-seamer, because it's not - now that I've looked it up, it's sort of a combination of a straight fastball, a sinking fastball, and a slider, with maybe a little cutter mixed in. Yeah, I'm confused too.

[D-Unit]

Should put Ching-Ming Wang for best Splitter

Too bad he doesn't throw one.

[TwentySeven]

I didn't put Roger Clemens as fastball for example because his fastball now hits maybe 95, 96, which is still good, but its not great. I left him out because age means his fastball isn't anywhere near the other "good" fastballs.

[TwentySeven]

A Change is also known as a "slow ball" or "Change of Pace". I think you should probably take out that it's called a breaking pitch, in my opinion. Also, maybe you should create a separate entry for the circle change. (Also known as the "circle change-up".) Pedro Martinez, Felix Hernandez (i'm pretty sure), and possibly Moyer throws it.

If you can get me some more information as to how a circle change differs from the regular change, I will include it. From what I have seen it is just thrown with a slightly different grip that gives it a slightly different movement, the rest is the same.

[abc006]

If you can get me some more information as to how a circle change differs from the regular change, I will include it. From what I have seen it is just thrown with a slightly different grip that gives it a slightly different movement, the rest is the same.

It's not very different, but it's different enough and used enough to probably be classified as a separate pitch, and therefore probably a separate entry.

[sjbushido]

For the "Best Pitcher to throw a certain pitch" does it have to be like Modern day pitchers?

I think Rob Nen = one of the game's best sliders

[TwentySeven]

For the "Best Pitcher to throw a certain pitch" does it have to be like Modern day pitchers?

I think Rob Nen = one of the game's best sliders

Yeah, I decided to restrict it to modern pitchers only.

[tommywombat]

shuuto is a two-seam fastball like pitch. it is generally slower and doesn't have the downward break like the screwball. it basically just moves laterally. 3-9 if thrown by a righty. 9-3 by a lefty. Although it is more common in Japan, some people say the Greg Maddux throws this every once in awhile. Also known as shootball. Could probably go under the two-seam fastball category.

circle change. the way you hold this tends to add a screwball like motion to the ball. therefore if a lefty throws it to a righty hitter it will fall down and away.

changup also known as straight change.

knuckle curve is also known as a spike curve although that name is rarely used. it gets the name because one or more fingers is bent like a knuckle ball on the ball.

slider can also be called a nickel curve. other good slider throwers are jeremy bonderman and jake peavy.

as far as i know jim mecir was the last one to use the screwball, he retired in 2005. the screwball is generally thrown around the same speed if not slower than the curveball.

the splitter is also known as a dry-spitter, rich harden has a great one and his teammates call it the spluckle and the ghost pitch.

palmball. can arguebly be called the slipball. tony fiore of the orioles is also known for his palmball.

derrick turnbow is a good slurve thrower too. based on my research slurves can be safe for younger arms.

a sinker is basically a variation of a two-seamer. just depending on how you hold the grip.

eephus can also be called the space ball...there is already enough nicknames but oh well.

one thing that makes the gyroball so difficult to hit is hitters tend to use the seams to judge the speed, the gyroball if thrown correctly hides the seams do the bulletlike spin. it goes much slower than a fastball, in the range of a changeup to slider, but closer to a slider. hope that helps.

you may want to note that pitchers try to use illegal tactics to give themselves the edge, just as hitters do.

scuffball. the pitcher scuffs the ball or tries to cut the ball a little bit to give it a little bit more movement. as far as i know this is illegal, the only legal scuffed balls i know of are the ones that are hit in play and get scuffed that way.

the famous and banned spitball. it is an illegal pitch, but pitchers get away with it often. depending on your view of kenny rogers substance on his hand, he could've thrown a spitball. using spit, petroleum jelly, or any other substance to alter the balls movement. also known as the mudball, emery ball, shineball, and of course spitter.

hope this helps. this is a good idea.

[TwentySeven]

hope this helps. this is a good idea.

Thanks, I added your info...

I added two sections - to help fill those out please post if you know any pitching coaches or services to find pitching coaches. Also, if you know any good websites about pitching please post them... And of course, if you have info on any of the other pitches, feel free to post them.

Can we get this stickied?

[Gordo]

Isn't the screwball aka "the screwgie"?