GameDay How to Guide: Pitching
September 19th, 2007
by Cameron Bedard
Before I release information about how to throw four common pitches among all major league pitchers, here is some background information about pitching. Pitching has grown to become one of the most important positions on the baseball field. The starting pitchers of the old days who threw two ends of a doubleheader have now been relieved by the MRP, or Middle Relief Pitchers, followed by the infamous lights out closing pitcher. They are all used for different reasons, therefore they throw different types of pitches. I am only going to tell you about the four most common pitches but pitches include: fastball, curveball, changeup, knuckle ball, slider, split-finger, and many other variations and combinations of pitches. Being a starting pitcher on the varsity baseball team here at Oxford Academy, I throw a total of five pitches: four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, curveball, knuckle curveball, and a changeup. I have personally had success with every one of these pitches and have to say that each one is improving every time I throw it. Now, before I continue with the lessons, I must ask that you have prior experience in the game of baseball and know the fundamentals of throwing and catching. Let's see the different grips and learn how to throw the pitches.
Four-Seam Fastball
The ball has two horseshoe shaped stitches going across it. The idea is to place your index finger and middle finger across the horseshoe. Then, you can spin the ball from there to count your "four seams." This is a normally straight pitch depending on how you throw it. Major League Pitchers throw their fastball anywhere from 80-103 miles per hour (MPH). It is simple, have a loose grip across the horseshoe, and let it rip. Accuracy, along with velocity comes with much practice and working out.
Two-Seam Fastball
This pitch is very similar to that of a four-seam fastball. Instead, grip the ball inside the horseshoe on the left side as shown in the picture. The idea for this pitch is to make the batter think a four-seam fastball is on its way. What they do not know is that you gripped the ball differently to add a different rotation on the ball. A two-seam fastball, if thrown correctly will dip down and to the right if you are a right handed pitcher, and to the left and down as a left handed pitcher. It is a sneaky pitch if perfected. One very well known two seam fastball comes from the future hall of famer, Greg Maddux. As he has progressed in his career and his age has kept him from pumping a mid 90's fastball like he used to, he has adopted the two-seam fastball that he throws a mean 83-85 MPH with filthy movement.
Changeup
Many coaches these days say that the changeup is one of the most effective pitches in baseball, and it is. If this pitch is perfected, it is untouchable. Batters are taught to read the spin of the ball out of the pitchers hand to know what pitch is coming so they can adjust to it. With the changeup, if thrown correctly, the spin is the same as a four-seam fastball, but the speed is much slower. There are a few variations on how to grip a changeup but this is how I use it. You use the same seams that you would use on a two-seam fastball but instead of using your index and middle finger, you grip the baseball using your middle and ring finger. The idea of this pitch is to throw it exactly how you would a fastball, and instead of coming out of the hand at high 80's to mid 90's, your changeup is going to flutter up to the plate at 73-78 MPH. One major leaguer that has perfected this pitch is the Cy Young winner, Johan Santana. He uses this pitch as much, if not more than his fastball. Because of its fastball spin, even big league hitters have a hard time picking this pitch up which contributes to the success of Santana.
Curveball
Lastly, the sometimes nastiest pitch in baseball. Although this pitch is said to put too much stress on the elbow and shoulder, throwing it correctly can help to relieve that stress and throw the filthiest pitch in the game. How you grip it is shown in the picture. The idea is to place your middle finger along the seam of the horseshoe of the ball. With the curveball, you want to throw it as if you were about to throw a football and when you release the front spin of the ball out of your hand is going to make the ball drop downwards. Although this pitch may be a tad easier to pick up out of the pitchers hand, if it is perfected and placed, the curveball is almost impossible to hit. There is so much movement on the ball, it is difficult to predict where it will fall which will make it hard for the hitter to hit it. One pitcher who has become very successful with his curveball is Erik Bedard of the Baltimore Orioles. He throws two pitches, a fastball and a curveball. Most pitchers throw three or four pitches, but because his curveball and fastball are so affective, all he needs is two. This is one of the most enjoyed pitches of baseball.
