Opposite of Curveball Slang for Easy Pitch

Baseball Pitch Types

Pitching in baseball, especially at the professional level, requires mastery of various pitch grips and the ability to manipulate the strike zone in your favor. Naturally, this means there is a wide variety of different pitches thrown with the intention of striking batters out and shutting down the opposing offense. Read on to learn about the different types of pitches in baseball.

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What are the different types of pitches in baseball?

• Four-Seam Fastball
• Two-Seam Fastball
• Cutter
• Sinker
• Curveball
• Knuckle-Curve
• Forkball
• Sliders
• Splitters
• Changeup
• Knuckleball
• Eephus
• Screwball
• Palmball

Types of Fastballs

Fastballs are the most basic and the most common type of pitch that pitchers throw. As the name suggests, its main quality is speed, so it has a relatively straight path compared to other pitch types. Fastballs are usually the first pitch a pitcher throws to a batter in any at-bat. This helps the pitcher gauge the batter's reaction time as well as determine the strike zone for the batter (if the pitcher throws a straight fastball in what he thinks is the batter's strike zone but the umpire calls it a baseball, the pitcher will have to adjust for the rest of the at-bat). In Major League Baseball, fastballs nearly always reach velocities of 90 miles per hour or above. The speed of the pitch is measured by a device called a radar gun. After each pitch, the radar gun reading is usually displayed on screens around the stadium. Some pitchers will utilize different types of fastballs to trick the hitter. Different types of fastballs include:

• Four-Seam Fastball
• Two-Seam Fastball
• Cutter (Cut Fastball)
• Sinker (Sinking Fastball)

Four-Seam Fastball

The four-seam fastball is the most commonly thrown pitch in baseball. Nearly every pitcher has this pitch in their arsenal. While four-seam fastballs are usually the fastest pitch someone can throw, it also will break the least. Four-seamers are easy to command, making location and velocity its deadliest attributes. For example, if a pitcher needs to throw a strike and they are behind in the count, they will often resort to throwing a four-seamer. The hand placement for this pitch requires the pitcher to place two fingers perpendicular to the seams.

Two-Seam Fastball

A two-seam fastball in baseball is a type of fastball that is one of the common pitches in baseball. It varies slightly from the four-seam fastball in that it tends to have slightly lower velocity and more break. It follows a similar path as a four-seam fastball but with more downward movement. In order to throw this fastball, the pitcher must place his pointer finger and middle finger along the seams as opposed to intersecting them.

Cutter

A cutter in baseball is a type of pitch that looks similar to a fastball, but cuts (hence the name "cutter") in the opposite direction of the pitcher's throwing arm. Cutters can often be thrown at high speeds, with the best pitchers throwing cutters in excess of 95 MPH. This pitch has had a meteoric rise to prominence since the 1990's, with superstar pitchers like Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, and Kenley Jansen making a living off of the pitch.

Sinker

A sinker is another type of fastball that is known for its downward movement. It is sometimes slightly slower than a four-seam fastball, but has significant downward bite when it approaches the hitter. In many cases, pitchers use the sinker to induce ground balls, as the downward motion can cause the batter to swing over the ball. However, some pitchers can throw sinkers upwards of 95 MPH, as their natural fastball motion can result in a sinker.

Types Of Breaking Balls

A breaking ball in baseball, also known as breaking pitches, curves in a certain direction while in flight. They can have an arced path, travel toward the ground, or curve to the left or right.

Breaking pitches (more commonly known as breaking balls) are pitches that, unlike fastballs, "break" from a straight path through the air. Their purpose is to trick batters. For example, at first a pitch may seem like it has a straight path, and the batter might swing at it. Then, when it is too late for the batter, the ball breaks directions and the batter misses the baseball. Breaking balls are more difficult to hit than fastballs since their path is less predictable; however, they are also more prone to being balls since their path can cause them to miss the strike zone. They also tend to have lower velocities than fastballs. Breaking ball is also used as an umbrella term for more specific types of pitches.

There are few types of breaking pitches that we'll discuss:

• Curveball
• Knuckle Curve
• Forkball
• Slider
• Splitter

Curveball

Batters can recognize the type of pitch a pitcher is throwing by looking at the seams of the ball. Curveballs are a type of breaking ball that have a forward spin and typically break downward, which means they initially seem to have a straight path then suddenly dive towards the ground. However, some pitchers will add variants to this general principle to make the curveball move in the direction they desire. Curveballs are relatively slow, usually between 70-80 MPH in the Majors, but they have a high amount of movement compared to other pitch types.

Knuckle-Curve

A knuckle curve is a type of curveball that combines the break of a curveball and the unpredictable nature of a knuckleball. This pitch moves at a similar speed to a curveball, not quite as slow as a knuckleball, however it carries the same sporadic motion that a knuckleball features while dropping. This pitch has risen in popularity in recent years, with star pitchers like Gerrit Cole making it a mainstay in their repertoire. In the past, aces like Justin Verlander, Mike Mussina, and Jason Isringhausen have also dominated hitters with an unhittable knuckle curve.

Forkball

A forkball in baseball is a type of pitch that is similar to a curveball, but more extreme. Forkballs break downward, but their break is much more extreme and sudden than a typical curveball. They are a rare type of pitch due to the tiring and risky motion used to throw them. Throwing forkballs requires the pitcher to snap his wrist, which can be taxing and may cause injury, and contributes to why pitchers rarely (if ever) throw forkballs.

Slider

A slider in baseball is a type of pitch that has lateral (left/right) movement while also breaking downward. Sliders typically have higher velocity but less movement than a curveball. Because of this, sliders can be harder to read as they initially look like a fastball before diving out of the zone. Sliders are most effective when pitching to a player who is swinging from the same side of the plate as the pitcher's throwing arm. For example, a right-handed pitcher will likely throw a slider to a right-handed batter, as the ball will look like a strike before diving out of reach.

Backdoor breaking sliders operate in the opposite way. Their path is initially lateral, traveling away from the strike zone. The batter thinks it is a ball, and does not swing. Then, at the last second, the pitch curves in and travels through the corner of the strike zone, becoming a strike.

Splitter

A splitter in baseball is a type of breaking pitch that looks like a fastball, but is slightly slower (usually between 80-90 MPH) and breaks downward suddenly before reaching home plate. It is designed to deceive batters into swinging off-time.

The splitter is a much more common derivative of the forkball. However, a splitter's break is not as extreme or sudden as a forkball, making them easier to throw and less susceptible to causing injury.

Changeups

A changeup in baseball is a type of pitch thrown by the pitcher that is different in speed, often slower than the previous pitch but has the appearance and path of a fastball, deceiving the hitter and causing him to mistime their swing. Changeups can also break towards the pitcher's throwing arm, causing some last second movement to trick the hitter.

A pitch does not have to only change directions in order to deceive batters. Differing or slow velocities can also be used to make pitches harder to hit; these types of pitches are called off-speed pitches. Changeups are a common type of off-speed pitch. They look very similar to a fastball, in that they are thrown in a similar way and have a straight path, but are significantly slower than a fastball. While fastballs are usually 90 MPH or above, changeups are usually only 70-80 MPH.

Rare Pitch Types

There are some types of pitches that are thrown on extremely rare occasions in modern-day baseball. This may be due to the complexity of the pitch, the success of the pitch, or the strain it puts on a pitcher's arm. However, while these pitches are rare, they are sure to pop up in a game every once in a while by crafty pitchers. Some rare pitches in baseball include:

• Knuckleball
• Eephus
• Screwball
• Palmball

Knuckleballs

Knuckleballs are rare pitches that use both unpredictable speed and movement to challenge batters. Knuckleballs have minimal rotational spin, causing them to have erratic movement (since spin is what helps determine a ball's motion and direction). They often move remarkably slow, with most knuckleballs not topping 65 MPH. Not only does the knuckleball's erratic movement make it hard for batters to hit, but it is also hard for catchers to catch and umpires to call. In fact, knuckleballs are so difficult to catch that catchers will typically wear a larger glove when dealing with a pitcher who throws this type of pitch. Mastering the knuckleball is also difficult for pitchers and not very practical, which is why knuckleballs are so rare.

Eephus

The eephus is another type of pitch that is rarely thrown today. An eephus involves the pitcher throwing the ball in a high arcing path with very slow velocity. This type of pitch is meant to catch batters off-guard, as the path and speed of the pitch are extremely unusual.

However, the trajectory of the eephus can make it difficult to consistently throw for a strike, and a batter who is able to wait on it will likely find it easy to hit. Whenever a team is down by a lot and doesn't want to waste a bullpen arm, they will often bring position players in to pitch. In some cases, these position players will throw an eephus for most pitches as it is not strenuous on the arm.

Screwballs

A screwball in baseball is a type of pitch that moves in the opposite direction of a pitcher's typical curveball or slider. It is a very rare pitch, as it is extremely difficult to throw and is very taxing on the arm. The pitcher will snap their wrist so that their palm is facing away from their glove, causing a similar motion to a curveball but breaking in the opposite direction.

Palmball

A palmball in baseball is a type of pitch that resembles an off-speed pitch or changeup. The pitcher will grip the ball similar to a fastball, but will use their palm, thumb, and ring finger to squeeze the ball. This will cause the pitch to travel with the same trajectory as a fastball but with much less speed. Similar to a changeup, this will usually cause the batter to swing out in front of the ball.

Pitch Placement

Inside Pitch

Inside pitches are thrown close to the batter, but ideally as a strike. Typically, these pitchers are either breaking balls that appear to be too far inside before ultimately becoming a strike or fastballs high and tight to the batter meant to jam them and produce weak contact. Inside pitchers make it more difficult for a batter to swing and get the bat around, meaning they will often produce weak contact if placed properly. Pitchers can also throw a ball inside to brush the batter back off the plate and intimidate them, making it easier for them to throw strikes outside afterwards.

Outside Pitch

Outside pitches can often prove to be a pitcher's best friend, especially when thrown low in the strike zone. These pitches are thrown on the half of the plate opposite of the hitter. Outside pitchers are typically pinpoint fastballs meant to paint the edge of the strike zone or knee-buckling breaking balls that look like they're going to cross over the plate before diving away from the hitter. In many cases, these pitches are used as "wipeout" pitches, which are meant to look like a strike before diving out of the batter's reach, resulting in a strikeout.

High Pitch

High pitches can prove to be an asset or a massive mistake for a pitcher, depending on their pitch choice and placement. High pitchers are most commonly fastballs, with the intention of using their high velocity to get the hitter to swing at a pitch up and out of the zone. However, particularly crafty pitchers will sometimes throw breaking balls that appear to be high and out of the zone, only for them to drop into the upper portion of the zone at the last second for a strike. In some instances, if a pitcher leaves an off-speed pitch or breaking ball up in the zone, hitters may be able to make solid contact with it.

Low Pitch

Low pitchers are some of the most common pitch placement in baseball, in large part due to the low placement making it difficult for hitters to get under the ball and drive it to the outfield or, even worse, over the outfield fence. Breaking pitches are especially lethal when thrown low in the zone, as they create the illusion of being a strike before diving into the dirt as they cross home plate. Many pitchers use this placement as a go to in potential double play scenarios and when they have a two-strike count on the batter. Most sinkerballers or pitchers who pitch with the goal of inducing ground balls will mainly utilize low pitches.

FAQ

What is the difference between a curveball and a slider?

Curveballs and sliders are two of the most similar pitches in baseball. In general, a curveball will run a little slower and have more vertical movement than a slider. Sliders are more so known for appearing as a strike and then "sliding" out of the zone with a mixture of horizontal and vertical movement. However, variations of each type of pitch exist with some curveballs moving more horizontally and some sliders moving more downwards. Some pitchers can even use a mixture between the two pitches which is referred to as a "slurve."

What is a breaking ball in baseball?

Breaking balls are types of pitches that are meant to deceive the batter about where the ball will end up. Sliders and curveballs are two of the most common types of breaking balls. There are a few different ways a breaking ball can be utilized. Breaking balls thrown breaking away from the hitter on the outside of the plate will appear as a strike before diving out of reach. Pitches thrown breaking towards the hitter on the inside of the plate will cause the batter to swing over the ball.

What is a changeup in baseball?

In baseball, a changeup is a type of off-speed pitch designed to look like a fastball. A changeup will follow a relatively straight path but will be thrown much slower in order to cause the batter to mistime their swing. Changeups will usually slightly break towards the pitcher's throwing side, making it an effective pitch against batters of the opposite handedness.

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Source: https://www.rookieroad.com/baseball/pitch-types/

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