Here's the Pitch

Here's the pitch...

Ripken Baseball

You're a pitcher, which means you have lots of options available to you. What pitches should you develop? And what grips should you use on each pitch? Cal Ripken, Sr. has some sage advice for you.

Fastball: There are three different grips used for the fastball: across the big seams, across the little seams or with the little seams. Like outfielders, infielders and catchers, most pitchers use the grip across the big seams to keep the ball on a straighter line. As a result, they have better control for strikes. Hard throwing pitchers, especially, use this type of grip to get better backspin and allow the fast ball to hop or rise. Gripping the ball across the little seams can make the fastball sink or dart or run in or away from the hitter. Using the grip with the fingers in between or with the little seams allows the fast ball to have movement or "boring-type action" to the hitter. This grip also can be used to sink the fast ball or make it run away from the hitter. Understaning these different ways to grip the fast ball is not the complete answer, though, as we have to keep in mind that we want to throw strikes... so the grip that allows you to more easily throw strikes takes precedence over the movement of the ball each grip can produce. Also, change of speed is sometimes (or usually) more important than movement of the ball. We not only use a change-up for the mixture of speed but also should throw the fast ball at different speeds.

...there are different ways to throw or grip the curve.

Curve ball: As with the fastball, there are different ways to throw or grip the curve. Some may find it more comfortable to grip the curve across the big seams or little seams, but the best way is to lock the middle finger alongside the big seam with the index finger lightly on the white of the ball, placing it naturally alongside the middle finger. A tight grip with the middle finger and the elbow up parallel with the shoulder then allows maximum downward rotation for a good curve ball. To get to this grip is very simple if we hold the ball with the little seams. We merely move the fingers through the little seams and they are in the correct position, adjacent to the big seams. We want to take advantage of the maximum number of seams and with this grip we have four seams turning against the air. Sometimes, however, a pitcher may have short fingers and must hold the ball in another way. This too is part of baseball... really, there is no set way to do anything. We must keep in mind that adjustments and readjustments are constant in the game of baseball as well as life itself.

Change-up: The change-up is one of the best pitches in the game of baseball. Some even say it is the best. As we mentioned about the change of speed with the fastball, the change-up is a way of getting the hitter off-stride. As pitchers, we want to keep the hitter from hitting the ball on the good part of the bat at the perfect timing spot of the swing. This is why we use the change-up. For example, if we allow hitters to time us as pitchers because we throw everything at the same speed, the hitters then have an advantage as they can stride the same way on every pitch. The fastball, the curve ball and the change-up allow us three different speeds of pitches and also give us, in the curve ball, a pitch that breaks in a different way. As with the fast ball and curve ball, there are different grips to the change-up. The best way for most pitchers, even pitchers with great experience, is to grip the ball with the three-finger method and place the ball back or deep in the hand. With this type of grip we can have command of the ball and get a good drag of the fingers so it is impossible to throw the ball as hard as our fastball. Like the fastball and curve ball, the change-up is a pitch we want to throw for strikes, and the easiest way is with this type of grip. If we can't throw a pitch for a strike, we may as well not throw it. Strikes are the name of the pitching game.

These are the three basic pitches, and, as I have mentioned, so often the basics are most important to being a good pitcher or good player. Naturally, mechanics play a major part of control, as does the grip of the ball, and control of the three basic pitches is more important than having five or six pitches. There are many successful pitchers in the major leagues with just these three pitches. They are successful because they can throw anyone of the three pitches for a strike on any count. When these pitches are mastered and you can control them, then another pitch could be added, if need be, but I really don't think the need will arise. One would not want to tamper with success.

Warm-up time: The usual, necessary warm-up time is generally 12 to 15 minutes. Warming up is not just to get the arm loose and ready to throw hard but is also used for loosening up the arm to throw all pitches with control. When starting a warm-up a pitcher should begin slowly. Then in the last few minutes the pitcher's arm should be loosened to throw hard. The last few minutes should be just the same as in the game. Warm-up time is practice time and it is a sideline time. Perfect practice makes perfect!

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