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What is the best 5 pitch combination of pitches? I'd like to know what you think theoretically and actually. Theoretically including pitches like screwball, eephus, gyroball. actually being more common pitches. Think designing a pitcher on the show or 2k series.
Theoretically, i think it would be a four seam, a screwball, a cutter, a knuckleball, a forkball.
Actually, I think 2 seam, 4 seam, palmball, splitter, and 12-6 curve
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For what age?Originally Posted by MLBFutureProspect44
"He who dares to teach, must never cease to learn."
- John Cotton Dana (1856–1929) - Offered to many by L. Olson - Iowa (Teacher)
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college/pro players. im 16 myself. im not personally into pitching, but i was just wondering what people thought
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Jake, you're showing your age.For what age?
He's talking about creating a pitcher on the video game MLB12: The Show, to use in the Road to the Show feature (where you start out as a MiLB'er and work your way up to MLB).
In a video game, I think the pitch ratings are more important than the actual pitch type.
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okay, but if you could pick any five pitches to throw in actuality, what would they be? we'll stick with the college pro age range
Coaching 101 Moderator
LOL!!! So how do I feel?? We didn't have MLB12 in the 60's
"He who dares to teach, must never cease to learn."
- John Cotton Dana (1856–1929) - Offered to many by L. Olson - Iowa (Teacher)
Please read Baseball Fever Policy and Forum FAQ before posting.
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what about MLB60?!icon12.gif
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1. 4S-Fastball - Standard.
2. 2-seam Fastball - runs "into" the batter.
3. Cutter - runs "away" from the batter.
The 2 seam fastball is used to move away from the RHB's barrel, or start in on a LHB or on the outside corner and further away. Vice versa for RHB/RHP.
The cutter does just the opposite, starts off the corner then on to a same-handed batter, and into the hands for an opposite-handed batter.
4. Slider - the most devastating pitch in baseball, to put it simply.
5. Changeup - 2 varieties - one that moves away from like handed batters and one that moves "down" to same-handed batters.
So ...
1. 4SFB
2. 2SFB
3. CTFB
4. SLDR
5. CNG
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I read Bouton's Ball Four, in the 60's they just "smoked everyone inside". Heh Heh.
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A pitcher only needs three pitches ... fastball, offspeed and in between speed with movement.
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I think the best pitch is a fastball with sink. really tough to hit when it is well located.
I also like the cutter and slider but both would be too hard on the arm (at least if you throw them supinated like most do-I'm sure dirt can tell us how to throw them safely).
the changeup is a must have pitch of course.
I think walks are overrated unless you can run. If you get a walk and put the pitcher in a stretch, that helps, but the guy who walks and can’t run, most of the time he’s clogging up the bases for somebody who can run. – Dusty Baker.
NYYankeesFan92
Would a pitcher be able to get by with just throwing fastballs & change ups?
Scorekeeper
Ever hear of Eric Gagne?
The pitcher who’s afraid to throw strikes, will soon be standing in the shower with the hitter who's afraid to swing.
Student of the Game
4 seam, 2 seam, change.
See ball, hit ball.
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Threw a curveball as minor league starter.
As a closer/reliever, you can use fewer pitch types since you don't go through the lineup more than once.
Actually, not having more than 2 good pitches (combined with higher velocity) is probably the #1 things that results in pitchers becoming relievers.
There are also the pitcher that vary their "base pitches" a little trying to get more run or "turning it over", taking a little off, and so on. Don;t get me wrong, not everyone is David Cone or Yu Darvish, but a guy like Orel Hersheiser, Bret Saberhagen, etc were famous for throwing 1 pitch (curve for example) at 3 different speeds (intentionally).
Point being you can have variety even within a single pitch type.
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randy Johnson was FB/slider. he occasionally threw something else but more as a show me pitch. he basically was a2 pitch guy.
I think walks are overrated unless you can run. If you get a walk and put the pitcher in a stretch, that helps, but the guy who walks and can’t run, most of the time he’s clogging up the bases for somebody who can run. – Dusty Baker.
Scorekeeper
But there’s a secret to putting a little on and taking a little off the same pitch, or throwing it with slightly timing or arm angles. Those things all require doing things slightly different, and it’s a rare pitcher who can do that and retain his control while executing the pitch. Heck, it’s the rare pitcher who can throw 1 pitch with 1 arm angle where he wants it, far more often than he doesn’t.
The pitcher who’s afraid to throw strikes, will soon be standing in the shower with the hitter who's afraid to swing.
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Well, if you're going to point out an exception, you sure picked THE exception.
Okay, let me restate my statement ... If you're going to be a 2-pitch starter, you better have 2 of the best pitches around. Randy Johnson is viewed to have 1 of the 2 best sliders in baseball history, and his fastball is top 10.
So, unless you're Randy Johnson, you're going to need more than 2 decent pitches.
Okay, okay, okay ... Unless you're Randy Johnson or a knuckleball pitcher ... you're going to need more than 2 good pitches.
Can I just say that 99.7% of all MLB starting pitchers have needed/used 3+ good pitches and we won't have to go through every exception?
*grin*
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For a RHP ---
To RHB - Ultimate arsenal, not necessarily in this order for any given day.
1) 4SFB in (stand the batter up early in the count - elevated above the hands later in the count)
2) a. Sinker ran down and away (beat pull hitters all day long)
b. 2SFB with backdoor action (like it as a first pitch. Love it as a first pitch especially where opponent is in a situation where they need base runners and are in take mode anyway)
3) Slider (I like it pitching backward, i.e. first pitch starting it in and for a strike - maybe even backing it up with a second one. And, I like it as an out pitch down and off the plate)
4) Change with movement that runs down and in to righties.
5) Late 12-6ish (depending on arm angle) harder variety curve ball.
I absolutely love this brand of pitching. Lots of movement, mixing in pitches that look similar making the movement even more effective and difficult to read, showing the plus stuff and the off speed stuff to keep hitters honest, then going back to it for Ks. Keep the ball down. Get your GBs. Keep the barrel off the ball.
There are two kinds of losers.....Those that don't do what they are told, and those that do only what they are told.
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After watching the NY Mets pitcher, Dickey, throw his "knuckleball on steroids" (his words) I'm wondering if it wouldn't be a great pitch to use in place of a change-up?
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I agree. he only got away because he threw triple digits. A "normal" pitcher should have 3 pitches.
however randy johnson shows that execution is more important than variety of pitches. there is absolutely no need to throw 4-5 pitches. why do HS players think they need that when most MLB starters throw only 3?
the thing is any MLB pitcher (or even position player
With youth pitchers I rather have them throw 2 pitches really well located then throwing all kinds of junk. they should sometimes experiment with other pitches in training but most of the time should be spend perfecting 2-3 pitches I think.
I think walks are overrated unless you can run. If you get a walk and put the pitcher in a stretch, that helps, but the guy who walks and can’t run, most of the time he’s clogging up the bases for somebody who can run. – Dusty Baker.
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well the great thing about the change up is that it looks like a FB. a good hitter picks up a slider or curve quickly but a good change really looks like a FB.
A knuckle on the other hand is recognized right out of the hand. it's still hard to hit because you don't know (the pitcher doesn't know either
I think walks are overrated unless you can run. If you get a walk and put the pitcher in a stretch, that helps, but the guy who walks and can’t run, most of the time he’s clogging up the bases for somebody who can run. – Dusty Baker.
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Glad to see a few mention the knuckleball. IMO, it's the end-all-be-all of pitches. Throw in a fastball every now and then... Thank God for Dickey, keeping it alive.
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That's why you see sinker/slider/cutter pitchers. It's deception at its finest. Similar pitches, similar look, but when executed enough difference to keep hitters completely off balance.well the great thing about the change up is that it looks like a FB. a good hitter picks up a slider or curve quickly but a good change really looks like a FB.
A knuckle on the other hand is recognized right out of the hand. it's still hard to hit because you don't know (the pitcher doesn't know either
I agree that a knuckle isn't the answer for a change up. RA Dickey, let's not forget, once gave up 6 HRs in a game. It took him 6 years to go from a "good" MLB knuckle ball (which is probably other worldly in any other league) to where he's pitching at now. Most pitchers attempting to throw a knuckle up there thinking hitters are going to be fooled or think it's something else are going to wonder a week later if it's landed yet.
There are two kinds of losers.....Those that don't do what they are told, and those that do only what they are told.
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Our philosophy is have an evenly sequenced game against all 4 types of batters and pitch
no more than 3 times through the line up so that they never see the same sequence twice.
We learn 6 pitches all pronated for a safe elbow articulation.
The run to the glove arm side fastball (4 seam) and it’s opposite
The run to the ball arm side fastball (4 seam). Both –2 pitch speeds.
The run to the glove arm side Slider (4 seam) and it’s opposite
The run to the ball arm side Sinker (4 seam). Both –10 pitch speeds.
The down run to the glove arm side Curve (4 seam) and it’s opposite
The down run to the ball arm side screwball (4 seam). Both –20 pitch speeds.
These pitches are to be delivered down the middle and break towards the black.
“the first left turn circuit”
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