Question about pitches...

[Moooo]

Okay, so this is something that I've always wondered about...

What are all the differences betwen the pitches in baseball? Obviously some are more obvious, but like what's the difference between a cutter and a 2-seam? Or a splitter and a forkball. Or a changeup and a circlechangeup. And where does the slider fit in to all of this?

Any help, or a website that explains it would be awesome...

Moooo

[morphius]

With my expierence of doing a google lookup on "football hold" in images I'm refusing to do this search for you.

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by morphius

With my expierence of doing a google lookup on "football hold" in images I'm refusing to do this search for you.

I've done some searching with no answers... I don't know what you saw with the football thing, I'm gonna guess I don't wanna.

Moooo

[Rain Man]

I'm always flummoxed by the fact that the announcers act like they know the difference between pitches. The pitcher throws the ball, and they say it's a curve. Then he throws it again, and they say it's a fastball. They all look exactly the same to me unless they go over the backstop.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm always flummoxed by the fact that the announcers act like they know the difference between pitches. The pitcher throws the ball, and they say it's a curve. Then he throws it again, and they say it's a fastball. They all look exactly the same to me unless they go over the backstop.

IMO it's almost impossible to tell. You might be able to tell if it's a fastball or a breaking ball by the speed, but that's about it.

Of course the announcers usually know what kind of pitches each pitcher throws, so they have an advantage over the casual viewer in that sense. But if a guy throws 5 pitches I don't see how you can tell the difference between some of them. I know what Francisco Cordero is throwing on a given pitch because he relies almost exclusively on his fastball and slider.

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

IMO it's almost impossible to tell. You might be able to tell if it's a fastball or a breaking ball by the speed, but that's about it.

Of course the announcers usually know what kind of pitches each pitcher throws, so they have an advantage over the casual viewer in that sense. But if a guy throws 5 pitches I don't see how you can tell the difference between some of them. I know what Francisco Cordero is throwing on a given pitch because he relies almost exclusively on his fastball and slider.

I can tell a breaking ball cause it goes way up in the air (so it seems).

Moooo

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Moooo

I can tell a breaking ball cause it goes way up in the air (so it seems).

Moooo

Maybe if it's a curveball. Sliders, cutters, etc start out just like fastballs.

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Maybe if it's a curveball. Sliders, cutters, etc start out just like fastballs.

Yeah, and I can't tell all of them. Some of them, though seem slower and go way up in the air before dropping.

Moooo

[crispystl]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

IMO it's almost impossible to tell. You might be able to tell if it's a fastball or a breaking ball by the speed, but that's about it.

Of course the announcers usually know what kind of pitches each pitcher throws, so they have an advantage over the casual viewer in that sense. But if a guy throws 5 pitches I don't see how you can tell the difference between some of them. I know what Francisco Cordero is throwing on a given pitch because he relies almost exclusively on his fastball and slider.

You can tell if it's a curve slider or fastball whats hard is determining the difference between like for example 2 seamers and cutters or splitters and sinkers. You have to remember most of these announcers played at some point they know what the pitches are usually.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Moooo

What are all the differences betwen the pitches in baseball? Obviously some are more obvious, but like what's the difference between a cutter and a 2-seam? Or a splitter and a forkball. Or a changeup and a circlechangeup. And where does the slider fit in to all of this?

A cutter breaks to one side. A 2-seamer usually breaks down, but it can break to one side, to, or to one side and down...depends if the batter is lefty or righty.

A splitter and forkball both break down, but the forkball is slower.

A changeup has less movement than a circle change. The slider is basically a slow fastball (75-80 mph) that breaks down and away or just away at the last second. I've always seen a cutter as a faster slider with less breaking movement if that helps.

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

A cutter breaks to one side. A 2-seamer usually breaks down.

A splitter and forkball both break down, but the forkball is slower.

A changeup has less movement than a circle change. The slider is basically a slow fastball (75-80 mph) that breaks down and away or just away at the last second. I've always seen a cutter as a faster slider with less breaking movement if that helps.

This is a lot of help, sir!

Last one, what is the difference between a regular curve and a forkball?

Moooo

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Moooo

This is a lot of help, sir!

Last one, what is the difference between a regular curve and a forkball?

Moooo

Forkball has less movement, usually. Depends on the curve. 12-6 curve goes straight up and down. The other variety breaks away or inside (depending on the batter, righty or lefty).

Just play MVP baseball...you will learn fast about how pitches move.

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Forkball has less movement, usually. Depends on the curve. 12-6 curve goes straight up and down. The other variety breaks away or inside (depending on the batter, righty or lefty).

Just play MVP baseball...you will learn fast about how pitches move.

MVP... Got it!

In baseball games I always recreate Niekro in a custom player and go knuckleball on everyone...

Moooo

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Forkball has less movement, usually. Depends on the curve. 12-6 curve goes straight up and down. The other variety breaks away or inside (depending on the batter, righty or lefty).

Just play MVP baseball...you will learn fast about how pitches move.

Except knuckleballs arent as hard to hit in real life as they are in that damn game or Grienke's curveball doesnt take 2hrs to get across the plate.

[4th and Long]

The less rotation on the ball, the faster the bottom falls out.