User:RoshanBhojwani/Off-speed pitch

An Off-speed pitch is a type of pitch thrown by a baseball pitcher that typically travels significantly slower than any of the following fastballs, shown below, that may be thrown by the pitcher:

• Four-seam fastball
• Two-seam fastball
• Sinker
• Cut fastball (Also commonly referred to as a "Cutter")

Usually, the purpose of this type of pitch is to throw the hitter's timing off in order to make him or her swing at the pitch too early, causing him or her to miss the pitch. This pitch commonly thrown after the pitcher has thrown one or a couple of any of the fastballs listed above, although this pitch can be thrown in the beginning of the hitter's count so that the pitcher can attempt to throw a fastball later in the count in order to make the hitter swing too late at the pitch, thus also causing him or her to miss the pitch.

Figure 1: Image of a Baseball

Types of Off-speed Pitches

The following pitches shown below represent some of the different types of “Off-speed” pitches that are typically thrown by different Major League Baseball Pitchers:

• Changeup
• Curveball
• Slider
• Slurve
• Split-finger fastball
• Screwball
• Knuckleball
• Forkball
• Palmball
• Circle Change

The pitches shown above qualify as Off-speed pitches, in the context of Major League Baseball, because pitchers normally throw these pitches on average under 90 mph on average whereas the fastballs (except for the split-finger fastball) are thrown above 90 mph on average. Most Off-speed pitches have a tendency to break away from its initial trajectory, making it more difficult for the batter to hit the baseball at the right time and in the right place.

Impact on Pitching in Baseball

Off-speed pitches have given pitchers more of an advantage in trying to get baseball hitter's out by making hitting harder and by making the pitches more unpredictable. The following Major League Baseball Pitchers shown below have found and are known for their success in Major League Baseball due to their Off-speed pitches:

• Jason Schmidt
• Orlando Hernandez
• Matt Garza
• Roy Halladay
• C.C. Sabathias
• Johan Santana
• Kerry Wood
• Roger Clemens

See Also

• Baseball
• Pitch
• Four-seam fastball
• Two-seam fastball
• Sinker
• Cutter
• Changeup
• Curveball
• Slider
• Slurve
• Split-finger fastball
• Screwball
• Knuckleball
• Forkball
• Palmball
• Circle Change

References

1. Kroichick, Ron, Elliott Teaford, and Thomas Harding. "About Schmidt." Sporting News 228.33 (2004): Accessed 13 Apr. 2011.

2. T.R., Sullivan. "Off-speed pitches leaving Rangers off-stride." Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX) n.d.: Accessed 13 Apr. 2011.

3. Smith, Kelsie. "Off-speed suits Garza just fine." Saint Paul Pioneer Press (MN) 24 June 2007: Accessed 13 Apr. 2011.

4. Murphy, David. "Phillies Ace Roy Halladay Changeup Improved His Arsenal." Baseball Digest 69.6 (2010): Accessed 13 Apr. 2011.

5. "A.L. REPORT." Sporting News 229.12 (2005): Accessed 13 Apr. 2011.

6. "A.L. REPORT." Sporting News 229.36 (2005): Accessed 13 Apr. 2011.

7. Rich, Mark. "To Know List 4: Dig in for this matchup." Sporting News 227.23 (2003): Accessed 13 Apr. 2011.