Pitcher
In
Traditionally, the pitcher also bats. Starting in 1973 with the American League and spreading to further leagues throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the hitting duties of the pitcher have generally been given over to the position of designated hitter, a cause of some controversy. The National League adopted the designated hitter in 2022; as of 2024, the Japanese Central League is the highest level of competition to not use the designated hitter position.
Overview
In most cases, the objective of the pitcher is to deliver the
There are two legal
Nearly all action during a game is centered on the pitcher for the defensive team. A pitcher's particular style, time taken between pitches, and skill heavily influence the dynamics of the game and can often determine the victor. Starting with the pivot foot on the pitcher's rubber at the center of the pitcher's mound, which is 60 feet 6 inches (18.44 m) from home plate, the pitcher throws the baseball to the
The type and sequence of pitches chosen depend upon the particular situation in a game. Because pitchers and catchers must coordinate each pitch, a system of hand signals is used by the catcher to communicate choices to the pitcher, who either vetoes or accepts by shaking his head or nodding. The relationship between pitcher and catcher is so important that some teams select the starting catcher for a particular game based on the starting pitcher. Together, the pitcher and catcher are known as the battery.
Although the object and mechanics of pitching remain the same, pitchers may be classified according to their roles and effectiveness. The
In abbreviating baseball positions, P is used as a general designation for pitchers. SP and RP are sometimes used to differentiate starting and relief pitchers, respectively, while LHP and RHP are sometimes used to indicate if a pitcher is left-handed or right-handed, respectively.[2]
In
Pitching in a game
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A skilled pitcher often throws various pitches to prevent the batter from hitting the ball well. The most basic pitch is a
Pitchers use several distinct throwing styles. The most common style is a three-quarters delivery in which the pitcher's arm snaps downward with the ball's release. Some pitchers use a sidearm delivery in which the arm arcs laterally to the torso. Some pitchers use a submarine style in which the pitcher's body tilts sharply downward on delivery, creating an exaggerated sidearm motion in which the pitcher's knuckles come very close to the mound.
Effective pitching is vitally important in baseball. In
Rotation and specialization
Pitching is physically demanding, especially if the pitcher is throwing with maximum effort. A full game usually involves 120–170 pitches thrown by each team, and most pitchers begin to tire before they reach this point. As a result, the pitcher who starts a game often will not be the one who finishes it, and he may not be recovered enough to pitch again for a few days. The act of throwing a baseball at high speed is very unnatural to the body and somewhat damaging to human muscles; thus pitchers are very susceptible to injuries, soreness, and general pain.
Baseball teams use two strategies to address this problem: rotation and specialization. To accommodate playing nearly every day, a team will include a group of pitchers who start games and rotate between them, allowing each pitcher to rest for a few days between starts. A team's roster of starting pitchers are usually not even in terms of skill. Exceptional pitchers are highly sought after and in the professional ranks draw large salaries, thus teams can seldom stock each slot in the rotation with top-quality pitchers.
The best starter in the team's rotation is called the
Teams have additional pitchers reserved to replace that game's starting pitcher if he tires or proves ineffective. These players are called relief pitchers, relievers, or collectively the bullpen. Once a starter begins to tire or is starting to give up hits and runs a call is made to the bullpen to have a reliever start to warm up. This involves the reliever starting to throw practice balls to a coach in the bullpen so as to be ready to come in and pitch whenever the manager wishes to pull the current pitcher. Having a reliever warm up does not always mean he will be used; the current pitcher may regain his composure and retire the side, or the manager may choose to go with another reliever if strategy dictates. Commonly, pitching changes will occur as a result of a pinch hitter being used in the late innings of a game, especially if the pitcher is in the batting lineup due to not having the designated hitter. A reliever would then come out of the bullpen to pitch the next inning.
When making a pitching change a manager will come out to the mound. He will then call in a pitcher by the tap of the arm which the next pitcher throws with. The manager or pitching coach may also come out to discuss strategy with the pitcher, but on his second trip to the mound with the same pitcher in the same inning, the pitcher has to come out. It is considered proper etiquette for the pitcher to wait on the mound until the manager arrives, whereby he then hands the manager the ball, and only then he is allowed to leave the field. Relief pitchers often have even more specialized roles, and the particular reliever used depends on the situation. Many teams designate one pitcher as the
After the ball is pitched
The pitcher's duty does not cease after he pitches the ball. Unlike the other fielders, a pitcher and catcher must start every play in a designated area. The pitcher must be on the
Pitching biomechanics
The physical act of overhand pitching is complex and unnatural to the human anatomy. Most major league pitchers throw at speeds of 70 to 100 mph (110 to 160 km/h), putting high amounts of stress on the pitching arm. Pitchers are by far the most frequently injured players and many professional pitchers will have multiple surgeries to repair damage in the elbow and shoulder by the end of their careers.
As such, the biomechanics of pitching are closely studied and taught by coaches at all levels and are an important field in sports medicine. Glenn Fleisig, a biomechanist who specializes in the analysis of baseball movements, says that pitching is "the most violent human motion ever measured."[6] He claims that the pelvis can rotate at 515–667°/sec, the trunk can rotate at 1,068–1,224°/s, the elbow can reach a maximal angular velocity of 2,200–2,700°/s and the force pulling the pitcher's throwing arm away from the shoulder at ball release is approximately 280 pounds-force (1,200 N).[6]
The
Some players begin intense mechanical training at a young age, a practice that has been criticized by many coaches and doctors, with some citing an increase in
To counteract shoulder and elbow injury, coaches and trainers have begun utilizing "jobe" exercises, named for Frank Jobe, the pioneer of the Tommy John procedure.[14] Jobes are exercises that have been developed to isolate, strengthen and stabilize the rotator cuff muscles. Jobes can be done using either resistance bands or lightweight dumbbells. Common jobe exercises include shoulder external rotation, shoulder flexion, horizontal abduction, prone abduction and scaption (at 45°, 90° and inverse 45°).
In addition to the Jobes exercises, many pitching coaches are creating lifting routines that are specialized for pitchers. Pitchers should avoid exercises that deal with a barbell. The emphasis on the workout should be on the legs and the core. Other body parts should be worked on but using lighter weights. Over lifting muscles, especially while throwing usually ends up in a strain muscle or possibly a tear.
Equipment
Other than the catcher, pitchers and other fielders wear very few pieces of equipment. In general the ball cap, baseball glove and cleats are equipment used. Pitchers may also keep with them at the mound a bag of powdered rosin. Handling the bag applies a small layer of the rosin to the pitcher's fingers in order to increase his grip on the ball.
Currently there is a new trend of introducing a pitcher helmet to provide head protection from batters hitting
One style of helmet is worn on top of the ballcap to provide protection to the forehead and sides.[17]
In softball, a full face helmet is available to all players including pitchers.[18] These fielder's masks are becoming increasingly popular in younger fast pitch leagues, some leagues even requiring them.
See also
- Pitching machine
- List of baseball pitches
- Baseball fielding positions
- Cy Young Award winners
- List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
- Bowler – similar position in cricket
- American Sports Medicine Institute – Pitching Biomechanics Evaluation
References
- ^ "Velocity". Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
- ^ "Baseball Acronyms – Abbreviations". predictem.com. June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ Schneider, Jason (July 4, 2006). "All-American mud needed to take shine off baseballs". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
- ^ "Pitch Types". mlb.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
- ^ Baseball Explained, by Phillip Mahony. McFarland Books, 2014. See www.baseballexplained.com Archived August 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Dean, J. (October 2010). "Perfect Pitch". WIRED. Vol. 18, no. 10. p. 62.
- S2CID 8777889
- ^ "Pitching Biomechanical Evaluation". Archived from the original on March 16, 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2008.
- PMID 24149219.
- S2CID 16614797.
- ^ Matsuo, Tomoyuki; Matsumoto, Tsuyoshi; Takada, Yoshihiro; Mochizuki, Yoshiyuki (June 1999). Influence of different shoulder abduction angles during baseball pitching on throwing performance and joint kinetics. Scientific Proceedings on the XVIII International Syposium on Biomechanics in Sports. Perth, Australia. pp. 389–392.
- ^ Rick Peterson (February 6, 2009). "Pitching Perspectives with Rick Peterson: Understanding the Epidemic of Youth Pitching Injuries". fullcountpitch.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2009.
- ^ PMID 19741352.
- S2CID 71641134.
- ^ "Pitchers' protective caps approved". ESPN.com. January 28, 2014.
- ^ "Who was the first pitcher to wear protective headgear". July 1, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2015.
- ^ "New Pitching Helmet Prototype Unveiled by Easton-Bell Sports". Reuters. March 7, 2011. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
- ^ Spaventa, Dan. "Softball Helmet". Fastpitch-softball-coaching.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014.
Further reading
- Ballard, Chris; Good, Owen (October 17, 2011). "The Invisible Fastball: Six decades ago a minor league pitcher accomplished something we'll never see again". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
When [Kelly] Jack Swift arrived in Elkin, N.C., in late 1951, he was nobody's idea of a prospect.