The Role of the Modern Pitcher

The role of the modern, major league pitcher is to get the batter out.

Some pitchers try to get the batter out by deception. The goal is either to confuse the batter or to hide the release point. For you see the less time the batter sees the ball, the less time he has to make up his mind to swing or not to swing.

Pitchers use high leg kicks, long strings hanging off the glove, turning their back to the batter and having a long stride before releasing the ball. If the pitcher can get the batter to watch where his leg or foot goes then maybe he won’t see the release point until it is too late. The movement of the long strings may catch the batter’s eye and not the ball.

The pitcher can release the ball at different positions. He may use over the top, side arm, three quarter side arm or even from down low in the case of a submariner. There are righties and lefties (also called south paw).

The pitcher may throw a fast ball, a two seamer, a three seamer, or a split finger fast ball. The idea is to throw the ball so fast that the hitter can’t catch up to it. The different finger positions are an attempt to add movement so that the ball doesn’t have a flat trajectory. Then when the batter is thinking fast ball, the pitcher throws a change up or circle change. A change up is thrown with the same motion as the fast ball but it is actually a slower pitch in hopes that the batter swings prior to the ball getting to him.

Other fancy pitches include: curve, cutter, slider, drop ball, and backup. And others depending on the announcer calling the game. In the old days, the spit ball was famous, though illegal, a sneaky pitcher could throw a few during a game. The thinking was that a wet ball would slide when making contact with the bat thus losing some the energy at contact and hence not traveling as far.

The pitcher tries to locate the ball in the strike zone. He may throw it high and tight or low and away. He may throw it inside hoping the batter will hit it on the handle or smaller part of the bat not getting much energy transferred to the ball. He may throw the ball outside hoping the batter reaches for the ball and misses. He may bounce the ball in front of the plate in hopes that the batter chases it. Anything to keep the batter guessing where the ball will go.

Of course not all pitchers do all these things but they do study the batters they face and decide what is the pitchers best pitch against each batter.

So, how do you pitch? Can you throw a fast ball and a curve? Do you employ a high leg kick?

So, how do you pitch when temptation comes up to bat?

My recommendation and I think the Bible’s recommendation is to flee. Don’t try anything fancy. Just drop the ball and high step it outta there.