Pitcher and Catcher
The catcher has to know the different pitches that the pitcher throws so he can know what sign to call when the pitcher is pitching. Pitches move differently when thrown and will bounce differently in the dirt. If they hit the ground, a curveball will spin when it hits the dirt while a fastball will bounce straight into the catcher. A catcher needs to know what pitch is coming up next so he can be in the position to block the pitch if it were to be thrown into the dirt. Below are some of the most common pitches thrown by pitchers today.
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Four Seam Fastball
The four seam fastball is the fastest pitch for any pitcher and when thrown correctly, will not have a tail and will be straight. This pitch never rises and never curves. The fastest four seam pitch ever recorded in the MLB was set by Aroldis Chapman, clocked at 105.1 mph. Chapman is the only pitcher in the MLB that has an average pitch speed of over 100 mph (100.1 mph). This is the easiest pitch to block because there is no spin. |
Two Seam Fastball
The two seam fastball is also a fast pitch but it's not the fastest. It tends to tail when it's thrown correctly and can sometimes fool the batter. It is a pitch where the ball rolls off of your fingers because you grip it with the seam. One finger grips each seam. This pitch is a little harder to block but is not too hard. |
Circle Change-up
This pitch is meant to be an off-speed pitch that will be thrown when the batter just fouled a pitch off or swung at a fastball. This is a tough pitch to master. You have to pitch it fast enough for the ball to reach the plate but slow enough to not be a fastball and fool the batter. This pitch is pretty easy to block because it it slow and straight. |
Curveball
The curveball is a common pitch that is a breaking ball. It curves when thrown correctly and can fool a batter if a good curve is thrown. The curveball can break over 20 inches. This pitch is one of the hardest pitches to block when thrown into the dirt. When it spins and hits the dirt, the ball spins so the catcher has to angle himself so he can get behind the spin of the ball. |
Screwball
A screwball is the same thing as a curveball but is spins the opposite direction. It is a lot harder to pitch a screwball compared to a curveball because you have to flick your wrist in a different direction. This pitch spins like a curveball but it spins the opposite direction. You have to do the same thing as a curveball but you have to block it the other way. |
Slider
A slider is another common pitch. It is a breaking ball that doesn't move as much as a curveball. It fools the batter by breaking later in the pitch. Since a slider spins from left to right or vice-versa, blocking is different then blocking a curveball or a screwball. The catcher still has to position himself behind the spin, but it is less likely to bounce all over the place. |
Splitter
A splitter or a split-fastball is a pitch that looks like a fastball when thrown by a pitcher but curves when the ball comes closer to the plate. This pitch is also known as a cutter or cut-fastball. Blocking a cut-fastball is almost the same as blocking a fastball but it has a little spin. Not as much as a curveball, but it still has spin. |
Knuckleball
Few pitchers can execute a knuckleball successfully but when thrown correctly, it can wobble and it won't spin at all. Since the knuckleball is so erratic and unpredictable, it is hard to guess where the pitch would end up when it's thrown into the dirt. Blocking this pitch is tough especially because most of the time it's thrown into the dirt. |