unusual pitch combinations

Wynton · #1 07-20-2006, 03:07 PM

I watched a bit of Pelfrey's last game and thought it was a little unusual that he seemed to have both a rising fastball in the mid to upper 90s, and a genuine sinker, inducing tons of ground balls.

Am I correct that this combination is somewhat unusual? Seems that most pitchers either are power pitchers (i.e., they have rising fast ball and a hard breaking slider or curver), or are all-around finesse pitchers.

Whether or not I'm wrong about this combination being kind of unusual, can you think of any pitchers who do have a rare combination of pitches?

prohornblower · #2 07-20-2006, 03:21 PM

Wait, Pelfrey invented a pitch that defies gravity?

How there hasn't already been a thread on this is amazing.

[img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

samjjones · #3 07-20-2006, 03:50 PM

It is somewhat uncommon, because most sinkerball pitchers don't throw hard enough to merit throwing a four-seamer. In Pelfrey's case, he doesn't really have a good breaking ball, and instead needs to vary his fastball grips and mix in a few changeups to keep hitters honest.

And those sinkerballers that do throw hard enough, like Brandon Webb, have such awesome sinking action that it doesn't make sense to throw anything but a two-seamer.

Hopey · #4 07-20-2006, 03:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Wait, Pelfrey invented a pitch that defies gravity?

How there hasn't already been a thread on this is amazing.

[img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, it bothers me that in 2006, we still hear the term "rising fastball". There's no such thing.

THAY3R · #5 07-20-2006, 03:58 PM

Well, technically doesn't Chad Bradford have a rising fastball?

Wynton · #6 07-20-2006, 04:01 PM

Picky, picky.

I only said "rising fastball" because presumably it was a phrase that anyone reading this forum would quickly associate with a certain type of pitcher.

Pudge714 · #7 07-20-2006, 04:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Well, technically doesn't Chad Bradford have a rising fastball?

[/ QUOTE ]
Touche.

soapstar · #8 07-21-2006, 12:50 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Yeah, it bothers me that in 2006, we still hear the term "rising fastball". There's no such thing.

[/ QUOTE ]

What?

If Nolan Ryan himself uses the term "rising fastball" as a synonym for a four seam fastball, then it's not incorrect. You are.

offTopic · #9 07-21-2006, 01:21 PM

I know there's only about 287645695 pitchers that throw a curve and a fastball, but the 20+ mph difference that Oswalt displays makes me wonder how anyone hits the guy.

Wynton · #10 07-21-2006, 01:58 PM

Has there ever been a power pitcher who also threw a knuckleball regularly, in his prime?