The Unknown Pitch

Stephen Strasburg started using a pitch without a name more this season, and it’s paying off:

“It’s a side-to-side breaking ball. Hard like a cutter, moves like a slider,” Maddux said. “We can call it what we want.”

…

The pitch gives Strasburg something that moves right to left – away from righties, in on lefties. His change-up and two-seamer dart in to right-handed hitters. His curveball is slow, with what Maddux calls “depth,” as devastating because of its vertical break as its lateral movement. But the cutter moves laterally, and does so with force. In so doing, it keeps left-handed hitters uncomfortable and gives right-handed hitters another look.

Hiring Mike Maddux was possibly the best move the Nationals made in the off-season. They currently lead the NL in ERA at 2.14, just a hair better than the Cubs at 2.15.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/1rjaPiY