Expert: Brian Flaspohler - 4/12/2004

Question
Hi I have 5 questions for you...
1.How many different pitches are thrown in baseball?

2.What are the pitches that are thrown?

3.How do you throw the pitches you mentioned in question number 2.

4.What do u think the most effective pitch is and why do u think that?

5.Do you think that a knuckleballer can be as successful as a pitcher that throws fastballs, changeups, and a curveball?  

Answer
Dusty,

Let me take a crack at your questions:

1)  Lots of different pitches with different names.  In fact, some pitchers throw multiple kinds of the same type of pitch (2 seam fastball, 4 seam fastball, etc.)

2)  The major types are fastball, curve, slider, changeup, split-finger fastball, knuckleball, and screwball.

3)  I can't really answer that without using some diagrams.  One place you can go to look is 'Baseball for Dummies' by Joe Morgan.  It has some good diagrams showing how pitches are thrown.

4)  Whatever gets someone out!  It depends on the hitter and what their weakness is, but most people will tell you the best pitch in baseball is a good fastball.

5)  Sure - there have been many successful knuckleballers like Phil Niekro and Hoyt Wilhelm, two Hall of Fame players.

Hope this helps!

Brian