quote:Originally posted by sox fan:
So, How many curve balls do you think should be thrown in a game?
I know a kid who, in a grade school game, threw like 20+ curves in a row. Yikes! That was stupid!
I am a true believer of not throwing any curves or sliders until you reach HS. Even if you think you might know what your doing, your arm is not ready for the demands of these pitches.
Better to be able to work the plate with Fastballs and Changes.
To answer your question about how many curve balls in a game....
First of all, for a HS kid his #1 pitch should be a 4 seam fastball thrown to location (inside or outside corners). For the 1st time through the opposing order I think the #2 pitch should be a straight change. A 2 seamer should be #3.
Personally, if a kid has a curve ball, it would be better to try to get by without it the first time through the order. I always liked to have one pitch to throw the second time through the order that the batters had not seen yet. Not always practical however because some days not all of you pitches are working - you may have to through a curve early if on that day you are missing with your change up.
Anyways, a curve ball should be used sparingly in an ideal game. I'm from the old school that says that if your #1 pitch is not a fastball then you probably should not pitch. Use your fastball to SET UP a curve - not the other way around.
And as I mentioned before, my son does throw a slider, but it is by far his least thrown pitch - and that is part of what makes it so devasting. I can tell you if you throw too many sliders you will definitely hang a few up and then they become batting practice pitches - it is almost like they are sitting up there on a tee.
Now, to answer your question, I think a good ratio is to throw about 60 percent fastballs with about 20 percent changeups. Curveballs and sliders together can make up the other 20 percent of your throws. Nothing scientific about the above, but that is what I tried to do with my son and his HS coach is doing pretty much the same thing.
BTW, his HS coach calls all the pitches in the game. That makes a big difference. Usually when the kids call their pitches you will see ALOT more curveballs and sliders. They don't see the value of a one pitch ground out - they want all three outs to be from K's. But that's another story.