Originally Posted by TPM:
I agree with you, it is not an easy pitch, ...
I agree with you other than the above. In fact, I think the problem it gives people so much trouble, is because its so easy to throw. Before you clutch your heart, give me a chance to explain.
Other than a straight out 4 seamer thrown with top velocity for a pitcher, every other pitch is “CU”, or “Change of Speed”, or “Off Speed” pitch. Literally anything that the pitcher does to vary from the ol’ #1, will affect its velocity, and just that alone will affect the way it acts. That’s what makes it hard to “master”. The pitch is a piece of cake to throw, but its hard as all get out to throw consistently.
The only way to throw it consistently, is guess what? PRACTICE. The reason its not very often a high quality pitch until a player gets into pro ball, is because that’s often how long it takes to have practiced it long enough to make it a GREAT pitch rather than just a CU.