| |
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include
change-of-pace and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an
off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any
pitch that is slower than a fastball.
The changeup is thrown with the same arm action as a fastball, but at a
lower velocity due to the pitcher holding the ball in a special grip. In
his book "Pitching like a Pro: A Guide for Young Pitchers and Their
Coaches, Little League through High School," Leo Mazzone makes an
analogy stating that when a pitcher throws his best fastball, he puts
more in it; the changeup is such that one throws something other than
his best fastball. By having this mindset, the pitch will have less
velocity on it in addition to the change in grips. This difference from
what is expected by the arm action and the velocity can confuse the
batter into swinging the bat far too early and thus receiving a strike,
or not swinging at all. Should a batter be fooled timing wise on the
pitch, and still make contact, the batter will be early, causing foul
balls and/or putting the ball into play, usually resulting in an out, so
long as the batter was fooled significantly. In addition to the
unexpectedly slow velocity, the changeup can also possess a significant
amount of movement, which can bewilder the batter even further. The very
best changeups utilize both deception and movement.
|
|
