Umpire said pitch was too aggresive

Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch

Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.

Sep 30, 2013
415
0
RHP screwball breaks into a RHB

How do they get it to do that? With an overhand throw, the pitcher’s arm pronates tremendously in order to get the spin to make it move. But with an underhand throw, it seems to me the pitcher would have to supinate the arm, and pretty much all experts agree that’s bad.

I’m wondering if it’s not more of a “cutter” like Rivera threw, where the pressure and position of the fingers mad the ball move. Back in the day, I was lucky enough to catch Mike Cuellar during a workout, and he could make his scrooji move and drop darn near as much as many curveballs. I can’t picture that happening in SB because of the shorter distance, which is why I’m guessing it might be more like a cutter that’s thrown fairly hard and has a little “snap” at the end, rather than something like one of the really good ML pitchers threw.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
How do they get it to do that? With an overhand throw, the pitcher’s arm pronates tremendously in order to get the spin to make it move. But with an underhand throw, it seems to me the pitcher would have to supinate the arm, and pretty much all experts agree that’s bad.

I’m wondering if it’s not more of a “cutter” like Rivera threw, where the pressure and position of the fingers mad the ball move. Back in the day, I was lucky enough to catch Mike Cuellar during a workout, and he could make his scrooji move and drop darn near as much as many curveballs. I can’t picture that happening in SB because of the shorter distance, which is why I’m guessing it might be more like a cutter that’s thrown fairly hard and has a little “snap” at the end, rather than something like one of the really good ML pitchers threw.

My DD throws a cutter and will occasionally throw the screw against a slapper. Gets more movement on the screw but less velocity and control. The two are totally different pitches.
 
Dec 23, 2009
791
0
San Diego
We throw the screw inside for a strike. If the batter is positioned as such so that they are hit by a called strike that is part of the game.

I understand what you're saying - and I don't necessarily disagree - just don't know how realistic it is.

When batters do not have to make an attempt to get out of the way...and don't kid yourself - unless a batter is blatantly diving into a pitch (and sometimes even then!) the umpire is going to award the batter first base...you can argue the pitch crossed the zone before it hit the batter until the PU sends you to the parking lot.

Unless of course you live in umpire utopia...:rolleyes:
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
I understand what you're saying - and I don't necessarily disagree - just don't know how realistic it is.

When batters do not have to make an attempt to get out of the way...and don't kid yourself - unless a batter is blatantly diving into a pitch (and sometimes even then!) the umpire is going to award the batter first base...you can argue the pitch crossed the zone before it hit the batter until the PU sends you to the parking lot.

Unless of course you live in umpire utopia...:rolleyes:

We get the call on a pretty regular basis. However, it requires umpires that actually call the game properly. If the batter is in the back of the box with their toes on the line, a decent screw can easily be thrown for a strike and hit the batter.
 
Last edited:
Feb 7, 2013
3,188
48
Scorekeeper- A perfect screwball by a RHP would have 3-9 spin (as seen by the catcher) and would break into a right handed batter. In reality, most screwballs "break" is a result of the pitch being angled rather than the movement of the pitch. What most pitchers call a screwball is really a cutter with 2-8 or 1-7 spin where they stride to the left and throw to the right. It can be effective but probably has the least amount of movement of any pitch thrown.
 

KCM

Mar 8, 2012
331
0
South Carolina
The is no rationalizing or understanding a dumb a** (the ump that is).

I got ejected from a game Saturday because of one not having the bo-bo's to stand by his call. I cannot stand a spineless rule making fool that gets paid to make the correct call.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
42,830
Messages
679,481
Members
21,445
Latest member
Bmac81802
Top