The change up at the younger ages is the most important pitch they have. As they get older, high school or college level it is still great but if it is your out pitch you give up a lot of hits. As for speed, Taryn Mowatt threw as slow as anyone and her change up was good enough to win a national championship. Cat Osterman states the rise is important in mid teens, but she became dominant when she perfected her drop. I think when calling a game you need to look at how hard the mistakes are hit and the rise and change usually fly very far when they are hit.
Is the change-up the most important pitch?
- Thread starter SoCalSoftballdad
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I ran across this video on youtube and ask that you view and give me your opinion. I say that her rise starts on a straight plane then elevates to a higher plane . Watch this if you will and give me your feedback.The video is titled "Alex Cooper Breeze 2012" and the rise starts at 2:52 minutes into the video.Thank you.
Sorry about the hijack of the thread; but:
TOJO - after reviewing the video I agre that her last three "rises" appear to rise, or change the plane of travel. I have not read the article noted earlier in this thread (yet) but I still say that there are rise balls out there that actually change planes. Video from the side would show that much better, but very few take video from the side as very few actually throw anything other than a fastpitch that rises on a plane from the pitcher's hand - call it a rising fastball. The girl in this video, at least from the angle of the camera, appears to throw a ball that changes planes.
To get back to the thread, IMHO, the Change Up is an important piece of a pitcher's arsenal. Not necessarily the most important, but the ability to change speeds, change planes and locate a pitch will keep batters off balance, which is the primary task facing a pitcher.
TOJO - after reviewing the video I agre that her last three "rises" appear to rise, or change the plane of travel. I have not read the article noted earlier in this thread (yet) but I still say that there are rise balls out there that actually change planes. Video from the side would show that much better, but very few take video from the side as very few actually throw anything other than a fastpitch that rises on a plane from the pitcher's hand - call it a rising fastball. The girl in this video, at least from the angle of the camera, appears to throw a ball that changes planes.
To get back to the thread, IMHO, the Change Up is an important piece of a pitcher's arsenal. Not necessarily the most important, but the ability to change speeds, change planes and locate a pitch will keep batters off balance, which is the primary task facing a pitcher.
