Pitching ? / Splitter, Forkball

by peachygbc_1 on Jun 24, 2009 8:16 PM CDT Comment 17 comments

I have a pitching question specifically regarding the splitter. Why don't more pitchers throw the splitter? Best of my knowledge it is the same as the forkball, is that true?

How do organizations decide to focus on certain pitches? I understand that every club wants its pitchers to develop the change. But why do some clubs focus on cutters, splitters and other clubs focus on the curveball vs. the slider? What goes into the thought process for what to throw more in a certain organization?

I really started thinking about this in regards to Blake Beavan. With his control and ability to throw strikes couldn't the splitter give him a true strikeout pitch? I really think Beavan is becoming an elite prospects and I think the splitter could take him to the next level.

Interested Ranger fan wanting to learn more. I figured what better place to learn some more specifics on pitches and pitching than the knowledge of the lonestarball community.

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I have heard

that it is very hard on the elbow. Not everyone can throw it-you supposedly need real long fingers or enough flexibility to spread them wide or something to that effect.

Definiton of insanity-doing the same thing and expecting different results
"Introducing your 2009 Texas Rangers-Built for Insanity!"

by randyd on Jun 24, 2009 8:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I've also heard the splitter is hard on the elbow

but that doesn’t make sense to me. If the pitch gets it’s movement due to the grip, rather than the action, I don’t see why that would be harmful.

Aren’t arm injuries generally caused by the different arm action caused by spinning pitches?

I do agree that BB would seem to be an ideal candidate to add the split to his repertoire.

There's more to the picture than meets the eye.

by tricer on Jun 24, 2009 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

rather than the arm action

There's more to the picture than meets the eye.

by tricer on Jun 24, 2009 9:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I've been told it's hard on the elbow as well.

I had Tommy John surgery about 15 months ago. Throughout the process I’ve been told by coaches and athletic trainers alike to stay away from the split. Before I tore my UCL I had tinkered with a split, but who knows if that was to blame- it probably wasn’t.

While the arm action of a split is simliar to that of a fastball or change-up (thumb down on release as oppossed to thumb up on breaking pitches), the difference is the spreading of the index finger and the middle finger for the split. If you place a finger on your Ulnar Collateral Ligament (located between the two bones on the inside of your elbow) and then spread your fingers apart and then close them, you can feel the ligament flex. When the split finger is thrown that ligament is in a flexed position.

It seems to me that the split finger is a pitch usually developed later in a pitcher’s career- see David Cone, Roger Clemens, and I believe Curt Schilling. I also think that larger framed pitchers are more succesful with staying healthy with the split (Clemens, Schilling, Zambrano, etc.) than smaller framed guys (Tim Hudson, Rich Harden). That might be a stretch, but that’s my basically non researched observation.

BB falls in a grey area because he’s 6’6 but only around 200 lbs. I would prefer to see him stick with his current repertoire and only go to adding a split when it is deemed completely neccessary.

"I think he can be ready, but right now I don’t believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training." --Joe Biden, on Barack Obama - 2007

by Brett Mize on Jun 24, 2009 11:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Is this you?

link

That's why they call them business sox

by egriffey on Jun 25, 2009 1:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha yes.

Sweet picture. When I registered on sbnation, somehow I made my username my full name. Anyway to change a username once you’ve been registered?

by Brett Mize on Jun 25, 2009 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately, nope

Well, Brett Perryman did have the SBN techies change his from “Zywica” to Brett, but he’s one of the admins here. I don’t think there’s any way to change your name yourself though, save to create a new account under a different email.

Get on base or die, Salty.

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by lonestarJon on Jun 25, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

GDawg changed his I think

you just have to email SBN

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jun 25, 2009 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's correct.

You have to email the SBN peeps.

"Blalock in the cleanup spot makes gives me agita." - Dustin

by benmor78 on Jun 25, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you just go to the main page

and find the “contact us” email, they’ll change it for you. It takes forever though.

That's why they call them business sox

by egriffey on Jun 25, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

That tells me a lot about the split. I do think it would be a great pitch for Beavan, but maybe he should wait 4 or 5 years to add some weight to his frame.

by peachygbc_1 on Jun 25, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ligaments don't flex.

If the split can at all be tied to UCL injuries, it’s through the action of cocking the wrist because it lessens the muscular support in the medial compartment of the elbow (where the UCL is).

Solution: throw the pitch without cocking your wrist back

The actual splitting of the fingers can put extra stress on the common flexor tendon, though. Repeated stress in a poorly conditioned forearm can lead to tendonitis, tearing, and weakness, each of which lessens the muscular support for the UCL.

Solution: be smart about working this type of pitch into your repertoire – do it slowly.

Brandon McCarthy: Scap Load Failure - TexasLeaguers.com

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 25, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you agree that it's something that generally speaking should be added as the pitcher matures?

Or does age/body type not really matter as long as you work it into your repertoire slowly? Thanks

"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan

by Dirk Diggler on Jun 25, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

But only in the general sense of maturation. Youth pitchers shouldn’t throw it because their hands are too small (or fingers are too short) and the growth plates in their elbows aren’t closed. The growth plate issues carries forward until “biological” age 19.

College and professional pitchers should be fine to throw it, but it’s a lot like the slider. It can be thrown in ways that will cause serious damage.

Brandon McCarthy: Scap Load Failure - TexasLeaguers.com

by NoNameOnCard on Jun 25, 2009 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs