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The slurve is a pitch in which the pitcher throws a fastball as if they were throwing a curve ball.[1] The term is derived from a portmanteau of "slider" and "curve".
[edit] History
The first utilized slurve pitch is unknown. Johnny Sain of the Boston Braves was known to throw a slurve in the 1940's.[2] On May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs utilized the slurve in major-league record tying twenty strikeout game.[3] Former Los Angeles Dodgers, Yakult Swallows and current Seibu Lions pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii, despite his well-documented control problems, uses a slurve almost exclusively against left-handers.
[edit] Concerns in pitching
Critics of the slurve call the pitch a sloppy slider because of its wide break. They claim that the slurve produces more home runs than a late breaking slider.[1] The usefulness of the slurve is debated. The slurve is also claimed to cause problems to a pitcher. In 1998 Kerry Wood claimed his elbow soreness was caused by throwing the slurve.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "The Mechanics Of A Breaking Pitch", Popular Mechanics, April 1997. Accessed July 6, 2007.
- ^ Liptak, M."Johnny Sain Remembered", White Sox Interactive. Accessed July 6, 2007.
- ^ a b Kiley, M."Whatever happened to ...",Chicago Times, February 8, 2000. Accessed July 6, 2007.
[edit] External links
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