[quote=“ltdan”]I’m talking about “stuff” here. Like, why do some pitchers throw a curveball, while others throw the slider (or split vs. sinker, circle vs. straight change, etc.) Is it that they choose one over the other, or are naturally able to throw that pitch while keeping consistent mechanics? Or is that they are mechanically inclined to throw certain pitches? For instance, I have similar mechanics to Dan Haren, does that make me a better candidate to throw a split-finger?
I can throw a lot of different pitches in practice, but what is the biggest factor when choosing “stuff”?[/quote]
Well, It has something to do with mechanics. But in a certain way. Pitchers throw what works for them. Tim wakefield, for instance, throws a knuckle and a fastball, but that’s because the knuckle works for him and the fastball is there to keep them out of balance. I, for instance, I can’t throw a good change, so I will stick with what works for me, a curveball, a fastball and a slider. Now we come to mechanices, if you throw sidearm, you will get a hard time throwing splits, so you might as well throw a sinker, while it works better as a sidearm pitcher. But it just has to do with what works for you. I guess you are right with the Dan Haren-split-finger thing, but I’m more like a Santana guy, does that make me a circle-change pitcher? Probably not, I can’t throw change so well, but I’m working on it:P.
