Slurve
Encyclopedia
The slurve is a baseball
pitch in which the pitcher
throws a slider
as if he were throwing a curve ball. The term is a portmanteau of the words "slider" and "curve".
of the Boston Braves
was known to throw a slurve in the 1940s. On May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood
of the Chicago Cubs
utilized the slurve in a major-league record tying twenty strikeout game. 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. Alfredo Aceves
from the Boston Red Sox was also identified to throw a slurve pitch. Popular rookie of 2010 Stephen Strasburg
claims to throw a slurve although experts still call the pitch curveball. Hall of Fame relief pitcher Goose Gossage
stated that learning how to throw a slurve changed his career in his Yankeeography. Both Cy Young
and Walter Johnson
had slurves in their arsenals and Cy Young is the earliest known user of the pitch, having started his career in 1890.
claimed his elbow soreness was caused by throwing the slurve.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitch in which the pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
throws a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
as if he were throwing a curve ball. The term is a portmanteau of the words "slider" and "curve".
History
The first pitcher to utilize the slurve pitch is unknown. Johnny SainJohnny Sain
John Franklin Sain was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was best known for teaming with left-hander Warren Spahn on the Boston Braves teams from 1946 to 1951...
of the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
was known to throw a slurve in the 1940s. On May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood
Kerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....
of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
utilized the slurve in a major-league record tying twenty strikeout game. Former Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Yakult Swallows and current Seibu Lions
Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based west of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Prince Hotels, which in turn is owned by the Seibu Group...
pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii
Kazuhisa Ishii
Kazuhisa Ishii is a Japanese former Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Saitama Seibu Lions....
, despite his well-documented control problems, uses a slurve almost exclusively against left-handers. Alfredo Aceves
Alfredo Aceves
Alfredo Aceves Martínez is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. He uses a fastball, which can reach the mid 90s, a curveball, a changeup, and a cut fastball. He is known for his control and his ability to throw any pitch in any count...
from the Boston Red Sox was also identified to throw a slurve pitch. Popular rookie of 2010 Stephen Strasburg
Stephen Strasburg
Stephen James Strasburg is a right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals, who selected him with the first pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft...
claims to throw a slurve although experts still call the pitch curveball. Hall of Fame relief pitcher Goose Gossage
Goose Gossage
Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 22-year baseball career, he pitched from 1972-1994 for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. The nickname "Goose" is a play on his surname...
stated that learning how to throw a slurve changed his career in his Yankeeography. Both Cy Young
Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
and Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
had slurves in their arsenals and Cy Young is the earliest known user of the pitch, having started his career in 1890.
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. The usefulness of the slurve is debated. The slurve is also claimed to cause problems to a pitcher. In 1998 Kerry WoodKerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....
claimed his elbow soreness was caused by throwing the slurve.
External links
- The Mechanics Of A Breaking Pitch at Popular MechanicsPopular MechanicsPopular Mechanics is an American magazine first published January 11, 1902 by H. H. Windsor, and has been owned since 1958 by the Hearst Corporation...