Pitch Glossary

This is a glossary of all of the pitches currently thrown by players in the PMRN Help Desk Wiffle Ball League (PMRNHDWBL). These standard pitch names will be used in game recaps and in scouting reports that will appear hear at Somebody to Leon periodically. If you know of a pitch thrown by at least one player not listed here, feel free to add it as a comment, or to contact Ian Malinowski at the PMRN Help Desk.

Note: In an attempt to mirror the essence of hardball, if not necessarily the details, some of these pitches are categorized accurately by their movement while others are categorized by their affect on the batter-hitter matchup. Movement for each pitch is described as if the pitch were thrown by a right handed batter.

Fastball: The fastball travels in a straight line, and is thrown fast.

Changeup: The changeup travels in a straight line and is thrown more slowly than the fastball.

Slider: The slider is thrown hard and breaks away from a right handed batter.

Curve: The curve also breaks away from a right handed batter, but is thrown slower than the slider.

Splitter: The splitter is thrown hard and breaks in toward a right handed batter. It is the mirror image of the slider.

Screw Ball: The screw ball also breaks in toward a right handed batter but is thrown slower than the slider. It is the mirror image of a curve.

Cutter: The cutter is a fastball of moderate speed with a small amount of movement. This movement can be made to go in different directions. The cutter also loses its velocity especially quickly, causing it to drop more than expected.

Eephus: The Eepus is a slow, high, arcing pitch which the pitcher tries to drop into the back of the strike zone. The name comes from outfielder Maurice Van Robays. When asked what it meant, Van Robays replied, "'Eephus ain't nothing, and that's a nothing pitch."

Sinker: This pitch is thrown side-arm, and drops dramatically.

Riser: This pitch is thrown side-arm, and rises as it travels through the air.

Submarine Slider: The submarine slider is thrown underhanded, and breaks away from a right handed batter

Submarine Splitter: The submarine splitter is thrown underhanded and breaks in toward a right handed batter.