- Slurve
The slurve is a pitch in which the pitcher throws a slider as if they were throwing a
curve ball . [http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/1283161.html?page=3 "The Mechanics Of A Breaking Pitch"] , "Popular Mechanics ", April 1997. Accessed July 6, 2007.] The term is derived from aportmanteau of "slider" and "curve".History
The first utilized slurve pitch is unknown.
Johnny Sain of the Boston Braves was known to throw a slurve in the 1940's. [Liptak, M. [http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/rwas/index.php?category=3 "Johnny Sain Remembered"] , "White Sox Interactive". Accessed July 6, 2007.] OnMay 6 ,1998 Kerry Wood of theChicago Cubs utilized the slurve in major-league record tying twenty strikeout game. FormerLos Angeles Dodgers ,Yakult Swallows and currentSeibu Lions pitcherKazuhisa Ishii , despite his well-documented control problems, uses a slurve almost exclusively against left-handers.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 Wood claimed his elbow soreness was caused by throwing the slurve.Kiley, M. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20000208/ai_n13851865 "Whatever happened to ..."] ,"Chicago Times , February 8, 2000. Accessed July 6, 2007.]References
External links
* [http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/sports/1283161.html The Mechanics Of A Breaking Pitch] at
Popular Mechanics
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