Anybody ever see a pitcher with only two pitches??

[kehlis]

Re: Anybody ever see a pitcher with only two pitches??

A lot of the reason guys are slotted into bullpen duty is because they lack a quality third pitch. So even when they have a third, they don't use it.

To expand on that-- pitchers can throw as many pitches as they want, what determines how many pitches "they have" is how good they throw them. When you draft a guy with 4 pitches and it turns out batters kill two of the four, the two are usually revamped, replaced or the pitcher is moved to the bullpen where two pitches is perfectly fine.

Lidge actually does have three pitches, but he has stopped throwing his "get-me-over" breaking ball to noticeable results.

I think your thinking on this is a little skewed. The reason they are in the bullpen generally is not because they only have "two" quality pitches but because of other factors such as stamina or their mental makeup.

Pitchers who know they are going to be relief pitchers don't need as many pitches as starters so they only work on refining a few as opposed to working on 5 pitches or so.

Many starters have gone to the bullpen and dropped a pitch or two since they don't need as many.

[djo201]

Re: Anybody ever see a pitcher with only two pitches??

Because I just did....crap, i wish I wouldve remembered his name, because he was a real player...but anyway...do you think this is a glitch?

John Lackey had only 2 pitches in today's (Saturday) game...


Crap, you're not referring to that kind of pitches, are you?

[spyda757]

Re: Anybody ever see a pitcher with only two pitches??

Mitch Stetter of the Milwaukee brewers only has 2 pitches in the game a 4sfb and a slider i belive, he is a Reliver, but I think he has 3 pitches for real, but not sure.

[NYJin2009tm]

Re: Anybody ever see a pitcher with only two pitches??

John Lackey had only 2 pitches in today's (Saturday) game...


Crap, you're not referring to that kind of pitches, are you?

LOL I like that one...funny.

[CMH]

Re: Anybody ever see a pitcher with only two pitches??

I think your thinking on this is a little skewed. The reason they are in the bullpen generally is not because they only have "two" quality pitches but because of other factors such as stamina or their mental makeup.

Pitchers who know they are going to be relief pitchers don't need as many pitches as starters so they only work on refining a few as opposed to working on 5 pitches or so.

Many starters have gone to the bullpen and dropped a pitch or two since they don't need as many.

It's a combination of all those factors.

Many pitchers are drafted as starters. Stamina is usually never an issue for a pitcher drafted out of college. Every now and then you'll see a guy drafted as a reliever, but they are extremely rare.

What eventually happens is relievers appear to have low stamina because they work under tighter conditions. They only physically and mentally prepare for 1 or 2 innings so they throw as hard as possible. In NY we see that with Joba. Out of the pen, he was throwing 96+. As a starter, he throws 93+. Out of the pen, he threw mostly fastball, slider. As a starter, he uses both along with his curveball and changeup.

So, yes, guys will limit their pitches to the most effective in a one inning role. They also appear to be possess less stamina because they use most of it in that one inning. But no pitcher is incapable of throwing a full start. I'd say stamina is not even a matter when it comes to determining a guy's role.

It's mostly because of pitch quality and effectiveness (or what you might have called "mental makeup").

[Sacrafice]

Re: Anybody ever see a pitcher with only two pitches??

Mitch Stetter of the Milwaukee brewers only has 2 pitches in the game a 4sfb and a slider i belive, he is a Reliver, but I think he has 3 pitches for real, but not sure.

In reality he hammers the slider and uses the fastball as a change of pace. In the game his slider is his #1 pitch which is true to form. The thing with Stetter is he will change his release point which in turn totally changes the way the slider moves though he is primarily a side arm pitcher and ONLY faces lefties.