.groqnz .ad-body-container .ad-body-inner-container::before{color:#dddddd;content:"ADVERTISEMENT";display:block;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:0.694rem;line-height:13px;position:absolute;top:17px;text-align:center;width:100%;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-black-italic.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-black-italic.woff') format('woff');font-style:italic;font-weight:900;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ Its not necessarily the pitch. He added, Im for anything thats going to make a guy successful and give him a chance to play in the big leagues.. We obviously sat in the bullpen together for many, many hours and he was a great teammate and an even greater friend.\n\nHe was one who didnt have any trouble forgetting \\[a bad outing\\]. But in early development, no.. .blUWSx .share-list__item{position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ The Cardinals announced that Hall of Fame pitcher and World Series champion Bruce Sutter has passed away. It was the pitch of the 80s just like the pitch of the 60s was a slider.. And he'd throw the fastball just enough to keep them guessing. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-wrap:wrap;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;position:relative;z-index:99993;padding:0 14px;background-color:#041e42;box-shadow:1px 0 5px #000000;}/*!sc*/ To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. But if you throw the fastball overhand with enough force, it will appear to rise because it's not dropping as much as the batter's brain thinks it should. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__league{margin-bottom:5px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search-item__team-logo--container{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;margin-left:auto;}/*!sc*/ Learn about my workout programs for pitchers small{font-size:80%;}/*!sc*/ .kKeedG:hover{border-bottom:none;color:#0048AB;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g144[id="Styles__StickyHeaderContainer-sc-1wye7kw-0"]{content:"ggWmAj,"}/*!sc*/ He is a member of both teams Halls of Fame. Splitter-heavy pitchers who have developed shoulder and elbow problems include Bryan Harvey, Rod Beck and John Smoltz, who took a break from throwing his splitter after experiencing elbow pain. That's because the pitch itself should be "choked" deep in the hand. Bruce Sutter's Splitter down in the zone Chris Sales/Finest Haders Slider Roberto Osuna/D. The Chicago White Sox and the pitching coach Don Cooper say it is all about throwing it with the proper technique. The surprise on the quick dive of the ball at home plate in the very last second creates missed swings from the opponent. .cWQXyp{display:inline-block;width:100%;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top{padding:0 16px;}}/*!sc*/ How do you throw your pitches? Post pictures of your pitching grips on mybaseball pitching discussion forums. At 55 feet the ball dropped clear out of the strike zone. He saved just three games in 1986 before undergoing shoulder surgery to repair an injured rotator cuff, the third arm surgery of his career. You can just take your fingers and the more you put them apart, the more you put stress on the elbow, the Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson said. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ But as the years wore on and more pitchers adopted the splitter, it started to become apparent that it could have significant consequences. If we had a Sunday game and we were off on Monday and didnt play again until Tuesday night, hed knock on my clubhouse office door and say, 'Skipper, if you need me in the seventh, Ill come in and finish it off for you. Hed do that every Sunday and hed finish it out for me. Some guys have it and thats their bread and butter and what they go by. Even though his time with the Braves was mostly marred by injuries -- he had just 40 saves and a 4.55 ERA -- he is still remembered throughout baseball as a selfless person and a strong teammate to those around him. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .mlb-header__login-menu{border-color:#057AFF;}/*!sc*/ Sutter eventually got hurt in August, and perhaps not coincidentally, the Cubs started losing games. Its a wild pitch waiting to happen, but its also devastating on the hitter if you can learn to control it, especially a closer or setup guy, said the Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti, who was on Craigs staff in the early 90s. Ted Williams once said that a slider was "the best pitch in baseball." .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo{-webkit-flex:0 1 auto;-ms-flex:0 1 auto;flex:0 1 auto;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;text-align:left;height:56px;padding:0 16px 0 0;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus{outline:1px dotted #041E42;}/*!sc*/ AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. This, of course, shortens your follow through, but allows you to really snap off the pitch. A six-time All-Star, Sutter led the National League in saves for five years and won the 1979 Cy Young Award. The beginners curveball is a great pitch for younger pitchers. data-styled.g122[id="Styles__HeadlineContainer-sc-19rm04l-0"]{content:"dMKvOx,"}/*!sc*/ .jbYgiH{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,minmax(0,1fr));grid-gap:24px;margin:0 auto;max-width:967px;}/*!sc*/ He was just an amazing relief pitcher \\[who\\] was so good.","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"1980-07-09T00:05:00Z","description":"7/8/80: Cubs pitcher Bruce Sutter fans the Tigers' Lance Parrish to earn the save in the NL's win in the 1980 All- Star Game","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:22","mp4AvcPlayback":null,"slug":"sutter-saves-all-star-game-c20759321","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-home-team-id-160","title":"HBmig home_team_id: 160"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mmtax-no-pre-roll","title":"HBmig No Pre-roll on this clip"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-away-team-id-159","title":"HBmig away_team_id: 159"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"gamepk-67199","title":"1980/07/08 al@nl"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-feature","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_FEATURE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-112","title":"Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-team-id-112","title":"HBmig Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-vtp-1980","title":"HBmig 1980s"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-no-transcode","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_NO_TRANSCODE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-combined-media-state-media-archive","title":"HBmig MEDIA_ARCHIVE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-123004","title":"Bruce Sutter"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-save","title":"HBmig Save"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"classic","title":"classic"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"pitching","title":"pitching"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"all-star-game","title":"All-Star Game"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/jcghmk8p9sgzun2anyla","title":"Sutter saves All-Star Game","type":"video","url":"/video/sutter-saves-all-star-game-c20759321"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Herzog, who acquired fellow Hall of Fame closer Rollie Fingers from the Padres a day before trading for Sutter, referred to the shaggy-bearded Sutter as a door-slammer.\" Herzog also predicted when Sutter left via free agency in 1984 that he would be 25 games dumber without his trusted closer to finish off games.\n\nI feel like people didnt realize how good he was until you managed him, Herzog raved. .blUWSx .share-icon{width:25px;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu{right:32px;top:calc(56px - 4px);}.mHQYb .mlb-header[data-is-club] .mlb-header__login-menu{top:calc(112px - 4px);}}/*!sc*/ In 1982, Sutter pitched the final out in the seventh game of the World Series to help defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3. .fuMUTu rect{fill:#ffffff;stroke:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .blLcNM .content >:nth-last-child(2){border:none;margin-right:auto;padding-right:48px;}/*!sc*/ Still, Sutter had a 1.54 ERA over a career-best 122 2/3 innings that season, and he parlayed the performance into a six-year, $9.1 million free-agent deal with the Braves. Sutter, the first pitcher inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame without having started a game, compiled 300 saves and a dazzling 2.83 ERA over 12 seasons with the Cubs, Cardinals and Braves. .mHQYb body.side-nav-open{position:fixed;overflow:hidden;overscroll-behavior:none;touch-action:none;}/*!sc*/ .groqnz.markdown.youtube,.groqnz.photo figcaption.youtube,.groqnz.oembed .social-embed.youtube{padding:0;}/*!sc*/ Bruce Sutter passed away today, aged 69, confirmed by the Cardinals' official Twitter account: We are saddened over the passing of Bruce Sutter. .fvEQJr{bottom:0;left:0;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-button__link--message{position:absolute;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;height:100%;left:-105px;bottom:2px;padding:0 5px;border-radius:5px;background:#041E42;color:#ffffff;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:12px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top > *{-webkit-order:0;-ms-flex-order:0;order:0;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;}/*!sc*/ The splitter evolved from the forkball. Next, place your thumb directly on the bottom side of the baseball and on the smooth leather in between the narrow seams (as shown in the picture on the right). .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#081c3b;}/*!sc*/ @media only screen and (min-width:568px){.hYmwpY{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}}/*!sc*/ To throw a splitter, split the middle and index fingers and grip the ball along the widest point of the ball. Mike Roarke, a Cubs coach from 1978-80 and a Cardinals coach from 1984-90, became something of a personal pitching coach for Sutter and his split-fingered fastball.\n\nHe was a conventional pitcher, but it was Fred Martin with the Cubs who came up with the idea \\[to throw the splitter\\] because Bruce had big hands and he could really wedge that ball between his fingers, Kaat remembered. Support provided by Market New York through I LOVE NY/ New York States Division of Tourism as a part of the Regional Economic Development Council awards. .huJzbO{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}/*!sc*/ In his first season as a professional in 1972, Sutter experienced pain in his right elbow while pitching in the Gulf Coast League and was shut down for the rest of the year. Here are some of the most common baseball pitching grips and how I threw them in college and professional baseball. 1 fastest is a four-seam fastball and No. I think there is a correlation between some stresses put on the arms some guys have had elbow problems, forearm problems, shoulder problems and that pitch, Scioscia said. But you just want to avoid injuries at all costs. 2. with the fingers spread farther apart to change the rotation and add break. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos > *{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;}/*!sc*/ He posted 300 saves in a 12-year career with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and . To the Cardinals, his teammates and, most importantly, the greatest fans in all of sports, we thank you for all of the love and support over the years. Then, of course, this pitching grip is the next step. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner::after{display:inline-block;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-button__close{top:6px;left:5px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(2){-webkit-transform:rotate(45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(45deg);transform:rotate(45deg);}/*!sc*/ The deeper the grip, the more friction that is created on the ball, which takes off velocity. And those who still use it do so cautiously. .mHQYb .p-search-item__container:hover{background-color:#e6f2ff75;color:#333333;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g154[id="newsletterLogostyle__NewsletterLogoContainer-sc-j5dgcz-0"]{content:"bZhBFV,"}/*!sc*/ If you have larger hands the pitch is most effective because it should be "choked" deep in the hand. A six-time All-Star, Sutter led the National League in saves for five years and won the 1979 Cy Young Award. When throwing this pitch, throw the palm-side wrist of the throwing-hand directly at the target while keeping your index and middle fingers extended upward. It was there that coach Fred Martin taught him the split-finger fastball that made his career. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon{background:none;padding:0px;width:24px;height:18px;position:relative;margin:0px auto;-webkit-transform:rotate(0deg);-ms-transform:rotate(0deg);transform:rotate(0deg);-webkit-transition:0.5s ease-in-out;transition:0.5s ease-in-out;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ You dont see that anymore.. data-styled.g120[id="headlinestyle__HeadlineWrapper-sc-1ccyctx-0"]{content:"jDETbc,hSQYJO,"}/*!sc*/ Philadelphias Roy Halladay, the Angels Dan Haren and Bostons Jonathan Papelbon are among the pitchers who still have it in their arsenals, but concerns about the strain it can put on a pitchers arm are prompting some teams to ban their prospects from throwing it. His 31 saves propelled him to a sixth-place finish in Cy Young voting and a seventh-place finish in MVP voting. .mHQYb .p-search{display:block;position:relative;color:#333333;width:inherit;}/*!sc*/ When throwing a two-seam fastball, your index and middle fingers are placed directly on top of the narrow seams of the baseball (as shown in the picture on the left). St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bruce Sutter delivers the ball to the plate en route to his record setting 38th save of the season against the New York Mets in this Sept. 4, 1984 file photo. .hspSPq svg{padding-top:1px;vertical-align:top;fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .iQELft{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0px;}/*!sc*/ He was a true pioneer in the game, changing the role of the late inning reliever.","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2022-10-14T17:35:07.146Z","description":"Alanna Rizzo and Chris Russo break the news of Bruce Sutter's passing and reflect on his historic career on this edition of High Heat","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:06:22","mp4AvcPlayback":"https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-10/14/c0a35e9e-a62d0b71-27fd3826-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","slug":"remembering-the-late-bruce-sutter","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-112","title":"Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-138","title":"St. Louis Cardinals"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-144","title":"Atlanta Braves"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"mlb-network","title":"MLB Network"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"mlbn-high-heat","title":"MLBN High Heat"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"tribute","title":"tribute"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"no-pre-roll","title":"no pre-roll"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-123004","title":"Bruce Sutter"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ir7bfexera2vdoihtg6a","title":"Remembering the late Bruce Sutter","type":"video","url":"/video/remembering-the-late-bruce-sutter"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Kaat said he and Sutter talked often during their two-year stint together in St. Louis about the split-fingered fastball, and how it saved the latters career. pre{font-family:monospace,monospace;font-size:1em;}/*!sc*/ When Bruce would get a little off kilter mechanically, hed bring in Mike to help him and hed get it back.. He was a three-sport athlete in high school, excelling as captain of both the football and basketball team while leading the baseball team to a county championship. The pitch not only led him to the Major Leagues, but also made him a Cy Young Award winner with the Cubs and a World Series Champion with the 1982 Cardinals. button,input{overflow:visible;}/*!sc*/ On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my condolences to Bruces family, his friends and his fans in Chicago, St. Louis and Atlanta and throughout our game.\n\nSutter is most remembered for the iconic moment on Oct. 20, 1982, when he struck out Brewers slugger Gorman Thomas and caught leaping catcher Darrell Porter in his arms at the mound. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium-it.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ A splitter grip is like a 2-seam grip, only the fingers are wider apart, often along the outside of those closest-together seams, . Use these pitching grip descriptions and pictures as a guide to getting a better grip on the baseball. .dLQAwR .contributor__image{margin-right:8px;}/*!sc*/ A six-time All-Star, Sutter led the National League in saves for five years and won the 1979 Cy Young Award. And it was his splitter, a pitch new to the game, that hitters simply could not hit. Cubs ownership claimed the salary was something they couldnt afford, and after Sutter had another very good season for a 98-loss Cubs team in 1980, they traded him to the Cardinals for Leon Durham, Ken Reitz and Ty Waller. data-styled.g146[id="Styles__StickyHeadline-sc-1wye7kw-2"]{content:"cHcHkC,"}/*!sc*/ He became the first pitcher enshrined who had never started a MLB game. .hHLkAw input.right{padding-right:32px;}/*!sc*/ And I could bring him in with the bases loaded and hed go down 3-0 and hed still not walk a hitter. One way to develop "fastball mechanics" but changeup speed is to practice throwing your changeup as you long toss (throwing beyond 90 feet). In all, there were 401 days missed. header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open{position:fixed;top:0px;z-index:99992;}/*!sc*/ .fuMUTu{pointer-events:none;width:16px;height:16px;display:inline-block;overflow:visible;fill:#ffffff;stroke:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Because of its deceptively slower velocity and sharp drop, a splitter is designed to get the hitter's bat ahead of the pitch and induce weak contact. data-styled.g11[id="buttonstyle__StyledButton-sc-vlv7w5-1"]{content:"hspSPq,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__input--icon.close-icon:hover{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ Bruce Sutter, one of the best splitter pitchers in the history of the game, says that it is very important to put your thumb on the back seam, not the front seam. Hold a baseball with a splitter grip. Martin taught Sutter the split-fingered fastball a variation of the much older forkball which Sutter picked up quickly. Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; General Baseball; History of the Game; If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. .mHQYb .p-search__input{-webkit-appearance:none;position:relative;height:40px;font-family:'mlb-primary','Helvetica Neue','Helvetica','Arial', sans-serif;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.075);color:#000;font-size:16px;width:100%;min-width:250px;background-color:#ffffff;border:0px;border-radius:6px;padding:0.25rem 1rem;line-height:1.42857143;margin-bottom:2px;}/*!sc*/