The slurve is a pitch in which the pitcher throws a slider as if they were throwing a curve ball.[1] The term is derived from a portmanteau 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.[2] On May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs utilized the slurve in major-league record tying twenty strikeout game.[3]
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.[1] 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.[3]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The Mechanics Of A Breaking Pitch", Popular Mechanics, April 1997. Accessed July 6, 2007.
- ↑ Liptak, M."Johnny Sain Remembered", White Sox Interactive. Accessed July 6, 2007.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kiley, M."Whatever happened to ...",Chicago Times, February 8, 2000. Accessed July 6, 2007.