data-styled.g157[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Title-sc-d7sh2p-2"]{content:"ihHuHi,"}/*!sc*/ In 2011, six of the fifteen pitchers ended up on the DL, with two of them undergoing season-ending surgery. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(2),.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(3){top:8px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g154[id="newsletterLogostyle__NewsletterLogoContainer-sc-j5dgcz-0"]{content:"bZhBFV,"}/*!sc*/ (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum). a{background-color:transparent;}/*!sc*/ He was a six-time All-Star and a four-time winner of the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award.\n\nOn behalf of the Cardinals organization and baseball fans everywhere, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the Sutter family, said Cardinals principal owner and chief executive officer Bill DeWitt Jr. Bruce was a fan-favorite during his years in St. Louis and in the years to follow, and he will always be remembered for his 1982 World Series clinching save and signature split-fingered pitch. He was 69 years old. data-styled.g114[id="sc-bdfBwQ"]{content:"mHQYb,"}/*!sc*/ You dont see it as much, Cuddyer said. data-styled.g100[id="styles__SearchWidgetContainer-sc-1vorjk3-0"]{content:"fYCiRB,"}/*!sc*/ He is a member of both teams Halls of Fame. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__url-logo{padding-left:20px;-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;}/*!sc*/ article > section{font-size:1.2rem;font-family:Georgia,serif;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){article > header{padding:0;}}/*!sc*/ Martin taught Sutter the split-fingered fastball a variation of the much older forkball which Sutter picked up quickly. 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. article ul,article ol{padding:0;margin:0 0 0 2.5rem;}/*!sc*/ delivery with his split-fingered pitch was a delight. .hUHmCp > article{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,minmax(0,1fr));grid-gap:24px;color:#000000;}/*!sc*/ To get to the next level, preparation is everything. .hHLkAw input::-webkit-input-placeholder{color:#aaaaaa;}/*!sc*/ Here's a shot of Sutter pitching in a game back in 1983 love the scruff. When Bruce would get a little off kilter mechanically, hed bring in Mike to help him and hed get it back.\n\nSutter failed to convert a save in his final outing of the 1984 season, leaving him tied with Royals closer Dan Quisenberry for the then-MLB record of 45 saves. Sutter remembered as pioneer of split-fingered fastball, https://www.tiktok.com/@baseballhall?lang=en. @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;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ It also was one of the stars of October, with power throwers such as Clemens, Morris and Oaklands Dave Stewart riding it to World Series glory. His procedure repaired a pinched nerve in his elbow and upon returning to baseball, Sutter found he could not muster enough strength to throw a fastball, much less complete an inning. 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. Sutter had five outstanding seasons for the Cubs, but eventually his success led to an arbitration award deemed too expensive for the sclerotic Wrigley ownership regime, and he was traded to the Cardinals. One thing I did not recall when looking up Sutters career is that he was originally drafted by the Washington Senators out of high school in Pennsylvania in 1970. Odds & lines subject to change. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav{text-align:left;background-color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;font-weight:700;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;padding:10px 12px;}/*!sc*/ He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through his family and through Cardinal Nation!\n\nSutter got to see both sides of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry, pitching for Chicago from 1976-80 and for St. Louis from 1981-84. Instead of releasing him, Chicago sent Sutter to the minor leagues to rehabilitate his arm. This, of course, is the reason this pitch is great for beginners: the ball goes where your index finger points. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. A six-time All-Star, Sutter led the National League in saves for five years and won the 1979 Cy Young Award. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav{opacity:0;display:none;left:-9999px;position:absolute;margin:0px;-webkit-transition:opacity 100ms ease 100ms;transition:opacity 100ms ease 100ms;pointer-events:initial;border-top:solid 4px #002867;border-radius:0 0 6px 6px;box-shadow:0px 0px 14px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.25);}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__content{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-box-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__group-title{padding:11px 8px;white-space:nowrap;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__item:not(.header__subnav--teams__team),.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__group-title{display:block;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__group{-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__subnav__group-title{background-color:#ffffff;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item{position:relative;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item:hover .header__nav-top__nav-item__text,.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{opacity:1;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true']{border-bottom:none;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true']::after{opacity:1;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__subnav{display:block;opacity:1;top:52px;left:0px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-closed .header__nav-top__nav-container .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__subnav--pin-to-right{right:0;left:auto;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g162[id="Styles__NewsletterOptinContainer-sc-10yslsy-0"]{content:"sczZi,"}/*!sc*/ Keep your index and middle fingers extended upward; wrist should remain stiff. Had he finished, hed have broken the MLB single-season record for saves (Dan Quisenberry, 1983). If youbelieve adding velocity could be critical to your success,check out my proven programsfor pitchers of all ages. .mHQYb body.side-nav-open{position:fixed;overflow:hidden;overscroll-behavior:none;touch-action:none;}/*!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*/ Do it while you're watching TV or in study hall at school. It was a call you always hope for but never really expect to happen. Long before Bobby Bonilla famously deferred much of his contract with the Mets to make additional millions in salary, Sutter pulled off a financial move for the ages. The Chicago White Sox and the pitching coach Don Cooper say it is all about throwing it with the proper technique. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight{background-color:#333333;}/*!sc*/ MINNEAPOLIS (AP) In the 1980s, everyone was doing it. Watching Sutter use his 86-m.p.h. LOUIS -- Bruce Sutter, the Hall of Famer who revolutionized the closer position and the split-fingered fastball and clinched the St. Louis Cardinals' 1982 World Series title 40 years ago this week, passed away at the age of 69 near his home in Cartersville, Ga., on Thursday. Hold a baseball with a splitter grip. .dMKvOx{line-height:1.2;}/*!sc*/ Most good slider pitchers grip the outer-third of the baseball and cock their wrist slightly, but not stiffly, to their throwing hand's thumb-side upon release of the pitch. The split finger was a dominant pitch for Ron Darling on the 1986 World Champion New York Mets staff. Self-guided tour or VIP experience. Theres a lot of occasions I look at one of our pitchers and say, man, if he could throw a split it would really help him out a lot, Balsley said. More images of splitter grips Image source: baseball-pitching-tips.com DID YOU KNOW? Sutter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 after several good years with the Cardinals and Braves, with a total of 300 career saves that now ranks tied for 30th in MLB history. .hHLkAw input::-moz-placeholder{color:#aaaaaa;}/*!sc*/ 2 is a two-seam fastball.) This puts the ball out front just a bit more than a fork ball. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button-menu{-webkit-flex:0 0 auto;-ms-flex:0 0 auto;flex:0 0 auto;}/*!sc*/ As a pioneer of the pitch, Sutter paved the way for the many pitchers who throw splitters today. During his career, he fought through devastating elbow and shoulder injuries and underwent three surgeries, yet retained his calm demeanor and ability to stay poised under pressure as he became the first pitcher to lead the National League in saves five times. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Some more guesses as to who will be on the field at Wrigley on March 30. A slider is gripped like a two-seam fastball, but held slightly off-center. The Angels, the Twins, the Giants, the Reds, the Padres and the Rays are among the many major league teams that discourage their pitchers from developing a splitter, citing health reasons as well as the belief that throwing it too much can reduce the velocity of a pitchers fastball. In every year from 1978 through 1981, Sutter either won or saved the All-Star Game for the National League. In other words, because I'm a righty, I'd throw two-seamers inside to right-handed batters and four-seamers away. His success earned him a World Series ring in 1982 and enshrinement in Cooperstown in 2006. .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*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--mobile-quick-nav .header__nav-top__nav-item--inner{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;height:100%;}/*!sc*/ And instead of leverage coming from behind the top of the baseball (as a four-seam fastball), leverage on a curve comes from the front of the baseball. The "horseshoe seam" should face into your ring finger of your throwing hand (as shown in the picture on the left). Throw the palm-side wrist of the throwing hand directly at the target. 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. Im a believer that its not pitches that hurt people, its poor deliveries, Cooper said. The results were immediate. This reduces speed and gives you that nice, fading movement to your throwing-arm side of the plate. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .icon-globe{margin-left:32px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button .p-icon--login{width:35px;height:35px;}/*!sc*/ This We all knew how important he was, but he never thought he was more important than anybody else.. It's easy to see why in 2014 among all pitchers who threw at least 300 splitters, Tanaka ranked 1st in whiffs/swing (46%), 1st ground balls per balls in play (69%), and 2nd in velocity (87.27 mph average). straight down at the last second. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo img,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo a{height:56px;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g89[id="sc-global-feDRkC1"]{content:"sc-global-feDRkC1,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__content,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams{padding:8px;}/*!sc*/ The surprise on the quick dive of the ball at home plate in the very last second creates missed swings from the opponent. Ultimately, the two of them were swarmed by teammates and fans at Busch Stadium while celebrating the Cardinals' first World Series title in 15 years. Sutter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006 as the first pitcher without a single starting assignment to be elected. I teach a beginners curveball grip to younger pitchers who are learning a curveball for the first time because I feel that it's the easiest way to correctly learn proper spin. Day trip or a week-long adventure. .mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club] .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__tagline img,.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-microsite] .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__tagline img{height:56px;max-width:512px;line-height:56px;}/*!sc*/ The average speed of all splitters in the majors is 84-85 mph. @media only screen and (min-width:568px){.kwDmpG{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-flex:1;-webkit-flex-grow:1;-ms-flex-positive:1;flex-grow:1;margin-right:8px;}}/*!sc*/ Nowadays, the splitter has fallen out of favor. (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum), Id like to tell you I worked and worked at it but Id be lying to you because it did come to me right away, Sutter said. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--logo{height:24px;width:24px;padding:2px 2px 2px 0;margin-right:2px;display:inline-block;}/*!sc*/ Sutter rarely threw his splitter for a strike, but it was difficult for hitters to lay off. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner{width:100%;display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g10[id="buttonstyle__Label-sc-vlv7w5-0"]{content:"iwXciG,"}/*!sc*/ A slider is the third fastest pitch in baseball. Twelve years in the majors and 300 saves later, Sutter had become one of the most dominant relievers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, all because of a different grip on the ball. data-styled.g164[id="Styles__AspectRatioContainer-sc-1t1lmmv-0"]{content:"jiNMQU,"}/*!sc*/ Grip As mentioned above, a splitter is thrown with a pitcher's two fingers split apart by the baseball. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link .icon__nav-item{margin-right:5px;width:10px;height:15px;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;}/*!sc*/ People are . There are a lot of good ones -- and Im not knocking [Rich] Gossage or anybody else -- but when I warmed him up, if I didnt use him that inning, hed still pitch the next inning. All the #Cubs, #MLB, and #MiLB news you can use, four days a week. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}/*!sc*/ Some guys have it and thats their bread and butter and what they go by. Afraid that the Cubs would deem him unable to pitch, Sutter pursued and underwent surgery on his own. I feel like people didnt realize how good he was until you managed him, Herzog raved. Him and Goose Gossage, who I was also teammates with, both had that ability to forget about a blown save. The longtime Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley does not have a pitcher who throws one. They're generally thrown in the same situations that would see a pitcher throw his breaking and off-speed pitches. A lot of pitchers that I work with like to "touch" their pinky and thumb when gripping this pitch (as shown in the middle picture). .koKsQt{font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ 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. .mHQYb .mlb-header__login-menu__link{display:block;padding:10px;color:#081c3b;background-color:#f7f7f7;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ .hUHmCp > article > aside{display:none;}/*!sc*/ Ultimately, the two of them were swarmed by teammates and fans at Busch Stadium while celebrating the Cardinals' first World Series title in 15 years. Once your index finger is comfortable with the grip, you can progress into spinning a baseball to a partner without any trouble. A palmball is is gripped by essentially choking the baseball deep in your hand and wrapping all of your fingers around the baseball. .blUWSx .share-icon__button{background:none;border:none;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ A six-time All-Star, Sutter led the National League in saves for five years and won the 1979 Cy Young Award. .drUhS{pointer-events:none;width:100%;height:100%;display:inline-block;overflow:visible;fill:#000000;stroke:#000000;}/*!sc*/ At its release point, try to turn the ball over a little to get more movement. But as the years wore on and more pitchers adopted the splitter, it started to become apparent that it could have significant consequences. That's higher than the average of 69 and the median of 51 for all pitchers, so perhaps splitter throwers are more likely to have major surgery. 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). Some baseball pitchers may find it more helpful to place their index finger along the seam of the baseball since the index finger is the one from which the slider is thrown. .ebrWqN:-moz-loading{color:#f3f3f3;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g147[id="Styles__MarkdownContainer-dxqlie-0"]{content:"eJdqRG,"}/*!sc*/ One thing I did with this pitch in college and in professional baseball was to always throw my two-seam fastball to the throwing-hand side of the plate and my four seam fastball to the glove-hand side of the plate. code,kbd,samp{font-family:monospace,monospace;font-size:1em;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g140[id="sharestyle__Label-sc-9nfkvu-0"]{content:"ezZJVn,"}/*!sc*/ To grip the four seam fastball, place your index and middle fingertips directly on the perpendicular seam of the baseball. .hspSPq svg{padding-top:1px;vertical-align:top;fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g139[id="Styles__ContributorContainer-sc-9g3k0d-0"]{content:"dLQAwR,"}/*!sc*/ A trip to Cooperstown has something for baseball fans and everyone else. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through his family and through Cardinal Nation!. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__logo--mlb a{text-align:center;}/*!sc*/ His first couple of minor league seasons didnt go well and then he landed with the Key West Conchs, a Class A affiliate of the Cubs in the Florida State League in 1974. body{margin:0;}/*!sc*/ [hidden]{display:none;}/*!sc*/ .fvEQJr{bottom:0;left:0;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;}/*!sc*/ @media screen and (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club],.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-microsite]{background-image:linear-gradient( #002D72 50%, #041E42 50% );}}/*!sc*/ Bruce Sutter's Legendary Splitter and Grip. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-medium.woff') format('woff');font-weight:500;font-style:normal;}/*!sc*/ Now it is viewed as more of a pitch of last resort for the veteran trying to hang on for a few more years or for the prospect who desperately needs it to get to the next level. During the Cubs great 40-15 May and June 1977 that put them in first place by as many as eight games, Sutter posted an 0.60 ERA and 0.763 WHIP, with 66 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 56 innings, with 18 saves (and five blown saves, though the Cubs won two of those games anyway). He posted 300 saves in a 12-year career with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and . We spent a lot of time together, and as happens when your careers end, you go your separate ways. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.account--logged-in.active::after{opacity:1;}/*!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. Him and Goose Gossage, who I was also teammates with, both had that ability to forget about a blown save. This, of course, shortens your follow through, but allows you to really snap off the pitch. Big league pitchers spend far more time preparing to pitch than actually pitching. There's some selection bias in that I've picked pitchers whose arms have been able to handle the splitter to some extent. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-extrabold.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-extrabold.woff') format('woff');font-style:normal;font-weight:800;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ A very sophisticated and misunderstood point is that the split-fingered fastball should be thrown with back spin just like a two-seam fastball. In all, there were 401 days missed. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner span{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Splitters are a relatively uncommon offspeed pitch, but they are still used with some prevalence. The Cubs foiled those plans. The grip is similar to the two-seam fastball, but .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(1),.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(4){opacity:0;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search__list--sm{font-size:12px;min-width:150px;}/*!sc*/ Even though hitters knew it was coming, they still werent able to hit it.