Whatever became of the "Screwball"?

[DarkForceRising]

These days you only hear the term "breaking ball". Simply new terminology- or is it a thing of the past?

[ceyoung]

jim mecir throws one. everytime he came into a game for the A's you had to hope he didn't blow the game.

[KDawgCometh]

the screwball is very much a finesse pitch that is very hard to master. It is also hell on a pitcher's elbow, so that's why I don't think you see that many pitchers throwing it anymore. Carl Hubbell shortened his career by probalby 4 years form throwing so many screwballs

[MEbenhoe]

Schneids, BK, and NLSoldier can all attest to the fact that I threw the meanest screwball ever on Saturday. It was in kickball though....

It goes in the opposite direction that a curveball does, and it breaks from right to left, so it's moving in on a lefty batter. You have to snap your wrist as you do it and it is taxing on the arm. This is why you don't see it in today's game.

[CollinEstes]

I played college ball at small D1 with an really old school coach that played like 60 years ago.

Every time a lefty came into the program that threw between 80-84. He would say "Hey lefty" then throw him a screwball at about 30 MPH and say "That could define you." Then walk off.

[davelin]

I believe I read the splitter replaced the screwball in pitchers' repetoire.

[luckyharr]

I think the last well known pitcher to feature a screwball was Fernando. Put your right arm out with your palm up. Now rotate your thumb forwards as far as you can (should be able to go less than 360 dergrees.) Now imagine making that motion while throwing a ball at top speed. It is not good for your shoulder and probably not fun for your elbow either. The curveball motion, the exact opposite, seems more natural. It's also true that split fingers, circle changes, and some types of sinkers all have a similar pitch arc, are easier to learn, and are likely less taxing on the arm.

[The Armchair]

On top of all of the above, two things have effectively replaced the screwball: the cut fastball and the lefty specialist.

The cutter rides in on the opposite-handed batter much like a curveball, which makes a change up look like a screwball -- it looks like it is going to cut in, but doesn't.

The lefty specialist also makes it unnecessary for a righty relief pitcher to get out lefty hitters.

[2planka]