![]() ![]() Softball was created as a way for ball players to play indoors in the winter, and was necessarily slower paced than baseball, with more fielders, a smaller field, and a bigger ball. Then, why must softball pitchers throw underhand? Because historically softball pitchers weren’t supposed to throw fast. While it’s not impossible to pitch with major league speed and precision throwing underhand, I venture to say it’s more difficult. So much about baseball control and speed comes from an overhand motion, including the wind-up, the whiplike explosion off the mound, and the follow-through. If your parents, little league, high school, or college coaches don’t know about the mechanics of underhand pitching, you’ll likely be discouraged by them, or by the batters who hit you, or who you hit. So, why don’t more pitchers throw this way? Partly because it’s simply unconventional. In 1998, Rolando Arrojo pitched his rookie season for the Devil Rays (14-12 in 1998, with a 3.56 ERA), although, like Marichal, he varies his delivery among overhand, sidearm, and submarine, giving the illusion that he has a dozen or so pitches in his bag. Quiz finished his career with 244 saves out of 674 relief appearances, and an ERA of 2.55. Dan Quisenberry was a sidearmer whose delivery became more submarine later in his career, after working with Pirates submariner Kent Tekulve. Juan Marichal was known for throwing overhand, underhand, and sidearm, and had six 20-win seasons and a career ERA of 2.89. There have been several sidearm pitchers, and a couple of submarine (underhand) throwers, in the major leagues, with varying degrees of success. Dear Straight Dope: My barber asked me this: why is a softball pitched underhand and a baseball overhand? I know it’s in the rules, but why? Zach P.īrace yourself, Zach: there’s no rule that requires a baseball pitcher to deliver the ball overhand. ![]()
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