A New(ish) Pitch on the Block

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There is a new(ish) pitch on the block. While baseball games aren’t happening right now, my focus still remains on the sport. This pitch has been used for years in Japanese baseball but is just beginning to catch on in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States. The pitch is called the “shuuto,” and it’s a pitch that can be thrown by both right and left-handed pitchers.

At first glance, the shuuto looks like a fastball. However, it has movement that sets it apart from the standard fastball. The movement is a type of cut that is meant to move away from a right-handed batter for a right-handed pitcher, and vice versa for a left-handed pitcher. The shuuto is thrown with a four-seam grip with the middle and index fingers alongside one another across the seams. The grip allows the fingers to push down on the outer side of the ball, which gives it its unique movement.

The shuuto is a pitch that requires a lot of practice to perfect. It’s not easy to throw because it requires the pitcher to have a lot of control over the ball’s movement. It also requires the pitcher to have a lot of arm strength to throw it at the speed of a fastball. It’s a pitch that requires precision, timing, and patience.

The burstiness of the shuuto is what makes it so difficult for batters to hit. The shuuto’s movement is unpredictable, making it difficult for batters to anticipate where the ball will end up. The shuuto has a slight cut to it, which means it moves in the opposite direction of a slider. Batters may try to adjust their swing for a slider, but with the shuuto, they have to react more quickly and adjust their swing midflight.

The shuuto creates perplexity not just with its movement but also with its lack of popularity. Many batters have never seen a shuuto before, which makes it difficult for them to adjust their swing. The lack of familiarity makes the shuuto even more difficult to hit. However, if batters start seeing the shuuto more often, they may begin to develop a strategy for hitting it.

One of the reasons the shuuto is catching on in the MLB is because of Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees. Tanaka has been using the shuuto for years and has found success with it. In the 2019 season, Tanaka threw over 100 shuutos, with batters only managing to hit .143 against the pitch.

Another reason the shuuto is becoming more popular is because of the data-driven approach that many teams are taking. Teams are using advanced analytics to try and find ways to gain an edge over their opponents. The shuuto is a pitch that has not been heavily used in the past in the MLB, so it may be a way for teams to catch their opponents off guard.

The shuuto is still a relatively new pitch in the MLB, and only a small number of pitchers are currently using it. However, as more pitchers start to use it, it will become more prevalent in the league. The shuuto is a pitch that requires a lot of effort and practice to perfect, but it has the potential to be a game-changer for pitchers in the MLB.

In conclusion, the shuuto is a pitch that is gaining popularity in the MLB. It’s a pitch that requires a lot of practice and patience to perfect, but it has the potential to be a game-changer for pitchers. Its burstiness and perplexity make it difficult for batters to hit, and its lack of popularity makes it even more challenging to adjust to. The shuuto is a new(ish) pitch on the block, and it will be interesting to see how it evolves in the coming years. Will more pitchers start using it, or will it remain a niche pitch in the league? Only time will tell.