GIF: Hector Santiago Throws a Screwgie

by
June 11, 2013

It’s possible that the screwball Hector Santiago throws is actually not that great of a pitch. It doesn’t get a ton of whiffs or grounders, he seems to have lost control of it a bit, there’s a chance that using it less this year has led to more success, and mostly batters just don’t swing at it.

And yet, with famous screwgie throwers like Tug McGraw and Fernando Valenzuela backing him up, it’s worth trying to perfect.

Here’s a decent one, from his start against the Mets on May 22nd:

SanchezScrew





 

With a phone full of pictures of pitchers' fingers, strange beers, and his two toddler sons, Eno Sarris can be found at the ballpark or a brewery most days. Read him here, writing about the A's or Giants at The Athletic, or about beer at October. Follow him on Twitter @enosarris if you can handle the sandwiches and inanity.

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MITexan
10 years ago

Am I missing something here? How is this a screwball?

3
Eno Sarrismember
10 years ago
Reply to  MITexan

I’ve watched so many of his screwballs, I’ll say this: I don’t know what his great screwball looks like. This was called a screwball, and it went the right velocity, but you’re right, looks to be going the wrong direction.

2
Eno Sarrismember
10 years ago
Reply to  MITexan

Yeah, check out Carson’s double GIFs below. It’s like his changeup, but it’s slower and drops more. I think this one was thrown inside. I hate the camera angle.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/daily-notes-ft-all-the-big-hector-santiago-coverage/

1
tz
10 years ago
Reply to  Eno Sarris

Thanks for including. The screwball on this one does remind me of the pitch Valenzuela threw in its late down and out movement to righties.

0
United States of
10 years ago
Reply to  Eno Sarris

Much better angle there.

I was under the impression that a good screwgie would actually push harder in the opposite direction toward the end. This looks like it rounds off the end of a slow curveball’s downward arc.

That can still be effective, I just thought the ‘screw’ portion would torque harder.

1
Resolution
10 years ago
Reply to  United States of

I’d agree – but this dude’s real low 3/4 arm slot probably disallows that. The fact that he’s basically throwing (what appears to move like) a 12-6 curve from that arm slot is pretty impressive.

0
Jacob
10 years ago
Reply to  Resolution

I think you’re overstating how low his arm slot is.

Either way, wrist angle can determine the arc on the curveball, though it becomes more difficult to throw and less deceptive the more the wrist angle and the arm angle differ.

0