Its a wild pitch waiting to happen, but its also devastating on the hitter if you can learn to control it, especially a closer or setup guy, said the Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti, who was on Craigs staff in the early 90s. .mHQYb .p-search__status{left:-9999px;position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ There was a time, in the late 1970s, when the split-finger pitch thrown by Cubs closer Bruce Sutter baffled nearly every batter who tried to hit it. Still, it doesn't appear that pitchers who are throwing a splitter are at a higher risk of injury than pitchers who do not. @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*/ In his first season as a professional in 1972, Sutter experienced pain in his right elbow while pitching in the Gulf Coast League and was shut down for the rest of the year. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.account{-webkit-box-pack:end;-webkit-justify-content:flex-end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;padding:0 0 0 4px;white-space:nowrap;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.cHcHkC{font-size:1.44rem;max-height:32px;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap;display:block;-webkit-line-clamp:none;-webkit-box-orient:inline-axis;}.cHcHkC::before,.cHcHkC::after{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ Thrown the same way as my beginners curveball only you'll tuck your finger back into the seam of the ball. Its not necessarily the pitch. He added, Im for anything thats going to make a guy successful and give him a chance to play in the big leagues.. .epHHrr.youtube iframe{max-width:100%;}/*!sc*/ That's because there is essentially no significant difference between a straight curveball and a beginners curveball, except for the finger placement of your index finger. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side .header__subnav__item,.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side .header__subnav__group-title{padding:14px 10px;}/*!sc*/ Pitch counts and five-man rotations are recent developments aimed at preserving those valuable commodities. The Baseball Hall of Fame said Bruce Sutter died in Cartersville, Georgia. We all knew how important he was, but he never thought he was more important than anybody else.. It was a call you always hope for but never really expect to happen. And those who still use it do so cautiously. .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*/ Theres a fairly strong feeling that were not going to teach anybody the split-finger at the early stage, the Reds pitching coach Bryan Price said. Him and Goose Gossage, who I was also teammates with, both had that ability to forget about a blown save. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{-webkit-flex-basis:100%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:100%;flex-basis:100%;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top [class$='__nav-item__text']{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__group-title{color:#aaaaaa;font-weight:700;font-size:12px;background-color:#ffffff;text-transform:uppercase;}/*!sc*/ Right away, you'll notice the extra tension it puts on your elbow and forearm when compared to a fastball grip. I always felt like he was a brother. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--parent[aria-expanded='true'] .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner::after{display:inline-block;}/*!sc*/ While his induction proved that he did indeed belong among baseballs greats, Sutter also found he belonged outside of baseball. data-styled.g166[id="Styles__VideoPlayerContainer-t94iyc-0"]{content:"XOHMa,"}/*!sc*/ .evGxub{display:inline-block;width:48px;height:48px;border-radius:50%;-webkit-border-radius:50%;overflow:hidden;position:relative;}/*!sc*/ Even though hitters knew it was coming, they still werent able to hit it. .jbYgiH{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,minmax(0,1fr));grid-gap:24px;margin:0 auto;max-width:967px;}/*!sc*/ Seek out and celebrate your heroes, and explore online and in-person exhibits commemorating the history and impact of the game. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button .p-icon--login{width:35px;height:35px;}/*!sc*/ For every pitcher listed here, there could be several others who gave up on the splitter early because it bothered their arm. During the prime of his career, Sutter led the NL in saves for four straight seasons and five times in six years before joining the Braves as a free agent after the 1984 season. 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. Again, a two seamer is gripped a little firmer than the four seamer. In 1984, though, the Cubs would get revenge, of a sort, when Ryne Sandberg famously hit two homers off Sutter in what would become known as The Sandberg Game. Here are both those home runs: Watch the way Sutter takes the new baseball in his glove after the second homer (at about :42 into the video). He was PISSED. 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. He was just an amazing relief pitcher \\[who\\] was so good.","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"1980-07-09T00:05:00Z","description":"7/8/80: Cubs pitcher Bruce Sutter fans the Tigers' Lance Parrish to earn the save in the NL's win in the 1980 All- Star Game","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:22","mp4AvcPlayback":null,"slug":"sutter-saves-all-star-game-c20759321","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-home-team-id-160","title":"HBmig home_team_id: 160"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mmtax-no-pre-roll","title":"HBmig No Pre-roll on this clip"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-away-team-id-159","title":"HBmig away_team_id: 159"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"gamepk-67199","title":"1980/07/08 al@nl"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-feature","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_FEATURE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-112","title":"Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-team-id-112","title":"HBmig Chicago Cubs"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-vtp-1980","title":"HBmig 1980s"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-subject-mlbcom-no-transcode","title":"HBmig MLBCOM_NO_TRANSCODE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-combined-media-state-media-archive","title":"HBmig MEDIA_ARCHIVE"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-123004","title":"Bruce Sutter"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hbmig-mlbtax-save","title":"HBmig Save"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"classic","title":"classic"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"pitching","title":"pitching"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"all-star-game","title":"All-Star Game"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/jcghmk8p9sgzun2anyla","title":"Sutter saves All-Star Game","type":"video","url":"/video/sutter-saves-all-star-game-c20759321"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Herzog, who acquired fellow Hall of Fame closer Rollie Fingers from the Padres a day before trading for Sutter, referred to the shaggy-bearded Sutter as a door-slammer.\" 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.\n\nI feel like people didnt realize how good he was until you managed him, Herzog raved. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item{color:#222222;background-color:#ffffff;font-size:14px;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ The average DL stint for splitter throwers is 77 days and the median is 74 days. .dLQAwR a:hover{color:#0048AB;}/*!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. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu--icon span:nth-child(2){-webkit-transform:rotate(45deg);-ms-transform:rotate(45deg);transform:rotate(45deg);}/*!sc*/ For a while the splitter was in vogue. 20 than he did early on in his career, and Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer thinks more pitchers are going to cutters and sinkers instead. .mHQYb body.side-nav-open{position:fixed;overflow:hidden;overscroll-behavior:none;touch-action:none;}/*!sc*/ small{font-size:80%;}/*!sc*/ But its not just about them getting hurt. Back to Sutter: He signed a six-year deal with the Braves after the 1984 season, a contract said to be worth, per the New York Times: about $44 million. Pitching Ninja 125K subscribers Subscribe 153 Share 4.6K views 3 weeks ago Bruce Sutter is one of the greatest relief pitchers in baseball. I was so honored when he gave me a shout-out at his induction at the Hall of Fame. 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). .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:hover{border-radius:3px;background-color:#dddddd;color:#002867;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__tagline img{max-width:100%;}/*!sc*/ The results were immediate. Next, place your thumb directly on the bottom side of the baseball and on the smooth leather in between the narrow seams (as shown in the picture on the right). Avoid any twisting of the wrist upon release. He also gave a lot of credit to Mike Roarke, a former Big League catcher, who helped him with that pitch. .hUHmCp > article .ad-top-right-container::before,.hUHmCp > article .ad-bottom-right-container::before{font-family:"proxima-nova";content:"ADVERTISEMENT";display:block;position:absolute;top:-17px;text-align:center;width:100%;color:#888888;font-size:0.694rem;line-height:13px;}/*!sc*/ Sutter played 12 seasons in the big leagues from 1976-88, including four years with St. Louis, before being elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006 as the first pitcher inducted without ever starting a game. h2.Styles__HeadlineContainer-sc-19rm04l-0{font-size:1.2rem;margin-bottom:8px;color:#666666;}/*!sc*/ We obviously sat in the bullpen together for many, many hours and he was a great teammate and an even greater friend. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .dLQAwR .contributor__text--name{color:#222222;font-size:1rem;font-weight:600;line-height:1;margin:0;}/*!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. .blLcNM{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(12,1fr);grid-gap:24px;font-size:1rem;}/*!sc*/ @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*/ Its more for a guy thats less-defined at the higher levels that hasnt had as much success and we think that maybe has some intangibles to pitch in the big leagues and its a good addition pitch to maybe get them over the hump to be a big league pitcher. He pitched in only 16 games in 1986 and didnt pitch after May 27. His split-finger pitch was almost unhittable for a while. Note: You've got to maintain short and well-manicured nails especially on your index finger of the throwing hand for this pitch to be effective because long fingernails can get in the way of the grip. Six out of fifteen pitchers did time on the DL, missing a total of 400 days. .mHQYb .p-search-item{display:block;background-color:#ffffff;font-family:'mlb-primary','Helvetica Neue','Helvetica','Arial', sans-serif;}/*!sc*/ Jim Thome said he is definitely seeing fewer and fewer of them in year No. 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. Alternate fastballs and changeups at 90-or-more feet for about 20 throws a couple of times a week. By 1989, his rotator cuff was severely torn, and the Braves released him in November. Gambling problem? .ezZJVn{background:transparent;border:0;color:#000000;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-size:1rem;margin:0;padding:0;position:absolute;right:35px;top:60%;-webkit-transform:translateY(-50%);-ms-transform:translateY(-50%);transform:translateY(-50%);white-space:nowrap;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-icon__close{width:18px;}/*!sc*/ * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos > *{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex:1 1 auto;-ms-flex:1 1 auto;flex:1 1 auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g66[id="textInputstyle__styledTextInput-sc-q34wel-2"]{content:"hHLkAw,"}/*!sc*/ .hUHmCp{margin-top:24px;background-color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ In 1979, Sutter returned to near his 1977 level, posting a 2.22 ERA and 0.977 WHIP, led the major leagues with 37 saves and won the Cy Young Award. After compiling 133 saves for the Cubs -- the second-most in franchise history -- Sutter was acquired by Cards GM Whitey Herzog on Dec. 9, 1980, in exchange for slugger Leon Durham, third baseman Ken Reitz and player-to-be-named-later Ty Waller. Bruce was a team guy. ), Here's how it works: Grip a baseball leaving the index finger off like you were pointing at something. The splitter evolved from the forkball. Bruce ascended from being a nondrafted free agent to the heights of baseball by pioneering the split-fingered fastball. Chad Sutter, son of the legendary closer, stressed the importance of the Cardinals organization and its fan base to Bruce in a statement released on Friday morning. The irony of that is that he struck out Gorman Thomas for the last out of the World Series on a high fastball that was just 84 miles per hour.. Concerns over its effect on pitchers' arms have overhadowed its effectiveness. The less friction, of course, the quicker the baseball can leave your hand. There should be a "gap" or space between the ball and your palm (as shown in the middle picture). Former Cubs closer and Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter has died, Cubs 4, Padres 0: The first Spring Training no-hitter in Cubs history. The split finger was a dominant pitch for Ron Darling on the 1986 World Champion New York Mets staff. He was a true pioneer in the game, changing the role of the late inning reliever.. Ted Williams once said that a slider was "the best pitch in baseball." .mHQYb .p-search__list--multiple-type .p-search-item--team:first-of-type:before{content:'Teams';}/*!sc*/ The Baseball Hall of Fame said Bruce Sutter died in Cartersville, Georgia. Sutter's splitter reason for Fame. .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top__nav-items{display:none;}/*!sc*/ .XOHMa{bottom:0;left:0;position:absolute;right:0;top:0;}/*!sc*/ 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. A firm grip causes friction, which causes the baseball to change direction, usually "backing up" - or running in - to the throwing hand side of the plate. That was the case when I saw my first major-league split-fingered fastball, courtesy of Bruce Sutter. data-styled.g20[id="imagestyle__ImageWrapper-sc-xw1tzz-0"]{content:"evGxub,cWQXyp,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight{background-color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). @media only screen and (min-width:568px){.hYmwpY{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g21[id="imagestyle__Img-sc-xw1tzz-1"]{content:"ebrWqN,iQELft,"}/*!sc*/ If your wrist is slightly cocked to the throwing hand's thumb side, your wrist-snap will enable you to have the pitch come off of the thumb-side of your index finger, which, in turn, promotes good spin on the ball. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;width:100%;padding:0px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav--transparent{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.7);width:calc(100vw - 145px);}/*!sc*/ A lot of his saves were 2 to 2 1/3 innings. .blUWSx .share-list{position:absolute;list-style:none;margin:0;margin-left:2px;padding:0;margin-top:3px;margin-right:10px;}/*!sc*/ Whether or not that's true depends on a lot of things, of course, but the slider is certainly an effective pitch for those who can throw it correctly. data-styled.g114[id="sc-bdfBwQ"]{content:"mHQYb,"}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g172[id="Styles__AppContainer-jwcsl0-0"]{content:"hUHmCp,"}/*!sc*/. Bruce Sutters entire career can be boiled down to about an inch of white leather and red stitching. sub,sup{font-size:75%;line-height:0;position:relative;vertical-align:baseline;}/*!sc*/ Mike Roarke, a Cubs coach from 1978-80 and a Cardinals coach from 1984-90, became something of a personal pitching coach for Sutter and his split-fingered fastball. .blUWSx .share-icon{width:25px;cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ It's essentially a four-fingered change-up where the baseball is centered in your hand between your middle and ring fingers. 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. This is the curveball grip that I used. button::-moz-focus-inner,[type="button"]::-moz-focus-inner,[type="reset"]::-moz-focus-inner,[type="submit"]::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;padding:0;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club] .header__nav-top{background-image:linear-gradient( #002D72 50%, #041E42 50% );}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--parent::after{border-color:transparent transparent #057AFF;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--current{border-color:#057AFF;}}/*!sc*/ 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. He was one who didnt have any trouble forgetting [a bad outing]. It was there that coach Fred Martin taught him the split-finger fastball that made his career. 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. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{display:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo img,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__sponsor-logo a{height:56px;}/*!sc*/ To throw a splitter, split the middle and index fingers and grip the ball along the widest point of the ball. It's important for pitchers, parents and coaches to learn a proper slider grip and to learn correct throwing technique of a slider to ensure and promote arm-health. By spreading his index and middle fingers farther apart on the ball when he pitched, the right-hander developed a split-fingered fastball that stunned opposing batters and gave him a second chance at the game he loved before his Major League career even began. Your wrist should remain stiff. Where as a fastball spins from the bottom to top (which is known as "backspin"), a curveball spins from top to bottom. But Sutters performance declined in 1985 and after the season he had shoulder surgery. forbid young players from learning the splitter, average starting pitcher has a 39 percent chance of going on the DL, The Royals are on the verge of returning to relevancy, Morning Mound Visit: Reds sign Tommy Pham to one-year deal, Morning Mound Visit: Ghost runner rule reinstated, Offensive woes will hold back elite pitching in Guardians maiden voyage, Morning Mound Visit: Rockies extend Ryan McMahon. data-styled.g162[id="Styles__NewsletterOptinContainer-sc-10yslsy-0"]{content:"sczZi,"}/*!sc*/ Splitter pioneer Sutter dead at 69 2022-10-15 - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS . .mHQYb header.mlb-header .icon *{fill:currentColor;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top{padding:0 16px;}}/*!sc*/ He was a six-time All-Star and a four-time winner of the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award. Same arm speed. Sutter made his first big league appearance on May 9, 1976 when he pitched the ninth inning in a 14-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Bruce Sutter is one of the greatest relief pitchers in baseball history and popularized the split fingered fastball. He was so quick to credit those of us who might get one out in the seventh inning, and he would say that was as important as him pitching the ninth inning. The thumb action of the pitch is upward. He was within about 30 minutes of getting released., Bruce Sutter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. ::-webkit-file-upload-button{-webkit-appearance:button;font:inherit;}/*!sc*/ We lost a wonderful person, a very humble guy and a great teammate, said Herzog, who added that he didnt learn of Sutters illness until a week ago, and that he only got word on Thursday that the former standout closer was being rushed to a Georgia hospital. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .header__nav-top__button-menu{cursor:pointer;}/*!sc*/ I was so honored when he gave me a shout-out at his induction at the Hall of Fame. We are saddened over the passing of Bruce Sutter.Sutter was a dominant pitcher and a member of the '82 World Series Championship team.He is a member of both the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Cardinals Hall of Fame.Our thoughts are with Bruce's family and friends. And it helps to make fingernails a little tougher. data-styled.g3[id="iconstyle__IconWrapper-sc-12jucjo-0"]{content:"fuMUTu,drUhS,"}/*!sc*/ To get to the next level, preparation is everything. A three-finger changeup is a good off-speed pitch for younger baseball pitchers and for those who do not have big hands. @media (min-width:1024px){article > header{padding:0;}}/*!sc*/ Bruce Sutter (center) with fellow Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith (left) and Johnny Bench at the 2006 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown. In the mid-1980s, former MLB pitcher Roger . .dLQAwR:not(:last-child){border-right:1px dashed #ccc;}/*!sc*/ Few pitchers in major league history have ever had better command of the bottom of the strike zone. Sutter and the split-fingered fastball -- a pitch he learned from Cubs Minor League instructor Fred Martin following an arm surgery in 1973 -- became forever linked in the history of the game. data-styled.g145[id="Styles__StickyHeaderContent-sc-1wye7kw-1"]{content:"jbYgiH,"}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ He saved just three games in 1986 before undergoing shoulder surgery to repair an injured rotator cuff, the third arm surgery of his career. To throw a splitter, Sutter says you do the following: "Position your thumb on the back seam and throw a fastball. .cwEpxl{height:100%;width:100%;border:transparent;background:none;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:0.2s;transition:0.2s;padding:0px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side__nav-item[aria-expanded='true']{-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;}/*!sc*/ .blUWSx .share-list__item{position:absolute;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .account--logged-in.active::after{background:#057AFF;}/*!sc*/ This .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.account--logged-in{height:56px;position:relative;overflow:hidden;}/*!sc*/ @media (min-width:768px){.epHHrr{max-width:500px;}}/*!sc*/ Here's a shot of Sutter pitching in a game back in 1983 love the scruff. 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). Notice that Penny cut his splitter usage in half upon returning from injury and Morrow scrapped the pitch for the 2011 season. @media (min-width:500px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{-webkit-flex-basis:60%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:60%;flex-basis:60%;}}/*!sc*/