Why are there no right-handed pitchers that throw the screwball ?

Question

I wonder if the new pitcher for boston is really just throwing a right handed screwball rather than the fabled gyroball. Regardless, I can't recall any right-handed screwball pitchers. Is it impossible for a righty to do ?

Answer 1

It is not impossible for a right hander to throw a screwball. A screwball is basically a reverse curveball. As most batters are right handed, a curveball works best for a breaking ball. A screwball is harder on the arm; there is not enough of an advantage gained by the pitcher for a right hander to add it to their arsenal.

Conversely, a left handed pitcher faces more right handed batters; their curveball breaks towards the hitter. The screwball breaks away from the right handed hitters.

Answer 2

The screwball is rare in righties because in general it is counter-productive; it breaks INTO a right-handed hitter's wheelhouse. Since the majority of hitters are right handed in general in the lower levels of the game, the righthanded screwball throwing pitcher has probably been chased from so many games because this pitch has been pounded mercilessly that he has consequently given up on the pitch in favor of a splitter or some other form of pitch.

That is not the only reason, either, and for this reason I am surprised ANYONE throws the screwball any more. It is TREMENDOUSLY HARD ON THE ELBOW - TO THE POINT THAT IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS, PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE PITCHER'S ARM! No kidding - I had a friend who used to throw that pitch very well, and after he retired from the game, his elbow looked like some invisible demon had a hold of his arm, and was trying to twist it behind his back. It wasn't a pretty sight at all, and was caused by throwing a screwball.

Time is not the only thing that can ravage a body - a screwball can, too, as witnessed not only in my friend, but many other former pitchers who utilized this pitch! I don't recommend its use at all, with all the choices of pitches these days. Learn to throw a good cut fastball instead! :-)

Answer 3

First of all, there is no such thing as a pitch that is only possible to throw with one hand, but not the other. You just reverse the motion.

The reason why it is rare for righties to throw screwballs is because it doesn't make much sense for them to have learned it growing up. Before making the majors, where there are a disproportionate number of lefty hitters, most people face mostly righties. A right handed pitcher throwing a curveball to a right handed hitter makes the pitch dive away from the batter, making it harder to hit. A righty throwing a screwball to another righty will have the pitch dive towards the batter, making it less effective than the standard curveball.

A lefty growing up has to deal with the fact that they are mostly throwing to righties and that normal breaking balls will dive towards the batter. Some of them will decide to work on a screwball to have a breaking ball that dives away from righties.

That's my best guess, anyhow.

Answer 4

How To Throw A Screwball

Answer 5

The screwball is not easy to throw and is extremely hard on the elbow. Yes, harder than any other pitch.

It's not so much that no right-handers throw it as it is that very few pitchers throw it, period.

Have a look for the book below.

Answer 6

Any pitcher, regardless of being lefty or righty, is capable of throwing the screwball. Not a lot of pitchers throw a screwball anymore because it puts a lot of pressure on the pitching arm; delivering the pitch requires that the forearm be pronated (forearm rotated so that palm faces down) as the ball is released.

Answer 7

A right handed pitcher throwing a 2 seam fastball from the 3/4 or sidearm will make the ball tail into a right handed hitter it just wont dive downward. A lefty who will make the curve dive into a right handed batters feet will have a lot of success.

Answer 8

If you are a lefty and it broke from left to right that would either be a cut fastball or a slider. A reverse slider is a screwball.

Answer 9

It's not impossible. A lefthander has a natural break in the ball which in turn allows them to throw a dandy breaking pitch. The kid you mention from Boston I haven't seen throw yet.

Answer 10

Jim Mecir used to throw it. He played for the A's from 2000 to 2004. So it is possible.