Control pitcher: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Baseball pitcher who emphasizes accurate pitches}}

A '''Control pitcher''' is a [[pitcher]] who by issuing a below average number of [[bases on balls]] exhibits good control of his pitches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glosiversity.com/subjects/view_term.php?term_id=19|accessdate=2007-08-10|title=Control Pitcher|publisher=Glosiversity.com|date=2005}}</ref> According to [[Curt Schilling]], "Control is the ability to throw strikes, and command is the ability to throw quality strikes."<ref name=ESPNRpg>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=schwarz_alan&id=1974099|accessdate=2007-08-10|title=Radke precision guided|author=Schwarz, Alan|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|date=2007}}</ref> Statistics used to measure control include:<ref name=ESPNRpg/>

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}

In [[baseball]], a '''control pitcher''', also known as a '''finesse pitcher''', is a [[pitcher]] who succeeds mostly by using accurate pitches, as opposed to a [[power pitcher]] who relies on velocity. By issuing a below average number of [[bases on balls]] they exhibit good control of their [[pitch (baseball)|pitches]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glosiversity.com/subjects/view_term.php?term_id=19|accessdate=August 10, 2007|title=Control Pitcher|publisher=Glosiversity.com|year=2005}}</ref> Pitchers with good control are said to be able to throw all the pitches in their repertoire for strikes in different locations regardless of the batter, count and score. According to [[Curt Schilling]], "Control is the ability to throw strikes, and command is the ability to throw quality strikes."<ref name=ESPNRpg>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=schwarz_alan&id=1974099|access-date=August 10, 2007|title=Radke precision guided|author=Schwarz, Alan|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|year=2007}}</ref> Another definition of control is "The ability to deliver the ball to the plate with accuracy."<ref name=SM>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsmogul.com/baseballcd/help/Scouting.htm|accessdate=August 11, 2007|year=2006|title=SCOUTING REPORT|publisher=Sports Mogul Inc.|work=Sportsmogul.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810082258/http://www.sportsmogul.com/baseballcd/help/Scouting.htm|archive-date=August 10, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The best control pitchers will walk as few as one batter per game. Control is also key to getting ahead in the count, and thus gaining the advantage over batters to keep them off base.<ref name=SM/> Statistics used to measure control include:<ref name=ESPNRpg/>

* Walks per nine innings

* [[Strikeout-to-walk ratio]]

* Walks per 36 batters faced

* Strikeouts/Walks

Control pitchers, who succeed by avoiding surrendering walks, are different from power pitchers who succeed by [[strikeout|striking out]] batters and keeping the ball out of play.

Three of the most famous examples of control pitchers in the history of baseball are [[Christy Mathewson]], [[Ferguson Jenkins]], and [[Greg Maddux]], though Maddux and Jenkins have also had significant strikeout totals (they are members of the [[3000 strikeout club|3,000 strikeout club]]) because of their ability to change speeds and the deceptive nature of their pitches.

==Notes==

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[[Category:Pitching (baseball)]]

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