Submarine (baseball)

In baseball, a submarine is a pitch released near the ground with the shoulders closer to the transverse plane rather the coronal plane. It is not underhanded, contrasting with softball pitch where the shoulders are on the coronal plane and the hips do not rotate. Pitchers using this delivery are rare, it is a skill separate from natural throwing motion that needs training to convert. Typically among submarine pitchers, they uncover its competitive advantage and continue. Many first tried as a last resort when ineffective, or in convalescence with limited arm control.

Description

The "upside down" release of the submariner causes balls to move differently from pitches generated by other arm slots. Gravity plays a significant role, for the submariner's ball must be thrown considerably above the strike zone,^[1] after which it drops rapidly back through. The sinking motion of the submariner's fastball is enhanced by forward rotation, in contrast with the overhand pitcher's hopping backspin.

Submarine pitches are often the toughest for same-side batters to hit (i.e., a right-handed submarine pitcher is the more difficult for a right-handed batter to hit, and likewise for left-handed pitchers and batters). This is because the submariner's spin is not perfectly level; the ball rotates forward and toward the pitching arm side, jamming same-sided hitters at the last moment, even as the ball drops rapidly through the zone.^[2]

Though the bending motion required to pitch effectively as a submariner means that submariners may be more at risk of developing back problems, it is commonly thought that the submarine motion is less injurious to the elbow and shoulder.^[3] Kent Tekulve and Gene Garber, two former submarine pitchers, were among the most durable pitchers in baseball history with 1,944 appearances between the two.

Past major league submariners include Carl Mays, Ted Abernathy, Elden Auker, Chad Bradford, Mark Eichhorn, Gene Garber, Kent Tekulve, Todd Frohwirth, and Dan Quisenberry. Steve Olin was also a submarine pitcher.

Japanese pitcher Shunsuke Watanabe is known as "Mr. Submarine" in Japan. Watanabe has an even lower release point than the typical submarine pitcher, dropping his pivot knee so low that it scrapes the ground. He now wears a pad under his uniform to avoid injuring his knee. His release is so low that his knuckles often become raw from their periodic drag on the ground.

Submarine pitchers

Current players

Major League Baseball

Nippon Professional Baseball

KBO League

Chinese Professional Baseball League (Taiwan)

Former players

References

^ Adair, Robert K., The Physics of Baseball, HarperCollins Perennial: New York, NY, 2002, p. 58, ISBN 0-06-008436-7
^ Brad Ziegler, AL Rookie of the Year. Hardballtimes.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-20.
^ A Different Look. Metstoday.com (2007-10-12). Retrieved on 2010-11-20.
^ https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/chicago-white-sox-sign-former-san-diego-padres-kansas-city-royals-free-agent-relief-pitcher-tim-hill

[1] Adair, Robert K., The Physics of Baseball, HarperCollins Perennial: New York, NY, 2002, p. 58, ISBN 0-06-008436-7

[2] Brad Ziegler, AL Rookie of the Year. Hardballtimes.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-20.

[3] A Different Look. Metstoday.com (2007-10-12). Retrieved on 2010-11-20.

[4] ttps://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/chicago-white-sox-sign-former-san-diego-padres-kansas-city-royals-free-agent-relief-pitcher-tim-hill

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]