re: What is a "Slider" ?
Hi Wade;
A "Slider" is also known as a "Cut Fastball."
And visually that may be a good descriptive point to begin describing what the Pitch is.
It's a Pitch that is somewhat of a combination of a traditional Fastball and a Curveball.
It is thrown harder than a Curveball, with different Hand Motion from the Pitcher, has tighter rotation - more of a Football-esque "spiral" and is harder for the Hitter to recognize because of it's greater velocity & tighter rotation than a Curveball.
- ideally, the Hitter see's/read's "Fastball"....but, because the "sliders" rotation is tighter and harder to see & recognize - the pitch breaks "later" (closer to the hitter) than a Curveball and the Hitter is forced to make a last millisecond adjustment to recognize the pitch & thus it arguably is the hardest pitch to hit.
It breaks less than a Curveball, but breaks later (closer to the hitter), has tighter/less recognizeable rotation and comes to the hitter with greater velocity than a Curveball.
A 90 mph+ "Slider" thrown with great location - ie: right below the knees at the bottom of the Strike Zone and on the Outside Corner of the Plate - ie: "on the black"...is arguably the single hardest pitch to hit in baseball...and ends the careers of many College/Minor League Level Hitters as they try to break into the Major Leagues and conversely, the Pitch also "makes" the Careers of many Pitchers....especially hard throwing Relief Pitchers who never really developed a solid Curveball.
In his prime - the Yankees Ron Guidry personified having "on the black" location,location, location on his "Slider" and during his "Career Year" in 1978 when he went 25-3 (25 wins & 3 losses) with 9 shutouts, 248 strikeouts & a 1.74 ERA....he was nearly unbeatable when he was on.
Guidry's performance in 1978 was perhaps only equalled by Sandy Koufax & Bob Gibson with their dominant "career" years... Gibson in 1968 I think & Koufax a couple years earlier (I was in diapers (vbg).
In 1978, Guidry's Slider was THE dominant pitch in the Game....almost unhitable when he was "on."
His Year in 1978 made the "Slider" the Pitch of primary Focus amongst all young Pitchers, Coaches & Pitching Instructors from that time forward.
Historically; it is argued that the "Slider" was the Pitch that changed baseball... it emerged significantly around the year of 1968 when Pitchers began to dominate Hitters & the Game... ie: Bob Gibson's overpowering year, along with many others - which led to the MLB Rule Change of lowering the height of the Pitchers Mound etc.
It also led to the Emergence of the Speciality Relief Pitcher/Closer... with many Pitchers coming in at the 8th, 9th innings and throwing 90%+ Sliders and literally overpowering & dominating hitters...
Fwiw: in that earlier era that gave birth to the now dominate pitch in Baseball...some Pitchers who were known for particular "nasty" Sliders included:
Steve Carlton
Bob Gibson
J.R. Richard
Ron Guidry
...hope that helps.
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