Son will be a sophomore in college this year and has started experimenting with the slider.
Being a LHP with a decent curve, very good changeup and more the crafty type than overpowering, is the slider of any benefit to him. He says he is getting more comfortable with it and when it works it really "slides" across the plate, but when it doesn't it sits there ready to be stroked. I guess my question is, will a slider really work for a soft tossing lefty, and how harmful could it be on a 19-20 year old's arm.

There was this guy name of Carleton, went to the hall of fame, threw a slider.
At his age group? I am aware of at least 2 d-1's in my area that want a pitcher to have both hook and slider. Any pitch thrown incorrectly can hurt an arm. Soft tossers need movement and the ability to change speeds. Throwing the hook and the slider to his spots can be highly effective.

My son didn't learn how to throw a slider correctly and effectively until his sophmore year in college.

It's ok.

theygrowupfast,

The Slider along with the Cutter if thrown Supinated (thumb down thru driveline and release) the way it is taught by most, are the 2 most dangerous pitches on your arm. The injuries that are caused from supination is “Loss of extension and flexion range of motion” from the slamming of your elbow together (hyper extension) and debilitating inflamation.

These 2 pitches can be thrown more effectively and non-injuriously by powerfully pronating (thumb down) the driveline and release.

One classic changeover from supination to pronation with his Slider and Cutter came from Roger Clemens when he left Boston because his arm was breaking down.That fall and winter he made 3 important changes is his mechanics that alleviated these problems. The 1st was getting his arm up to driveline height before his gloveleg touched down, the 2nd was changing the way he brought the ball back out of his glove so that his arm stayed in line with 2nd base, 3rd he changed his Slider from supinated to pronated.

Yard,
Can you point us to a reference with a picture/illustration and further description of the technique you describe?

Your info re clemens is interesting. Can you point me to the source/reference for the info so I can read further?

Thanks.

The slider should be learned and thrown by a full grown and fully developed arm, like your sons age. However most guys who throw a slider as part of the repertoire are hard throwers. Just seems that way. A soft thrower who can get a slider to look like his fb coming out of his hand could be successful, but a cutter is also a pitch to experiment with. He should be getting plenty of pen time at his level, and the slider should be worked on there and only used gametime when he has gained confidence that he can throw it consistently without hanging it. There will always be a hanger of some kind, but he should be able to throw 80% of them without hanging them before it becomes a pitch he should go to IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by Rock Dad:
Yard,
Can you point us to a reference with a picture/illustration and further description of the technique you describe?

Your info re clemens is interesting. Can you point me to the source/reference for the info so I can read further?

Thanks.

Ain't gonna happen since his post is a bunch of hooey.

quote:

Originally posted by Coachric:

Cease thinking. Just remember.

TheyGrowUpFast:

Should a soft lefty have several weapons in his arsenal, as learned at the HS & collegiate level, he may get noticed by the right guy, by the right club, and the right time. This right guy, more than likely, with have gray hair, and/or come from a big league baseball family.

Post Teenager soft lefties requirements
a. Throw 1st pitch strikes
b Get Outs.
c. Get ground balls vs LHH
d. Keep 1-0 & 2-0 fastballs away from the fat
part of the part of the bat.
e. Make those adjustments while pitching
f. Learn and remember how to pitch
g. Keep arm and body ready
h. Field your position
i. Be the player your team can root for

A learned new type of pitch for a lefty (and righties) too, is like Christmas morning.

Potential Arsenal
-4 seam Fastballs to spots have a place for all LHP.
-Two seamers (across) that run in vs LHH gets outs
-Slide Pieces (with depth & on the black) vs LHH have uses.
-Deuces that get underneath hands have uses.
-LHP MF pitch, with movement, gets outs

Regards