Fosh (baseball)
Thefosh,fosh ball,orfosh changeis a seldom used pitch inMajor League Baseballdescribed as "a cross between a split-fingered pitch and a straight change-up".[1]It is designed to fool abatterexpecting afastballto have to contend with a slower pitch. The pitch has a grip like a fastball, but the index and middle fingers are spread slightly across the baseball, and the ring and little finger wrap around the side of the ball.[2]If thrown properly, it has characteristics like a breakingchange-upor an off-speedsplit-finger fastball.
The origin of the fosh is unknown.Mike Boddickerwas the first pitcher known to throw it, having tried it in the 1980s.[3]Aspitching coachfor theBoston Red Sox,Al Nippertaught the pitch toJeff Suppanin 1995,[3]andTom GordonandRoger Clemensin 1996.[4]Other pitchers who have used it in a game areJason Frasor,[2]Trevor Hoffman,[2]Johan Santana,[2]Jason Bere,Carl Pavano,[5]andCarlos Rosa.[6]
There are various etymologies for the term "fosh". According toThe Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers: An Historical Compendium of Pitching, Pitchers, and Pitches,three derivations are known. One is thatEarl Weaverdescribed it as "a cross between a fastball and a dead fish".[3]Another is a description byDavid Nied,who said the term sounds "like the perfect word for the movement of the pitch".[3]A third derivation, from Al Nipper, is that fosh is anacronymfor "full of...".[7]
References[edit]
- ^McAdam, Sean (3 April 1996)."A fresh start for Gordon".South Coast Media Group. New England Sports Service.Retrieved2011-04-11.
- ^abcdBastian, Jordan (12 April 2009)."Once rarely used split-finger helped get final out".Cleveland.
'Right now, I have a pretty good feel for it,' Frasor said. 'I'm going to ride it until it doesn't work any more. It's like a split, but I think people call it a fosh. Pappy taught it to me back in '05 and it's been on and off, on and off.'
- ^abcdJames, Bill;Neyer, Rob (2004).The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers: An Historical Compendium of Pitching, Pitchers, and Pitches.Simon and Schuster. p.15.ISBN978-0-7432-6158-6.
- ^"Red Sox preview".South Coast Media Group. The New England Sports Service. 31 March 1996.Retrieved2011-04-11.
- ^"Carl Pavano #48 - SP".The Sports Network.
Changes speeds well, including a 'fosh' ball that is a great change-of-pace pitch.
- ^Callis, Jim; Lingo, Will (2007).Baseball America Prospect Handbook.Baseball America. p.217.ISBN978-1-932391-14-5.
He never was comfortable with a conventional circle changeup before his elbow reconstruction, so the Royals taught him a fosh changeup that's now his second-best pitch.
- ^Golen, Jimmy (10 March 1996). "Sox pitchers hit with 'fosh fever'".Associated Press.