MLB: The endangered curve in major baseball

The curves are themselves launching a curve by modern baseball which considers more velocity than variety. Moreover, so that their number decreases year after year.

In fact, their number decreases by more than 20,000 per year. Meanwhile,

The athletics launchers only launched curves in 2.5 % of their shots this season. Therefore, For all adults, these figures went from 10.7 % in 2019 to 8.1 % in 2024, the lowest rate since 2008, since the MLB compiles the type of throw. Similarly, This season, 8.5 % of throws are curves.

There were 22,962 less curves in major baseball in 2024 than five years ago.

“You do not see many people launching a ’12 -6 ‘curve these days. Moreover, ” said Tampa Bay Shane Baz Rays launcher about the traditional curve, a shot starting at the top of the area (12) to finish mlb: endangered curve major baseball at the bottom, even at the bottom of it (6).

“The guys prefer to launch a quick cut or a slippery with more velocity,” he continued. Moreover, And it’s easier for many of them to launch a curve/slippery (sweeper) than a traditional curve. Furthermore, »»

The use of 28.1 % of its throws for BAZ curves comes to seventh row of major among those that have made more. For example, than 1000 throws in 2025. Meanwhile, Charlie Morton, Baltimore Orioles, comes first with 39 %. Nevertheless, He learned to launch a “hook” with his father.

“He read an article or a book on the art of throwing,” says the 41 -year -old artilleryman. Nevertheless, You throw it as if you are launching a knife. In addition, »»

Curves have been part of the landscape for over a century and a half.

The member of the temple of renowned Camdy Cummings. mlb: endangered curve major baseball For example, which signed 145 victories, was credited with the invention of the shooting in 1863, while he was 14 years old. Therefore, He discovered the movement by launching shells in the Atlantic. Others attribute the curve to the amateur launcher Fred Goldsmith in the 1870s.

With an average velocity of 80.2 miles per hour, curves are the slowest effect bullets and with the most rounded trajectory. She often disturbs the rhythm of the striker, which expects a much faster bullet. The expression “sending a curve” is now part of the vocabulary.

Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan and Clayton Kershaw are among the biggest curves in history. Their curve has often made sure that the strikers abandon on the shot. before seeing it fall into the catch zone, a bit like a kite that stings from the nose.

“It is now an industry that values the throwing more than throws. ” mlb: endangered curve major baseball said Omar Minaya, advised senior at New York Yankees. When you launch, you use a varied arsenal. What we see now in industry. especially with the professional test camp industry, people look more at velocity than the art of throwing. As a screening, I saw it with regret. »»

In the era of steroids. Nike arrived with the advertising slogan ” Chicks Dig the Long Ball “(” Girls love the long ball “). These days, the slogan could well be “long live the bicycle!” ». There were only 214 throws of 100 m/h in 2008. There were 3880 two years ago and there could be 3252 if the launchers keep the same pace this season.

In the same breath, the use of starters is falling. Starters only launch an average of five rounds. a third this season, compared to six rounds and a third in the 1980s. The average number mlb: endangered curve major baseball of launches per exit is now 85.7, compared to 97 in 2010.

To launch as long as possible as long as possible is now the standard.

The four -seam quick ball is 94.4 m/h this season. It was 91.9 m/h when the MLB began to compile the speed of throws in 2008. But the rapids, four or two seams and cuts, are also down 62.1 % to 55 %.

The rapids and curves that are less launched have been replaced by sliding and other variants. They have 22.6 % of throws this season, compared to 13.9 % in 2008. Their velocity increased from 83.4 m/h to 84.8 m/h.

Colorado Rockies are those that most often launch curves, 15.6 % of throws. This is not a guarantee of success: the team began the break from the star match with a 22-74 file. in the process of knowing a season of 37-125, mlb: endangered curve major baseball which would be the greatest number of defeats since 1900.

Athletics have launched 10 % of curves since 2017.

“When you look at what is done now. the priority is to make sure that the strikers start in the void. So the guys launch more effect balls with lateral movement. or even high velocity slides at the bottom of the socket area, explained the instructor of the launchers of A’s, Scott Emerson. They fear contacts on the curves. »»

The veterans note that young launchers are increasingly abandoning the curves.

“The guys want more velocity. because it is important and it is paying,” notes the AS leaving for the Yankees Gerrit Cole.

However, the strikers are not better hitting the curves than the other effect bullets. They have an average of, 225 against the curve and, 223 in the face of sliding and other variants. It is, 263 against the mlb: endangered curve major baseball rapid.