Slider

:This article is about the baseball pitch. For other possible meanings see slider (disambiguation). For the cricket delivery, see leg spin.

Related Topics:
Slider (disambiguation) - Cricket - Leg spin

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In baseball, a slider (also known as a "nickel curve") is a pitch halfway between a curveball and a fastball, with less break but more speed than the curve. It will tend to drop less and move toward or away from the batter more than a curve. The extra speed can fool the hitter into thinking it is a fastball, until too late. Some pitchers also use a cut fastball (or cutter) which is one step closer than the slider to the fastball on the spectrum between fastballs and curves. A pitch that has movement similar to both a slider and a curveball is sometimes called a slurve.

Related Topics:
Baseball - Curveball - Fastball - Batter - Pitcher - Cutter

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A slider is generally used either after a fastball or a changeup to fool the hitter.

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The slider is also sometimes called "the great equalizer", as its development caused pitchers to regain some dominance over hitters. The slider also causes great stress and wear on a pitcher's arm: for this reason the Dodgers organization forbade its pitchers to throw sliders for many years after the pitch became popular.

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Slider is the name of the Cleveland Indians' mascot, named for the pitch.

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