How To Throw A Cutter Like Mariano Rivera! (BEST CUTTER GRIP)

YouGoProBaseball
3 Dec 201803:05
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this video, the creator discusses Mariano Rivera's legendary cutter, a pitch that contributed to his reputation as one of the best closers in baseball history. The video delves into the unique grip and delivery that made Rivera's cutter so effective, with its deceptive movement and consistency. It emphasizes the importance of a consistent release point and pitching to the corners, which made it challenging for batters to predict and hit. The video also recommends watching a New York Times video for further insights into Rivera's mastery of the cutter, encouraging viewers to subscribe and engage with the content.

Takeaways
  • 🏆 Mariano Rivera is considered by many as the best closer in baseball history, with a highly effective cutter pitch.
  • 🎣 The grip on Rivera's cutter is a modified 4-seam grip, with the middle finger cocked off to the side and gripping the top lace.
  • 👍 Key to the grip is the thumb placement, tucked under slightly to allow more of the ball to come out the other side, aiding in the pitch's cut.
  • 🚀 The cutter's effectiveness comes from its resemblance to a fastball, with backspin and a natural cut, rather than a forced slider.
  • 🔥 Rivera's cutter was particularly devastating to left-handed batters, often making them look foolish and breaking many bats.
  • 📈 Consistency in delivery and release point was a significant factor in Rivera's success, making it difficult for batters to predict the type of pitch.
  • 🎯 Rivera excelled at pitching to the corners of the plate, starting the ball in the middle and having it cut across to different parts of the strike zone.
  • 📊 The New York Times produced a video with an animation showcasing Rivera's consistent release point across all his pitches, which is a valuable resource for learning.
  • 👍 The video script encourages viewers to watch the New York Times video for further insights into Rivera's cutter technique.
  • 👏 The script ends with a call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and comment on what they would like to see in future videos.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is to discuss and analyze Mariano Rivera's Cutter pitch, a baseball pitch that he was particularly known for and was highly effective.

  • Who is the best closer in the game according to the speaker?

    -According to the speaker, Mariano Rivera is considered the best closer in the game ever, although he acknowledges that Trevor Hoffman might disagree.

  • How does Mariano Rivera grip his cutter pitch?

    -Mariano Rivera grips his cutter with a 4 seam grip but with it slightly cocked off to the side. His middle finger, being a right-handed pitcher, is close to the lace, and his thumb is tucked under a bit more than in a standard grip.

  • What is the key to the effectiveness of Rivera's cutter according to the video?

    -The key to the effectiveness of Rivera's cutter is its natural cut and backspin, which makes it difficult for hitters to distinguish from a fastball, and his consistent delivery which makes it hard for batters to predict the pitch type.

  • Why is the cutter pitch difficult for hitters to hit?

    -The cutter pitch is difficult for hitters to hit because it starts as a fastball and then cuts across, making it unpredictable and challenging to time the swing correctly.

  • What is special about Mariano Rivera's delivery?

    -Mariano Rivera's delivery is special because it is very consistent, making it difficult for batters to identify the type of pitch he is throwing, and he is also good at pitching to the corners of the plate.

  • How does Rivera's cutter pitch move?

    -Rivera's cutter pitch moves with a natural cut coming across, starting in one spot and finishing in another, which is very deceptive for the batters.

  • What does the New York Times video show about Mariano Rivera's pitches?

    -The New York Times video shows an animation of all of Mariano Rivera's pitches coming out of one release point, illustrating his consistency and effectiveness.

  • What was the speaker's favorite scenario when Rivera threw his cutter pitch?

    -The speaker's favorite scenario was when Rivera threw his cutter pitch into left-handed batters, as it made them look foolish and often resulted in broken bats.

  • How can viewers find more information on how to throw Mariano Rivera's cutter?

    -Viewers can find more information on how to throw Mariano Rivera's cutter by watching the New York Times video that the speaker recommends, which is linked in the video description or will appear as a pop-up card.

  • What does the speaker ask viewers to do if they liked the video?

    -The speaker asks viewers to give the video a thumbs up and subscribe if they haven't already, and to leave a comment if they have suggestions for other topics they would like to see covered in future videos.

Outlines
00:00
🏆 Mariano Rivera's Cutter Pitch Analysis

This paragraph delves into the intricacies of Mariano Rivera's cutter pitch, widely regarded as one of the most effective in baseball history. It starts with an introduction to the topic, referencing a previous video on Greg Maddux's 2 seam pitch and a viewer's request to analyze Rivera's cutter and Pedro's changeup. The speaker then focuses on Rivera's grip, describing it as a modified 4-seam grip with a unique thumb placement that allows for more of the ball to be exposed on one side, contributing to the pitch's lateral movement. The effectiveness of the cutter is attributed to its resemblance to a fastball, making it difficult for hitters to anticipate. The paragraph also highlights Rivera's consistent delivery and his ability to pitch to the corners of the plate, which adds to the pitch's deceptiveness. The speaker shares personal admiration for how the pitch performed against left-handed batters, often resulting in broken bats. Lastly, the paragraph encourages viewers to watch a New York Times video for further insights into Rivera's pitching technique and success, and ends with a call to action for likes, subscriptions, and viewer engagement.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux is a former professional baseball player known for his exceptional pitching skills. In the context of the video, the script references a previous video made about Maddux's 2-seam pitch, indicating that the content creator focuses on analyzing the techniques of renowned pitchers. This sets the stage for the current video's focus on Mariano Rivera's cutter.
💡Sal Gallo
Sal Gallo is mentioned as someone who expressed interest in seeing videos about Mariano Rivera's cutter and Pedro's changeup. While not much detail is given about Sal Gallo in the script, his mention serves to show that the video content is driven by viewer interest and engagement.
💡Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera is a retired baseball player, widely considered one of the greatest closers in the history of Major League Baseball. The video's main theme revolves around analyzing Rivera's cutter pitch, which was a significant part of his success on the field. The script discusses his grip, delivery, and the pitch's effectiveness.
💡Cutter
The cutter is a type of baseball pitch that moves laterally, making it difficult for hitters to make solid contact. In the video, the cutter is the central focus, with the script detailing how Mariano Rivera gripped and threw the pitch, contributing to his reputation as a dominant closer.
💡Grip
Grip in baseball refers to how a pitcher holds the ball before throwing it, which affects the pitch's movement and speed. The script explains that Rivera used a 4-seam grip but adjusted it slightly to produce the cutter's unique movement, emphasizing the importance of grip in executing a successful pitch.
💡Seams
Seams on a baseball are the raised stitches that run around the ball. The script describes how Rivera's grip involved coming across the seams with his fingers positioned in a specific way to generate the cutter's movement. Understanding seam interaction is crucial for pitchers looking to refine their pitches.
💡Thumb placement
In the context of pitching, thumb placement is critical for controlling the ball's movement. The script notes that Rivera tucked his thumb under the ball slightly, which may have contributed to the distinctive cut of his cutter, highlighting the subtle but significant details in a pitcher's technique.
💡Delivery
Delivery in baseball refers to the entire process of a pitcher's motion leading up to the release of the ball. The script emphasizes Rivera's consistent delivery as a key to his success, as it made it difficult for batters to anticipate the type of pitch being thrown.
💡Release point
The release point is the position of the pitcher's hand and arm when the ball is let go. The script mentions that Rivera was consistent with his release point, which contributed to his ability to command the ball effectively and keep batters guessing.
💡Plate
The plate, or home plate, is where the pitcher aims to throw the ball to get a strike. The script describes how Rivera was adept at pitching to the corners of the plate, using the cutter to move the ball away from the batter's ideal hitting zone, making it challenging to hit.
💡New York Times
The New York Times is a respected newspaper that the script mentions as having created a video about Rivera's success with his cutter. This reference serves to validate the video's content and suggests that the topic has been covered by reputable sources, adding credibility to the analysis.
Highlights

Introduction to making another instructional video on pitching techniques.

Focus on Mariano Rivera's Cutter as a 'nasty pitch' and his status as one of the best closers in baseball history.

Discussion on the grip of Mariano's Cutter, using a modified 4-seam grip.

Explanation of how Rivera's middle finger placement on the ball contributes to the pitch's movement.

Importance of thumb placement for generating the Cutter's distinctive movement.

Rivera's Cutter is not thrown like a forced cutter, making it difficult for hitters to anticipate.

The Cutter's effectiveness due to its backspin and natural cut, as opposed to a forced slider.

Mariano Rivera's consistent delivery as a key to his success with the Cutter.

Consistency in release point leading to precision in the strike zone.

Rivera's strategy of pitching to the corners of the plate, avoiding the middle.

The challenge for batters to hit a pitch that starts and finishes in different locations.

Personal anecdote about Rivera's Cutter being particularly effective against left-handed batters.

Recommendation to watch a New York Times video for further insights into Rivera's pitching success.

Invitation for viewers to like the video and subscribe for more content.

Call to action for viewers to comment with topics they would like to see covered in future videos.

Transcripts

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Baseball PitchingMariano RiveraCutter TechniquePitcher GripBaseball AnalysisSports EducationDelivery ConsistencyPlate CornersBatter ChallengeVideo Tutorial