Meatball

A meatball is a pitch thrown right down the heart of the plate with nothing on it, easy to hit, sitting there like a juicy meatball waiting to be devoured. It's the opposite of a quality pitch.

Characteristics of a Meatball

A classic meatball typically has:

• Center-center location: Right down the middle
• Little movement: No break or tail
• Belt-high: In the batter's wheelhouse
• Predictable velocity: Often a flat fastball
• No deception: The batter sees it all the way

How Meatballs Happen

Pitchers throw meatballs when:

• They're trying to throw a strike but miss their spot badly
• They're behind in the count and have to groove one
• A breaking ball doesn't break (a "hanging" curve or slider)
• Fatigue affects their command
• They're overthrowing and losing control

Famous Meatball Moments

Some of baseball's most dramatic home runs came off meatballs:

• Walk-off moments when pitchers had to throw strikes
• Playoff at-bats where pressure affected location
• Relievers who "left one over the plate"

The Announcer Call

You'll often hear announcers say:

• "He hung that one"
• "That's a cookie"
• "Batting practice fastball"
• "He left that one out over the plate"
• "You can't throw that pitch right there"