Thefosh,fosh ball,foshball, orfosh change is a seldom used pitch inMajor League Baseball described as "a cross between a split-fingered pitch and a straight change-up".[1] It is designed to fool abatter expecting afastball to 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-up or an off-speedsplit-finger fastball.
The origin of the fosh is unknown.Mike Boddicker was the first pitcher known to throw it, having tried it in the 1980s.[3] Aspitching coach for theBoston Red Sox,Al Nipper taught the pitch toJeff Suppan in 1995,[3] andTom Gordon andRoger Clemens in 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 Weaver described 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 anacronym for "full of ...".[7]
'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.'
Changes speeds well, including a 'fosh' ball that is a great change-of-pace pitch.
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.