OK Changeup

So the two began to study this changeup similar to a palmball, hoping to increase its drop. Currently, it can consistently drop about two balls. Of course, Kōshū also tried the OK Changeup, Crab Changeup, and Raised Finger Changeup, but none were as comfortable as this casually thrown ball.

"I see some people's changeups can also shift horizontally towards the Right-Handed Batter's inner corner." Kōshū hadn't finished studying the dropping issue before he started eyeing horizontal movement.

"Hey, hey—focus on my mitt, don't get greedy."

"Okay—"

As a tool, Lang Zhi is having another day as a big fan.

"Why not try the OK Changeup again? Didn't you throw it well last time?" After sending Lang Zhi to the batting cage, Kōshū and Miyuki continued their discussion at Home Plate.

"I know, but it's not as smooth as this method."

"Let me be blunt, your ball is around 128, not much different from the average 134 Straight Ball, so it can't effectively deceive the batter. And it's close to the Cutter's speed. The original purpose of adding a changeup was to add a gear beyond the existing Straight Ball and Changeup. Your current changeup speed overlaps with the Cutter's speed, which is a pure waste."

Kōshū, who was about to say a few more words, instantly sobered up. All pitches are not thrown for fun, but to play a real role in actual combat: "I understand, then I'll try the OK Changeup next."

"Very good, once your ball speed increases, this ball might still come in handy." Miyuki now genuinely enjoys partnering with Kōshū.

The OK Changeup involves making an OK gesture with five fingers, clamping the ball in between. The overall throwing motion and arm swing are exactly the same as a Straight Ball. Because it increases friction at the point of release, the ball speed will be reduced a lot. The overall trajectory is a rapid deceleration and drop in front of Home Plate. Some pitchers' throws will also be accompanied by horizontal movement.

As for Kōshū, his OK Changeup can directly drop to about 117, a difference of 21 kilometers from his fastest speed. After continuous Straight Balls, the batter's body is already accustomed to speeds above 135 kilometers. Suddenly, a ball with a completely different rhythm will immediately disrupt the batter's hitting rhythm.

But the only problem is—

"Hey, hey, you're digging potatoes again! Control it properly." Miyuki had a drop of cold sweat on his forehead. Could this guy have a grudge against changing his grip?

"That's why I said, I don't throw this very smoothly, it feels soft." Of course, if it's not smooth, you can't grasp the accuracy.

The difference between a Changeup and a Straight Ball is the deliberate friction that brings deceleration. This feel is very different from a Straight Ball, causing Kōshū to have some difficulty adapting to this feeling in the early stages.

After throwing a dozen more balls, he barely managed to find the feel of throwing a Changeup.

"You're too slow to warm up." Last time too, switching from a Straight Ball to throwing a Changeup, he had to throw more than a dozen balls before he could start throwing it somewhat properly.

"I'm getting into the state faster than last time."

"So, you've finally found the boundary of your talent." Miyuki was sarcastic, and Kōshū ignored him.

In fact, in the professional baseball world where baseball is a livelihood, it is a collection of pitchers from all over the place. It is no exaggeration to say that they are geniuses selected from geniuses, but pitchers always have their own pitches that they throw well, and pitches that they can't throw well no matter what. Generally, they are matched with two or three main pitches, and they have to be constantly adjusted every year to prevent being studied and blown up in the next season.

Some people take a different approach and only throw one type of ball. This ball must be so sharp that the batter knows what the pitcher will throw, but they just can't hit it well. This type of pitcher can achieve considerable success as a reliever or closer. In short, after anything becomes a professional level, it is not examining 'large and comprehensive' but examining 'specialized and precise'.

For Kōshū at this time, instead of becoming a Thousand-Hand Guanyin with multiple changeups, it is better to slowly grind and make the existing pitches dominant enough on the field, as Coach Ninomiya hopes. Of course, these are all digressions. Now Kōshū has inadvertently opened the door to changeups and is having a bit of fun.

"OK! Thrown very well! Next, alternate between Straight Ball and Changeup."

Kōshū switched from Changeup back to Straight Ball, and he found the state very quickly. He could almost immediately find the familiar feeling with the first ball, but after throwing two Straight Balls in a row, when he returned to the Changeup, he was a little unsure whether the feel of the ball could be thrown accurately.

"Ah—doesn't feel right."

The ball landed early again. Miyuki lunged and knelt, using his armor to block the bouncing baseball. He had done this more than ten times today, and the force of the lunge and kneel remained undiminished.

When it comes to baseball, this person is still reliable. This is also why Kōshū is willing to come out with Miyuki. He is available on call, professional enough, and has no relationship with the club. The only catcher he knows who meets the conditions is this person.

"Remember the feeling of throwing the ball properly." Although his words are very unpleasant.

"I will—" Kōshū seemed to have found the feeling. Because the coach told him to grip the ball deeper when he first learned, plus his fingers are relatively long, he can't exert strength when throwing a Changeup with the OK gesture, and he will always unconsciously apply more friction, so that the ball does not get the energy to rush into the catcher's mitt. Now he has to grip the ball shallower.

What will happen? It's just an experiment anyway!

Miyuki was squatting in front of Home Plate, and he didn't take his casual complaint to heart. He thought it would take more than a dozen attempts for the pitcher to get the feel, but he didn't expect...

This ball, thrown from the pitcher's hand, had a very thorough arm swing, but the ball seemed drunk. There was a visible speed difference from the Straight Ball. It dropped beautifully and cleanly in front of Home Plate, brushing the lower edge of the strike zone, and rushed into the catcher's motionless glove.

Miyuki caught the ball, and his body couldn't help but tremble. What's going on with this ball? "You can do it! Again!"

The opposite pitcher received the powerful return throw and was also infected by the catcher's excitement. Two consecutive Changeups were thrown well into the glove.

Miyuki didn't ask for a Straight Ball next. He was eager to have the pitcher fix this feeling of throwing.

"A low outside strike."

"A ball brushing the lower edge."

It was as if a ball had opened up the Ren and Du meridians. The Changeup, which had just needed to be slowly adapted to, instantly became Kōshū's possession, and even accuracy was included.

"You guy, you're really amazing." After the practice that day, even Miyuki couldn't help but praise.

"Oh, is that so? But if there isn't a fastball that makes the batter tense all their muscles, this slow ball will soon be smashed." Kōshū wasn't so excited. Increasing ball speed wasn't that easy.

In the early stages, he could immediately increase by 5-7 kilometers by adjusting his posture, but after that, it became more and more difficult. He had to rely on daily exercise, persisting in quantitative change to achieve qualitative change, so that the ball speed could slowly break through.

"Unexpectedly calm."

"Of course." It was late, and the two groups separated at the door.

Lang Zhi finally said what he had been holding back for a long time: "Coach Ninomiya won't let you learn new pitches, how are you going to explain it?"

"Pretend to learn it during a certain pitch."

"But weren't you just doing strange attempts? If the pitching posture is affected during the attempt, it's not good if you don't tell the coaches."

Lang Zhi made a lot of sense, and Kōshū began to have a headache again.

Should he confess to the coach about his private extra practice? And doing it behind Hayakawa Aki's back always made him feel guilty.