Baseball: How-to guides
Browse SportsMonkie's how-to guides about baseball, organized in one crawlable topic hub.
11 articles in this topic.
162-0 Strategy Guide: How to Build a Perfect MLB Roster
Winning 162-0 means balancing hitting and pitching evenly, matching your roster to the era your spins converge on, and saving rerolls for your pitcher and weakest defensive slot. Here's the full draft strategy.
How to Throw a Four-Seam Fastball: Grip, Mechanics, and Drills
How to throw a four-seam fastball: the horseshoe-seam grip, backspin mechanics, and drills for the fastest, straightest pitch in baseball.
How to Throw a Knuckleball: Grip, Release, and Drills
Learn how to throw a knuckleball step by step: the fingertip grip, the dead-wrist release that kills spin, and drills used by real MLB knuckleballers.
How to Throw a Splitter: Grip, Mechanics and Elbow-Safety Tips
Learn how to throw a splitter: the wide index-middle finger grip, fastball arm action, why it drops late, and how it differs from a forkball or changeup.
How to Throw a Two-Seam Fastball: Grip, Movement & Drills
To throw a two-seam fastball, place your index and middle fingers along the narrow seams, thumb underneath, and add slight pressure with the index finger to create arm-side run and sink.
How to Break In a Baseball Glove: The Right Way
Break in a baseball glove by playing catch daily, applying a thin coat of glove conditioner, working the pocket by hand, and shaping it with a ball tied inside overnight.
How to Throw a Changeup: Grip, Arm Speed & Deception
To throw a changeup, use a circle or three-finger grip deeper in the hand, then throw it with identical fastball arm speed so it arrives 8-12 mph slower and fools timing.
How to Throw a Curveball: Grip, Spin & Release
To throw a curveball, use a spike or standard grip with the middle finger on a seam, apply topspin by pulling down at release, and stay on top for a sharp downward break.
How to Throw a Cutter in Baseball: Grip & Release
To throw a cutter, use a four-seam grip shifted slightly off-center toward your fingers, apply a hint of pressure with the middle finger, and throw hard for late glove-side cut.
How to Throw a Sinker in Baseball: Grip & Movement
To throw a sinker, use a two-seam grip along the seams, apply slight pronation at release, and throw with fastball intent for arm-side run and downward sink that gets ground balls.
How to Throw a Slider: Grip, Spin & Release
To throw a slider, grip it slightly off-center like a two-seam, apply firm sidespin off the index finger, and stay on top with fastball arm speed for late lateral break.