서클 체인지업, Circle change-up

스트레이트 체인지업이라 할 수 있는 쓰리핑거 체인지업과 유사하나, 역회전성으로 우투수 기준 우타자의 몸쪽으로 휘어지는 움직임을 보인다. 덕분에 구속이 빠른 투수가 서클 체인지업을 던질 경우 싱커처럼 보이기도 한다. 투수의 손목 등에 가는 부담이 적고 투구폼에서 패스트볼과 구분이 어렵기 때문에 현대에 들어서 가장 각광받는 구종 중 하나이다.

서클 체인지업이라는 이름은 손가락과 검지가 만나거나 거의 만나는 것처럼 OK 싸인을 만들듯 공을 잡고 던지기 때문에 손가락이 원형을 만든다고 해서 서클(Circle)을 붙여 지어진 이름이다. OK 체인지업이라 부르는 사람도 있고 20세기 일본에선 아예 'OK볼'이라 불리기도 했다. 검지와 중지로 잡는 다른 구종들과 달리 중지와 약지로 공을 잡기에 손목의 힘이 온전히 전달되는 축에서 공이 약간 빗겨나 있으며, 공이 손바닥과 접촉면이 많고 손목에 더 가까이 위치해 손목 힘이 온전히 전달되지 않는다. 그 때문에 팔의 스윙 스피드를 동일하게 유지하고 공을 던져도 패스트볼과 구속 차이가 나고 낙폭이 생기는 것.

그립은 엄지와 검지를 맞대서 공의 옆에 댄 다음 자연스럽게 공을 감싸쥐듯이 모든 손가락으로 공을 잡은 후 직구를 던진다는 생각으로 던진다. 여기서 엄지와 검지를 얼마나 맞대느냐에 따라 개인별로 차이가 생긴다. 검지를 엄지의 관절 안쪽에 대기도 하고 반대로 엄지와 검지를 살짝 떨어뜨리는 경우도 있다. 그렇게 던지면 손가락의 길이 차이로 중지에 공이 더 걸리게 되고 역회전이 걸리는 것이다. 잘 던지는 투수는 일부러 중지에 힘을 강하게 줘서 역회전을 강하게 주며, 검지로 채는 경우도 있다.

일반 체인지업보다 이 역회전 체인지업이 왜 가장 애용되고 있느냐면, 반대손 타자에게 특효약이기 때문이다. 웬만한 투수들은 다 같은손 타자에게 강하고 반대손 타자에겐 약하다. 팔이 거기 달려 궤적이 그리 만들어지는 이상 어쩔수 없는 일. 역회전 구질은 그 까다로운 반대손 타자 입장에서 점점 멀어지는 공이기에 투수가 속도 차이에 더불어 궤적으로도 타자의 배트를 피하는 이중 공격을 할 수 있다. 이 분야의 레전드 페드로 마르티네스는 2000년, 좌타자를 더 많이 상대하고도 좌타자 상대 .150이라는 비현실적인 피안타율을 기록했다. 역대 최고의 좌타 킬러 랜디 존슨의 좌타 상대 피안타율 커리어 하이가 .163(2004년)임을 감안한다면 어이가 없는 수준이다. 이처럼 서클 체인지업의 구위가 극한에 다다른 선수는 반대손 타자를 압도할 수가 있다.

특히 좌완 '선발' 투수라면 많은 타자를 상대해야하고 일반적으로 세상엔 좌타자보다 우타자가 더 많기에, 필수적으로 장착하는 것이 좋다. 좌완 선발은 서클 체인지업을 제대로 장착하느냐 못하느냐에 따라 성적과 연봉과 인생이 바뀐다. 서클 체인지업을 마스터한 좌투수는 오히려 우타에 더 강한 모습을 보이기까지 한다.

 

 

 

It is similar to the three-finger change-up, which can be called a straight change-up, but it shows the movement of bending toward the body of the right-handed batter based on the right-handed pitcher's reverse rotation. As a result, a fast-binding pitcher sometimes looks like a sinker when throwing a circle change-up. It is one of the most popular pitching types in modern times because it is less burdensome on the pitcher's wrist and is difficult to distinguish from fastballs in pitching form.

The name "circle change-up" was named "circle" because fingers form a circle because they hold and throw the ball as if the fingers and index fingers meet or almost meet each other. Some call it "OK change-up," while others call it "OK ball" in Japan in the 20th century. Unlike other pitches that use the index finger and middle finger to hold the ball, the ball is slightly deviated from the axis where the strength of the wrist is fully delivered to the ball, and the ball has many contact surfaces with the palm and is located closer to the wrist, so the strength of the wrist is not fully transmitted. As a result, even if the ball is thrown while keeping the swing speed of the arm the same, there is a difference in speed from the fast ball, and a fall occurs.

For the grip, put the thumb and index finger facing each other to the side of the ball, hold the ball with all your fingers as if you are naturally holding the ball, and throw it as if throwing the fastball. Individuals differ depending on how much the thumb and index finger are placed together. The index finger may be placed inside the joint of the thumb, and on the contrary, the thumb and index finger may be slightly lowered. If you throw it like that, the length of the fingers will make the ball take longer in the middle and take longer reverse rotation. A pitcher who throws well intentionally strengthens the middle finger to give it a strong reverse rotation, and sometimes he throws it with the index finger.

The reason why this reverse rotation change-up is used more often than ordinary change-ups is that it is a special medicine for opposite-handed batters. Most pitchers are strong against same-handed batters and weak against opposite-handed batters. As long as the arm runs there and the trajectory is created, there is nothing we can do. Reverse rotation pitch is a ball that gradually moves away from the position of the demanding opposite-handed batter, so the pitcher can make double attacks by avoiding the batter's bat not only by speed difference but also by trajectory. In 2000, legendary player Pedro Martinez recorded an unrealistic hit rate of .150 against left-handed batters even though he faced more left-handed batters. This is absurd considering that Randy Johnson, the best left-handed hitter in history, has a career high of .163 against left-handed batters. As such, a player whose ball power in circle change-up has reached its limit can overwhelm opposing-handed batters.

As left-handed pitchers have to deal with many batters, and there are more right-handed pitchers in the world than left-handed ones in general, it is recommended to have them installed as a necessity. Left-handed starters' performance, salary, and life change depending on whether they properly fit the circle change-up or not. A left-handed pitcher who has mastered circle change-up even shows stronger performance against right-handed batters.