As the name implies, WHIP is calculated for a given period of time (usually a season or career) by adding up the number of walks and the number of hits a pitcher has allowed during that span, then dividing by the number of innings he pitched over the same timeframe.

The formula for calculating WHIP, then, is:

WHIP = (number of walks allowed + number of hits allowed)/(number of innings pitched)

Why Is WHIP Important?

The primary goal and purpose of any pitcher is to prevent batters from reaching base and, consequently, from scoring.

The rate at which a hurler allows baserunners, then, is a good baseline indicator of his performance over a period of time. And WHIP measures the two most prominent ways that a batter can reach base and that are directly within a pitcher’s control.

After all, within some variance in judgement calls on the part of umpires when it comes to determining balls and strikes and, to a lesser extent, distinguishing between hits and errors, it is the battle between pitcher and batter that determines whether an at-bat or plate appearance ends in a hit, a walk, or an out.

What Does WHIP Miss?

Since WHIP accounts for only walks and hits, it leaves out a few ways that a pitcher can be responsible for putting a batter on base.

Among those are …

• Hit batsmen (hit-by-pitch)
• Fielding error by the pitcher
• Fielder’s choice by the pitcher

Of those, only the hit-by-pitch is directly under a hurler’s control while pitching and represents a very small source of baserunners across the game.

What Is a Typical WHIP?

In the history of the game, the average WHIP for Major League Baseball pitchers has ranged from an average of 1.108 way back in 1880 to a high of 1.712 … also way back, 1894.

In the so-called Live Ball Era (starting in roughly 1920), the average WHIP has ranged from 1.193 (1968) to 1.509 (1936).

League leaders typically hover around the 1.000 mark, with some plunging well belo.

“No-hitter” generally refers to a full nine-inning game in which a single pitcher yields no hits, but there are other configurations which also constitute a no-hitter. Among those are:

• A game that lasts more than nine innings, provided the pitcher allows no hits in any inning.
• A game in which two or more pitchers combine to allow no hits in a nine-inning (or extra-inning) game.

There are also some tough-luck cases that do NOT constitute an official no-hitter. Among those are:

• An eight-inning outing when a road pitcher allows no hits, but when his team trails after their turn at-bat in the top of the ninth inning. In that case the home team does not come to bat (since they have already won the game), and the pitcher is not credited with a no-hitter.
• An extra-inning outing in which the pitcher allows no hits through nine innings but DOES allow a hit in the 10th or later. In that case, the pitcher is also not credited with a no-hitter.

As noted in the case of the eight-inning no-hitter (that doesn’t count as an official no-hitter), it is possible for a pitcher to allow no hits but still allow one or more runs. That’s because, aside from a hit, a runner can reach base via a walk, balk, hit batsman, or error.

Since none of those represent a hit, a pitcher may allow any number of baserunners via one of those methods and *still* pitch a no-hitter, provided he doesn’t allow any actual hits.

No-Hitter v. Perfect Game

A perfect game is a special class of no-hitter in which, not only does a pitcher not allow a hit, but he doesn’t allow even a single baserunner. That’s nine 123 innings in a row, if you’re keeping score at home!

So, for an outing to result in a perfect game, the opposing team cannot reach base by any of the methods discussed above: no hits, walks, balks, hit batters, or errors.

Because it so much tougher to pull off, a perfect game is a much more rare occurrence than a simple no-hitter.

No-Hitters in Major League Baseball

Though the incidence of no-hitters in general and combined no-hitters by teammates in particular has been on the rise in the 2020s, no-hitters remain special and unusual accomplishments in Major League Baseball.

Through midseason of 2022, there have been 317 official no-hitters tossed by MLB hurlers. Of those, just 23 have been perfect games.

Among some of the more amazing statistics and facts about no-hitters in the majors:

• Nolan Ryan pitched more no-hitters than any other hurler, collecting seven no-no’s over his career. Sandy Koufax stands second, with four no-hitters.
• Johnny Vander Meer pitched back-to-back no-hitters in 1938, the only man to accomplish that double-dip feat in MLB history.
• Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Braves on May 26, 1959. He lost the no-hitter, and the game, on a walk-off double by Joe Adcock in the 13th inning.
• There have been 13 combined no-hitters in the major leagues. The first one came in 1917, when Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox toed the rubber in the first inning. He walked the first batter, Eddie Foster, and was then ejected for arguing with the umpire. Ernie Shore came in to relieve Ruth and, after Foster was caught trying to steal, retired the next 26 batters to nail down the combo no-no.
• On October 8, 1956, Don Larsen threw the only no-hitter in World Series history. In 2010, Roy Halladay threw the second post-season no-hitter when he shut down the Cincinnati Reds in the NLDS on October 6.

In Major League and minor league stadiums, the bullpens are typically located in foul territory between each team’s dugout and the corresponding outfield wall, down the first- or third-base line.

Who Uses the Bullpen?

Generally, bullpens are used by relief pitchers during games in preparation for coming into the game in place of a starter.

Depending on the pitchers, the weather, and the situation, a manager or pitching coach will send one or two pitchers to the ‘pen to start warming up several minutes before the substitution is made.

Starters sometimes also warm up in the bullpen, generally between innings to keep their arms limber and fluid, but occasionally before games, too. Often, though, starters warm up on the game mound.

In any case, especially in the modern game, the emphasis in the use of the bullpen is warming up just enough without adding too much to a pitcher’s overall pitch count.

How Big Are Bullpens?

Though bullpens may vary in location, size, and configuration, one commonality is that nearly all of them feature a mound positioned sixty feet and six inches from the “plate,” where the practice catcher (bullpen catcher) or pitching coach catches warmup pitches.

(Every once in awhile you might find a backup catcher from the active roster, or a former catcher with name appeal, helping out in the bullpen.)

That distance — sixty feet, six inches — matches the regulation distance from the mound to home plate in the major and minor leagues.

What Is the Origin of ‘Bullpen’?

The origin of the term “bullpen” has long been a topic of debate within the game.

An early explanation drew on how baseball teams handled overflow crowds, when more patrons flooded into a stadium than there were seats to accommodate them.

In those cases, many teams would “herd” the excess fans into fenced off sections near the outfield walls, where they could stand and watch the game.

Because fans were herded like cattle, the story goes, the areas where they were “penned” in became the bullpens.

And, because of space considerations, relief pitchers often ended up doing their warmups right in front of the bullpens.

Other theories that have gained at least some support over the years include …

• The proximity of warmup areas to Bull Durham display ads on outfield walls
• The similarity of relief pitchers being sent in to face hungry batters to bulls being sent to their slaughter, both after being held in “pens”
• Casey Stengel lamenting that his relief pitchers liked to sit around and shoot the bull(crap)
• The parallels between bulls in a rodeo being penned up before being unleashed into the arena and relief pitchers similarly bottled and released
• Announcer Jon Miller’s assertion that there was an actual pen with actual bulls near the outfield in the Polo Grounds (home of the New York Giants), close to where pitchers warmed up

The truth may be an amalgamation of multiples of these ideas, and maybe others, but the salient point is that the term “bullpen” is a vital part of the baseball lexicon.

It’s also worth noting that “bullpen” has become synonymous with the actual relief corps of a team over the years.

So, a baseball club in the 21st century might have five or six starting pitchers and a bullpen consisting of another 8-10 relief pitchers.

And … all of them warm up in the bullpen, at one time or another.

The cycle is a rare accomplishment in the game, having been achieved fewer than 400 times in the long history of Major League Baseball through 2022, putting it on par with the 314 no-hitters that have been recorded through 2021.

Generally speaking, cycles that are accomplished partially in extra innings are noted as such in narrative around the event and potentially in statistical compilations (with parenthetical notes about innings played), but the still “count.”

The hits in a cycle can occur in any order during the course of the game, but some specific orderings have gained at least colloquial nicknames that denote their sequence.

Among those are:

• Natural Cycle: hits attained in order of single, double, triple, home run
• Reverse Natural Cycle: hits attained in order of home run, triple, double, single

Through 2021, the youngest player to ever hit for the cycle was Mel Ott of the New York Giants, who pulled off the feat at age 20, in 1929.

Each of these types of pitches can be further divided into several specialized varieties.

Here is a quick rundown.

Fastballs

In general terms the fastball is a pitcher’s hardest, fastest pitch. It tends to move in a relatively straight line, and the standard fastball is also known as a cross-seamer of four-seamer. Int eh big leagues, fastballs tend to range from 85 to 100 mph.

Fastball Pitch Grip

The four-seam fastball is held such that the index and middle finger are placed across the seams of the ball. The thumb is placed below the gap between the center and the second finger to support the bottom of the ball.

Two-Seam Fastballs/Sinker

This is a modified version of the four-seam fastball. It has a different grip — the two-seamer is held along the seam not across the ball. Its average speed lies between 80 t0 90 mph and tends to have a downward arc. Beyond that movement, the two-seamer looks remarkably similar to the four-seamer because they both come in hard and fast.

Two-Seam Fastball Pitch Grips

The two-seam fastball is held with the first and center finger along the narrow portion of the seams, at the top of the “horseshoe.” The two leading two seams generate more run and downward movement than the four-seamer, giving the two-seamer its movement and slower velocity.

Cut Fastball/Cutter

The cutter is different from the two- and four seam-fastballs largely in the “cutting” movment it makes. From a right-handed pitcher, the ball cuts from right to left, and from a left-handed pitcher, it cuts from left to right. The cutter moves at an average speed between 85 to 95 mph, slower than four-seam fastballs.

The baseball is held just like four seamers or two seamers, but moving both fingers a little off center towards the seams.

Split-Finger Fastball / Splitter

The split finger fastball can be a devastating pitch when the batter suspects a straight fastball. It has a sharp movement where the ball breaks downwards before reaching the plate. This pitch can be unpredictable because of this extreme movement.

Split-Finger Fastball Pitch Grip

The fingers are split on opposite sides of the seams. The two-seam and the split finger fastball have a similar grip, with the splitter grip coming in wide.

Forkball

The forkball has a less dramatic movement than the splitter but still produces a gradual downward movement. The average speed is between 75 and 85 mph, making it the slowest fastball. This pitch is one of the rarest pitches in baseball, thanks to its taxing nature for pitchers’ arms.

Forkball Pitch Grip

In the forkball grip, the ball is held deeper in the hand than in the splitter, and the fingers are positioned farther apart. When the ball is released, the pitcher will snap the ball downward, similar to the motion used for the splitter.

Curveballs

Unlike fastballs, but as denoted by the name, curveballs are designed to change path on their way to plate, “curving” instead of coming in straight.

12-6 Curveball Pitch Grip

Throwing a curveball, you position the ball in your palm that the seams are parallel with your middle finger and your index finger placed on the leather next to the middle finger. Some pitchers have a variation where they keep the index finger pointed and not touching the ball.

Eephus Pitch

The eephus pitch has a high arc and a slow speed. The pitcher throws the baseball high and lets gravity impart the familiar arc that is so enticing to hitters but that is notoriously hard to hit. The eephus pitch does not have a standard grip,

Slider

The slider is usually thrown faster and with less overall movement the standard curveball, with an average speed is between 80 and 90 mph. The ball spins faster, helping it cut across the strike zone, in addition to dropping. Pitchers often try to disguise the slider as a fastball.

Slider Pitch Grip

To throw the slider, the pitcher places the middle finger on the seam while the first finger is on the leather. The thumb is placed just off the bottom seam. The middle finger and the index finger are used to impart spin to the ball.

Screwball

Sometimes is referred to as a reverse curveball. The screwball moves in an opposite direction than that of a slider or curve. It is rare in today’s game as it is also taxing on the pitcher.

Screwball Pitch Grip

A pitcher can use a two-seamer or a circle change grip and pronate upon release of the ball.

Changeups

Changeups are pitches thrown at slow speeds but with the intention of mimicking other pitches in order to disrupt the batter’s timing.

Traditional Changeup

The traditional change has an average speed of 70-85 mph, making it among the slowest pitches in baseball.

Traditional Changeup Pitch Grip

The ball rests between all the fingers. The center and ring finger are placed on top of the ball. On the left and right side of the ball, we have the index and pinky fingers. It creates the intended deception when the ball is placed deeper in the hand and thrown with a near identical motion to a fastball.

Palmball Pitch Grip

It has a different grip and is sometimes referred to as four-finger changeups. The ball is held just like that of changeup but deeper in the palm of your hand. The motion is like that of a fastball.

While you may not see all these pitches in a game very often, you’re likely to encounter most of them if you keep your eye on the bullpen, where pitchers often work on new “surprises” in addition to their old standbys.

And, every once in awhile, if you’re really lucky, you might even bear witness to the elusive knuckleball.

This difference in grip also affects how the ball moves, with the 4-seam fastball flying straight and fast, while the 2-seamer tends to tail away from the pitcher’s dominant hand.

Now, with those basics in place, here are some more specifics about the differences between 2-seam and 4-seam fastballs.

Difference Between 2-Seam And 4-Seam Fastball

A 4-seam fastball travels on a straight-line path to the plate while the 2-seam fastball travels either to the right or left, depending on the arm you use to throw the ball. When a right-handed pitcher throws the 2-seam ball to the center with the right hand, it will still move to the left; likewise, if thrown by a left-handed pitcher, it moves to the right.

A pitcher’s decision to throw either the 2-seam or the 4-seam will depend on critical pitch decisions they have to make in the game at that specific time.

When to Throw a 4-Seam Fastball

When a pitcher needs a sure strike, the 4-seam fastball may be the better choice, since it comes right at the hitter, straight from the point of release. The pitcher can rescue a pitcher who is 2-0 or 3-1 in the count. The 4-seam fastball at this count is excellent as the pitcher is stationary and does not need any movement, and the ball will travel in a straight line … the downside is that it’s also easier for the batter to hit if he’s expecting it.

When to Throw 2-Seam Fastball

The 2-seam fastball generally requires more seasoned skills to master than does the 4-seamer, since it has a higher chance of missing the strike zone. Once he’s confident with the pitch, though the 2-seamer can be a bread-and-butter offering for points where he is ahead in the count, or when his team has the lead.

How to Grip 4 -Seam Fastball

The 4-seam pitch is easy to learn as you place your index and middle fingers across the horseshoe formed by two seams, with your thumb centered underneath and across the back bottom seam. When throwing the 4-seam fastball, one should emphasize a strong backspin to hold on to the grip and maximize the whip off of their fingers when pitching at a higher speed.

How to Grip a 2-Seam Fastball

The 2-seam fastball gets its name since one will place their index finger and middle finger along the 2 seams of the baseball, and the thumb should be in a comfortable position on the “sweet spot” of the ball, at the bottom of the grip. When throwing it, the pitcher can slightly grip the baseball as its thrown thrown to exaggerate the baseball movement.

Bottom Line

Although both 2-seam and 4-seam fastballs move at a higher speed than other offerings, the two varieties of fastballs exhibit different movement, and therefore have different places in a pitcher’s repertoire.

For most pitchers, the 4-seamer will come along first, but it’s generally essential to be able to mix in a 2-seamer from time to time in order to achieve lasting success in bringing the heat without getting lit up by opposing batters.

A typical synonym for “can of corn” is “routine flyball.”

‘Can of Corn’ Origin

The most common explanation for how “can of corn” came to represent an easy flyball in baseball dates back to the end of the 19th century.

In those days — and deep into the 20th century — grocers would often stack cans of vegetables in pyramid displays in prominent locations in their stores.

Because taking cans from the base of the pyramid would have toppled the whole thing, the storekeepers sold their canned produce from the top down.

In order to retrieve the topmost can, at the apex, the grocer would use a long stick to pull the can down, and then catch it in his apron as it fell.

Since he knew the can was coming and could prepare for it, and since he practiced the move, catching a can of corn was easy peasy for the grocer.

Why corn and not some other veggie like peas or green beans?

Possibly because corn was the most popular vegetable and the easiest to sell.

‘Can of Corn’ in Popular Culture

As it turns out, “can of corn” has been used in other settings beyond the baseball field.

For instance, a long, high punt or kick in American football that gives the return man plenty of time to get settled underneath before it falls is sometimes called a “can of corn.”

This particular use of the turn of phrase made for a memorable and humorous moment in the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard, starring Adam Sandler.

In one scene, Big Tony draws return duties and camps under a long kick, reassuring himself and his teammates as the ball comes his way that it’s just a “Can of corn! Can of corn, and I’ll be fine!”.

Check out our rundown of other fun baseball terms right here.