Excellent point.
Additionally, "cut fastballs" can get quick late movement. I watched Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz take a 105 mph fastball from the Reds' Aroldis Chapman into right field for a double a few days ago. That was a "flat" fastball, straight as an arrow. Good pitchers can throw in the low 90s but get "movement" on their fastballs that make them difficult to hit. There is nothing "parabolic" about a moving fastball.
FRegards,
LH
I saw a left hand hitter take a real late little hop backward as Rivera threw him the cutter. He actually made solid contact, instead of breaking his bat when the ball ran in on him at the plate. It looks like it jukes left at the last second to me, but just a little bit.
Pedro Martinez in his prime threw something that looked to me to bear left and then hard right. Then there’s the split and the knuckler; if they are illusions then it fools me real good, at least on TV.
Freegards