(Unconventional?) Pitch

[Ace]

i was reading this yahoo article that says:

"[Braden] Looper also throws a sinker and a pitch that can function as a changeup or a split-finger, depending on how he throws it."

im not terribly familiar with pitching... im guessing the pitch doesnt really have a name but does anyone know what it is? and how common is it for pitchers to have an (unconventional?) pitch like this?

[Havok1517]

I'm not sure about Looper but Rich Harden developed his own pitch that he's using instead of throwing the changeup that has hurt his arm the past few years.

[mak1277]

Probably just the difference between a true split-finger (which has velocity closer to that of a fastball) and a forkball, which is more like a change-up.

I doubt Looper's doing anything "unconventional". His splitter/change-up might just be something that is slower, without the traditional downward movement of a splitter, but gripped the same way.

[thedude]

Schilling throws the splitter as his off-speed pitch. I don't think Looper is really doing anything uncommon.