off-speed

His mid-90s fastball is useful primarily in that it sets up his off-speed pitches.

For CC, Weight Is Just a Number Brian Costa 2010

He threw all his pitches effectively, from his off-speed stuff that darted down into the dirt to his power fastball that he blew past hitters high in the zone.

Lincecum Strikes Out 14 As San Francisco Giants Win Game 1 AP 2010

But once he showed he could catch up to them, pitchers threw him more off-speed pitches.

Beltran and Long Go Way Back Brian Costa 2011

And his curveball wasn't polished enough to be his lone off-speed pitch.

Yankees Beat Twins 6-1 Brian Costa 2010

So in the improbable event that Young found himself facing Bixler in that situation, he would be more likely to start with an off-speed pitch or something at the edge of the strike zone.

Inside Chris Young's Book of Hitters Brian Costa 2011

And he's getting away with his off-speed pitches because the Rangers have never faced him before.

Tampa Bay Rays vs Texas Rangers - live! 2011

His best off-speed pitch is his curveball, which Binghamton manager Wally Backman said is already good enough to fool major-league hitters.

The Mets' Beacon of Hope Brian Costa 2011

Garcia kept the young Rays lineup off-balance with his array of off-speed pitches, and the one time he did get in trouble—with Evan Longoria at the plate and men on base—Granderson tracked down a 400-foot liner to the wall with a full-speed, running catch to end the inning.

Score Sheet 2011

"Fastball command was huge, and being able to put some off-speed pitches in for strikes on fastball counts was big," Weaver said.

Weaver, Angels stifle Red Sox to take 2-0 ALDS advantage 2009

Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher, and to some extent Curtis Granderson are streaky hitters who kill poor pitching—and fastballs especially—but can be undone by good pitchers with above-average off-speed stuff.

From First to Flatline Daniel Barbarisi 2011