Scouting Report
Morton is renowned for the natural velocity and movement of his pitches. Before 2011 he threw a sharp breaking 12 to 6 curveball which sat in the mid to upper 70s, a low 80s changeup, and a mid 80s slider to complement a 4-seam fastball that usually traveled between 92 and 95 MPH and sometimes reached as high as 97 MPH. After his dismal 2010 season, Morton overhauled his pitching style to that of a sinkerballer, lowering his arm slot slightly to increase the effects of a 2-seam fastball that does not have the mid-90s velocity of his 4-seamer but possesses devastating vertical and horizontal movement.
Due to the changes in his delivery and the emphasis he has placed on the sinker, Morton has spawned comparisons to the Philadelphia Phillies' two-time Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay. Pirates special assistant Jim Benedict had previously encouraged Morton to emulate Halladay's delivery during spring training. Morton has featured his new sinker almost exclusively in his first starts of the 2011 season, resulting in an increased groundball rate but also more bases on balls. Pirates' broadcasters have christened him with the nickname "Ground Chuck."
Read more about this topic: Charlie Morton (pitcher)
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