h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You have to keep your shoulders loose. The man on first is going to stay right there, because in the stretch, you're just staring at him. You get the sign, although, you're not sure if you can throw a third strike fastball past this guy. You're tired, your arm feels like jello, and just how many people have you walked today? So you grab the seams, almost making fist, and try to squeeze the life out of the ball as you pull the glove into your chest. As you twist back,the baserunner is gone, but it doesn't matter. All that matters is squeeze and release, pushing off with all you've got in the back leg, pivoting on the front, rolling through your back, as your arm comes across your shoulder, sidearm, elbowing leading till it snaps the last part of the whip. A crackle goes through your wrist as you force every bit of top spin you can muster. Sometimes, they break, in the last ten feet or so, if your velocity and spin allow the rules of physics to take over. That's usually in warm up and maybe for the first couple of batters. But late in the game, it's just a matter of fooling that batter, and hoping it goes by him fast enough that he doesn't have a chance to adjust his swing. If the gods smile on you it's a strike out. If they don't, it's a two run homer.