"Later, I could take something off my slider and I could make my fastball sink, so I really had four pitches"

Dennis Eckersley was an expert baseball pitcher who was known for his ability to toss four different pitches. In this quote, he is referring to his ability to toss a slider, fastball, and 2 variations of the fastball. The slider was a pitch that he might toss with a great deal of movement, while the fastball was a pitch that he could throw with a great deal of speed. He was likewise able to take something off the slider and make it sink, which provided him a 4th pitch. This enabled him to be more flexible and unforeseeable on the mound, making it tough for batters to hit him. His four-pitch repertoire was a significant consider his success as a pitcher, and it is clear that he was proud of his capability to throw 4 different pitches.