25 Most Untouchable Changeups/Splitters in Baseball

Pitchers are measured mostly by wins and losses, walks and strike outs, and the ERA they have attached to their stat line.

But the pitches they employ get them where they are, and an effective arsenal can definitely make the difference between success and failure on the mound.

For purposes of understanding the best change ups and splitters in the game today, I utilized Pitch Value tables available on Fangraphs to identify the success rate of the pitches (wCH and wSP), and included data from 2000 through this past season.

Jose Valverde

wSP: 5.1

Jose Valverde's strong 2011 campaign can be thanked in part to the effective splitter he implements into his pitch selection.

With a career high 49 saves and 2.24 ERA last season, he'll be counted on again in 2012 as the Tigers look to take the AL Central by storm en route to another postseason push.

Brandon League

wSP: 6.5

Brandon League emerged as a top-notch closer in 2011, saving 37 games last season after notching eight career saves prior to that.

He walks a relatively low number of batters and with free agency looming after this season, could be a trade target for a number of suitors looking for late-inning relief.

Ryan Dempster

wSP: 7.9

Ryan Dempster has been a very consistent overall pitcher throughout his career, and in his 14th season in 2011 started a career high 34 games.

With one of the more effective splitters in the league, he may rely on the pitch more often due to his less than stellar fastball (-86.7).

Roy Halladay

wSP: 14.7

There's no doubt that Roy Halladay is one of the best pitchers in the league right now, and when it's all said and done he very well may be one of the best to ever take the mound.

He's won at least 16 games in each of the last six seasons, and with less than two walks per nine innings he boasts some of the best control in the game.

Freddy Garcia

wSP: 15.7

Freddy Garcia's lack of fastball throughout his career (-61.2) hasn't gotten in the way of his success in the league, as he's been an effective pitcher for a number of teams including the Mariners, White Sox and Yankees.

He's won 12 games in each of the past two seasons and at 35 may still have some tread left on the tires.

Joel Peralta

wSP: 19.5

Joel Peralta has been a journeyman of sorts in the league, playing for five teams during his first seven years in the league, but he's been able to log innings in relief along the way, appearing in at least 60 games three times, including 71 in 2011 with the Rays.

J.J. Putz

wSP: 22.1

Arizona Diamondbacks reliever JJ Putz has logged effective innings during his time in the league, putting up a handful of sub-3.00 ERA seasons with a number of teams.

With an effective splitter, Putz also employs a solid fastball (37.3) on the mound.

Francisco Rodriguez

wCH: 33.2

Francisco Rodriguez was a big name last season as the talk of where he'd end up at the deadline.

He proved to be an effective pitcher for the Brewers after his acquisition, posting a 1.86 ERA in more than 30 appearances with Milwaukee.

Guillermo Mota

wCH: 34.0

First debuting in the league with the Montreal Expos in 1999, Guillermo Mota has worked his way through eight different teams in this league, and has most recently been eating up innings for the San Francisco Giants.

In two seasons by the Bay, Mota has posted a 3-5 record with a 4.02 ERA, pitching 134 innings in relief of some of the game's best starters.

Jose Contreras

wSP: 37.8

First coming to the league with the New York Yankees in 2003, Cuban defector Jose Contreras employs one of the games best splitters as he has found a place as a reliever for the Philadelphia Phillies over the past two seasons.

His best season with Philadelphia came in 2010 when he won six games, making 67 appearances.

Tim Hudson

wSP: 38.8

Between his days with the Oakland Athletics and Atlanta Braves, Tim Hudson has reached double digits in wins in all but one season, as he only appeared in seven games in 2009.

With a very effective fastball (111.8) he uses a number of pitches to his advantage on a nightly basis.

Justin Verlander

wCH: 38.9

He's been an elite pitcher for years, but the 2011 performance from Justin Verlander left us all in awe, as he made his way to a 24 win campaign, good enough for both Cy Young and MVP honors.

Shaun Marcum

wCH: 40.1

When it's on, Shaun Marcum's change up can baffle hitters in the batters box. He's won 13 games in each of his past two seasons, walking less than three batters per nine innings while striking out more than seven.

Jered Weaver

wCH: 43.0

Jered Weaver will lead a pitching staff with very lofty expectations in 2012 after a couple of big name acquisitions propelled them into championship discussions in many circles.

He utilizes a number of pitches to punch out batters to the tune of eight strikeouts per nine innings, but statistically speaking, his change up is biggest plus pitch.

Carl Pavano

wCH: 44.1

In a carer that's seen some ups and downs, Carl Pavano has led the Minnesota Twins pitching staff over the past few seasons, helping them to some postseason appearances along the way.

Without a fastball to rely on (-92.6) he has plodded his way with a plus change up and solid control.

Dan Haren

wSP: 46.6

Another member of the dramatically improved Los Angeles Angels, Dan Haren is one of the game's best at throwing the splitter, with an effective 46.6 rating.

Kyle Lohse

wCH: 47.2

Heading into the 2012 season, a lot of people wonder whether or not Kyle Lohse will end up being traded away, as the St. Louis Cardinals appear open to his move despite his no-trade clause.

No matter what happens, Lohse is coming off a 14 win campaign in 2011 and clearly has what it takes to make an impact on the right rotation.

Ryan Madson

wCH: 48.2

In nine seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan Madson hasn't posted an ERA above 3.25 in five years, and in recent years has gained control of strikeout pitches, punching out nearly 10 batters per nine innings over the past few seasons.

Barry Zito

wCH: 64.4

It's safe to say Barry Zito's time in San Francisco hasn't gone as planned, as the Giants starter has failed to live up to his billing after signing a massive contract prior to the 2007 season.

He does however have one of the games best curveballs when it's on and has a plus change up to go with it. Too bad that hasn't translated to success in San Fran.

Felix Hernandez

wCH: 69.5

King Felix Hernandez hasn't even hit the stride of his career, yet he's already established himself as one of the game's best young arms.

The 2010 AL Cy Young award winner has won 46 games over the past three seasons, notching a 2.73 ERA during that span.

Tim Lincecum

wCH: 71.0

There's no doubt that the Freak has some of the game's best stuff. With a great change up and some of the best command of his pitches around, Lincecum will no doubt continue to get better (if that's posisble) and should be set for a massive payday in the near future.

James Shields

wCH: 76.1

Despite having a team option for the 2013 season, it seems there's a possibility James Shields could be finding his way to a new team in 2012.

Whoever latches onto Shields will get a great pitcher, as the Tampa Bay Rays starter posted a career best 16 wins in 2011, with a 2.82 ERA to go along with it.

C.C. Sabathia

wCH: 80.3

With one of today's best change ups, C.C. Sabathia actually throws an even more effective slider (109.7) and is no doubt one of the AL's top pitchers.

He'll head into the 2012 season anchoring a revamped rotation that boasts one of the leagues best young arms in Michael Pineda and has ridded itself of the inconsistent A.J. Burnett.

Cole Hamels

wCH: 102.5

There's little doubt that Cole Hamels will set the bar for free agent pitchers after the 2012 season, and if the Phillies decide not to offer him an extension, he'll surely have his pick of teams.

Hamels has improved with every season, and reached a career low with a 2.79 ERA last season as he posted a 14-9 record, walking less than two batters per nine innings while striking out more than eight.

Johan Santana

wCH: 133.4

With the best change up in the game, Johan Santana has pitched his way to two Cy Young awards during his 11 years in the league, four times posting the lowest WHIP in the league.

His plus fastball is also a very effective pitch (115.7) and while he hasn't made 30 starts in a season since 2008, he hopes to get back on track from the surgery that sidelined him for the 2011 season.