Blue Jays: Top 5 All-Time Funkiest Pitching Motions/Deliveries

Welcome to Funky Town. With the arrival of submarine-slinging reliever Adam Cimber, the Blue Jays have not only helped to shore up their beleaguered bullpen, but have also added one of the funkiest deliveries in the majors. Cimber describes how his lanky frame as a teenager was the reason for going submarine style.

Thanks for the tip, Dad!

Cimber’s freaky form gives us the perfect opportunity to pay homage to the Top 5 Fabulously Funky Pitching Motions &/or Deliveries in Blue Jay history.

5. Marcus Stroman

Stroman was known for his occasional “stutter” leg kicks, stopping momentarily mid-delivery, before continuing his motion. The Stroman Stutter was enough of an unexpected hitch to sometimes throw batters off their game. And sometimes, to get in their heads:

More from Jays Journal

• Blue Jays: Snapping cold streaks at the right time
• Who Should the Blue Jays Extend First: Guerrero, Bichette or Manoah?
• Blue Jays now hold the top Wild Card spot, and yes that’s a good thing
• Blue Jays may have the tools to use a Bullpen Day
• Blue Jays win important first game after Bichette’s late inning heroics

4. Mark Eichhorn

For younger Jays fans who may not be familiar with him, Mark Eichhorn was the first noteworthy sidearmer to grace the mound for Toronto, as a very successful reliever for the Jays starting in the mid-80s. His funky delivery was so effective in the 1986 season, he actually finished 6th in the voting for the AL Cy Young Award, with 14 wins, 10 saves, and a 1.72 ERA.

3. Adam Cimber

Starting with that pigeon-toed stance, his true submarine delivery is all arms and legs flailing. Cimber is a different look for the Jays, and for opponents.

And as a bonus, in addition to his odd delivery, Cimber also has one of the best nicknames in the majors: Cimdog Millionaire. Do I hear an All-Time Best Blue Jay Nicknames list in the offing?

2. Pat Venditte

We’re going off the board a bit with this one. If you watched Venditte pitch to one batter, you wouldn’t think there’s anything bizarre about the righthanded delivery at all. Until you saw the next batter walk up to the other side of the plate, and watched Venditte switch his glove to the other hand, and pitch lefthanded.

The only ambidextrous pitcher in Blue Jay history deserves a prime spot on this list.

1. Jordan Romano

I don’t think we’re falling victim to recency bias when we name Romano as the No. 1 weirdest all-time Blue Jay pitching action.

When your first baseman has a little fun mimicking your motion mid-game, you know you’re doing something different.

From the shimmying to the squatting to the self-motivating pep talks, the Canadian kid features the most unique pitching mechanics not only in Blue Jay history, but probably league-wide.

If there’s a funky pitching motion we missed, please let us know!