As you pitchers get ready for the upcoming season, take a minute to think about what you did well and not so well last year...With each workout think about the pitches you need to improve upon and ADD a new twist to the pitch. If you need to get better with control take a look at your windup. Maybe your hand position can be adjusted. Sometimes guys with a big long arm tend to be more effective with thier hands starting low in the windup. Short arm pitchers, maybe raising your hands so you can get on top of your pitches consistently. These are a couple of thoughts...
If you know you want to get better but aren't sure what steps to take - ASK QUESTIONS!!! Ask your coach, teammates, opponents. Be ready, willing and able to accept constructive criticism! It's a great way to see rapid improvement.
Getting better is usually nothing more than TRIAL AND ERROR. Try new things, if they don't work you can always go back to what you used to do. Then try something else and repeat the process. Remember, your pitching career is a WORK IN PROGRESS that will end only when you want it to. Take time to enjoy the effort you put into it and if you are not satisfied, that's ok. The great ones feel they can always do more.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Do's and Don'ts for Seniors and a College Scholarship
More thoughts from the high school lessons. Seniors, keep your focus on a great season whether you have a college set or are still waiting.
Some things to think about if you are serious about your college baseball future from:
DO: Be a LEADER for your teammates. College scouts can pick up on individuality on the field in a minute.
DO: Keep your composure on the field even in the toughest of times. College and pro scouts like to see how you react on the mound after you give up a few hits and maybe an error. Statistics can't show this trait and many times it is exactly this that makes or breaks your opportunity to go tho the college of your dreams.
DO: Stay on your conditioning and throwing routine. Even if you already have your scholarship in hand! This is the first piece of a much bigger story if you want it to be. Keep good work habits so the jump to the next level is easier.
DON'T: Think you can relax after you have you college choice set. Many times there is a let down because college is all set and the senior year is "not important". This is not a good mind set! Start working harder and prove to everyone you are the high quality player your scholarship represents.
DON'T: Think you won't get to a better college just because you haven't made your choice by your senior season. Often colleges have openings which have not been filled because recruited players chose another college. These coaches will be around and will be seriously recruiting so be prepared to get out of the blocks quickly this season!
DON'T: Take opponents for granted. You can always compete with yourself and try to improve on weaknesses on those days when the opponent is, on paper, less than successful. Some of the hardest games to pitch are the ones where you are expected to win easily. Play each inning hard, like it's a championship. It will show in your level of play.
Some things to think about if you are serious about your college baseball future from:
DO: Be a LEADER for your teammates. College scouts can pick up on individuality on the field in a minute.
DO: Keep your composure on the field even in the toughest of times. College and pro scouts like to see how you react on the mound after you give up a few hits and maybe an error. Statistics can't show this trait and many times it is exactly this that makes or breaks your opportunity to go tho the college of your dreams.
DO: Stay on your conditioning and throwing routine. Even if you already have your scholarship in hand! This is the first piece of a much bigger story if you want it to be. Keep good work habits so the jump to the next level is easier.
DON'T: Think you can relax after you have you college choice set. Many times there is a let down because college is all set and the senior year is "not important". This is not a good mind set! Start working harder and prove to everyone you are the high quality player your scholarship represents.
DON'T: Think you won't get to a better college just because you haven't made your choice by your senior season. Often colleges have openings which have not been filled because recruited players chose another college. These coaches will be around and will be seriously recruiting so be prepared to get out of the blocks quickly this season!
DON'T: Take opponents for granted. You can always compete with yourself and try to improve on weaknesses on those days when the opponent is, on paper, less than successful. Some of the hardest games to pitch are the ones where you are expected to win easily. Play each inning hard, like it's a championship. It will show in your level of play.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Some Pitching Lesson Tips
This week's workouts have been a little more energized, probably because kids are feeling closer to spring and the start of the season. Especially high school pitchers. Many of them are concerned about how hard they will be throwing this year. I don't have a radar gun at my disposal and never really have. A few parents have brought their own "radar balls" and guns to a lesson only to be disappointed at the lower than expected readings. If young pitchers focus on repeating their motion, getting consistent command of all pitches the velocity will take care of itself. Kids grow and mature physically, they also take it upon themselves to strength train more than ever, which is good. All the more reason to focus on your balance, timing and overall mechanics. If you think you will automatically get more velocity from strength training you could be in for a not so positive surprise.
Remember, the bigger your muscles become, the more important it is to keep them relaxed, flexible and in rhythm. Let the big muscles work for you and not against you. If you double your strength you could tighten up twice as much by trying to throw too hard and actually throw slower than before. Stay focused on your motion and don't muscle the ball over the plate.
Remember, the bigger your muscles become, the more important it is to keep them relaxed, flexible and in rhythm. Let the big muscles work for you and not against you. If you double your strength you could tighten up twice as much by trying to throw too hard and actually throw slower than before. Stay focused on your motion and don't muscle the ball over the plate.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Roger Clemens
I was watching excerpts and reading articles on this whole Roger Clemens mess this past week. Pretty bad timing with the start of spring training during the same week. It's too bad to have to see all of the steroid/HGH controversy flood the media theses days, but I guess we will have to deal with it until it is somehow resolved and we can appreciate baseball players for their baseball ability again rather than size and strength.
No matter where you stand on whether or not Clemens has committed any sort of illegality, I prefer to think back to the young Rocket and how dominant he was in his prime with the Red Sox. I was amazed reading his line in the box scores in those days. Often it would look something like, 9 innings, 5 hits, 0 or 1 run, 14 K's and ZERO walks! That's pretty incredible if you think about how great MLB hitters are. Here you have a guy who, as a hitter, you know will be throwing the ball over the plate. You can be aggressive, right? Well, hitters back in those days were no match for Roger Clemens. It is a testament to his natural ability ( I am assuming he wasn't using any steroid or hormone treatment in his early years, I'd have a hard time believing that) and the true hard work he put in to become the best pitcher of his era.
The lesson from Roger Clemens to young pitchers shouldn't be in the news you are reading now but from the stories, articles and statistics of him in his prime. There is no denying he was one of the hardest workers out there.
There really is no magic pill to be the best you can be......it's work, work, work.....
No matter where you stand on whether or not Clemens has committed any sort of illegality, I prefer to think back to the young Rocket and how dominant he was in his prime with the Red Sox. I was amazed reading his line in the box scores in those days. Often it would look something like, 9 innings, 5 hits, 0 or 1 run, 14 K's and ZERO walks! That's pretty incredible if you think about how great MLB hitters are. Here you have a guy who, as a hitter, you know will be throwing the ball over the plate. You can be aggressive, right? Well, hitters back in those days were no match for Roger Clemens. It is a testament to his natural ability ( I am assuming he wasn't using any steroid or hormone treatment in his early years, I'd have a hard time believing that) and the true hard work he put in to become the best pitcher of his era.
The lesson from Roger Clemens to young pitchers shouldn't be in the news you are reading now but from the stories, articles and statistics of him in his prime. There is no denying he was one of the hardest workers out there.
There really is no magic pill to be the best you can be......it's work, work, work.....
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Howto: Baffle Batters With Your Pitching
Welcome to my Pitching Easy blog! In trying to keep
up with the ever changing tech world I thought this
would be a good way to share baseball thoughts with
anyone interested. The Pitching Easy website will be
a resource for any young pitcher looking to improve
his performance and make the next step up the success
ladder. Thanks for reading!
This is the peak time of year for pitching lessons,
players are preparing for spring training at all levels.
I thought it would be good to share some of the common
concerns for a lot of young pitchers and parents with
you in hopes of helping you to be able to “coach”
yourself on the mound. Learning what is wrong is the
first step to correcting it. So I’ll use this blog as
a starting point for you.
Issue 1 – Having Trouble Hitting the Corners - This is
a common question, from Little League parents especially,
who seem to be looking for perfection from these young
athletes too soon. They wonder why their child seems to
be walking a lot of batters and when he’s (or she’s, I
understand there are many good female pitchers out there,
I have three daughters of my own!) not walking them he
is giving up hard hit balls.
My first response is that I didn’t really hit the
corners until about age 22, and I had very good control!
I focused, for all my years on throwing the ball over
the plate, period. Youngsters should think about doing
the same. Good things will happen if you throw the ball
over the plate consistently. It may not always look
pretty (I gave up a lot of home runs in my pitching days,
believe me.) but after you evaluate a full season you
will most likely find your statistics and win – loss
record to be favorable.
Getting good control begins with good form and good
balance (the speed will come later after these two are
mastered). My site will provide some tips and thoughts
about ways to perfect your form. Remember parents, be
patient and good results will come. Pitchers, keep
working at it and always be ready for your next outing,
it is your opportunity to be better! Good Luck!
up with the ever changing tech world I thought this
would be a good way to share baseball thoughts with
anyone interested. The Pitching Easy website will be
a resource for any young pitcher looking to improve
his performance and make the next step up the success
ladder. Thanks for reading!
This is the peak time of year for pitching lessons,
players are preparing for spring training at all levels.
I thought it would be good to share some of the common
concerns for a lot of young pitchers and parents with
you in hopes of helping you to be able to “coach”
yourself on the mound. Learning what is wrong is the
first step to correcting it. So I’ll use this blog as
a starting point for you.
Issue 1 – Having Trouble Hitting the Corners - This is
a common question, from Little League parents especially,
who seem to be looking for perfection from these young
athletes too soon. They wonder why their child seems to
be walking a lot of batters and when he’s (or she’s, I
understand there are many good female pitchers out there,
I have three daughters of my own!) not walking them he
is giving up hard hit balls.
My first response is that I didn’t really hit the
corners until about age 22, and I had very good control!
I focused, for all my years on throwing the ball over
the plate, period. Youngsters should think about doing
the same. Good things will happen if you throw the ball
over the plate consistently. It may not always look
pretty (I gave up a lot of home runs in my pitching days,
believe me.) but after you evaluate a full season you
will most likely find your statistics and win – loss
record to be favorable.
Getting good control begins with good form and good
balance (the speed will come later after these two are
mastered). My site will provide some tips and thoughts
about ways to perfect your form. Remember parents, be
patient and good results will come. Pitchers, keep
working at it and always be ready for your next outing,
it is your opportunity to be better! Good Luck!
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