Current Articles
UNCOOPERATIVE UMPIRES
Typically, when a pitcher is getting ready for the season, or when he is throwing on the side, he works on his power pitches. As he works on those pitches, he usually works on keeping them down and on the corners. Every pitcher has an idea as to which pitches ...
read moreHOLDING RUNNERS ON
Holding runners on base and letting them advance only by a hit or sacrifice can be a great advantage to the pitcher and his team. Many times by holding a runner on first base and keeping a double play in order a pitcher can get himself out of a tight ...
read morePITCHING STRATEGY PART FIVE: KEEPING RECORDS – THE PITCHER’S NOTEBOOK
In my many years of teaching and coaching baseball, mainly pitchers, I have been asked by young players and dads, ‘ What should a player or pitcher do to get his arm in shape for the season or to begin throwing off the mound?’. While at the University of Michigan ...
read morePITCHING, MENTAL PREPARATION
The mental aspect of pitching may be the most important discipline that a pitcher can go through to assure success. Many pitchers have a good enough arm to pitch in High School, College or the Big Leagues but not all are successful. There is a relationship between repetitive practice, confidence, ...
read morePITCHING STRATEGY PART FIVE: KEEPING RECORDS – THE PITCHER’S NOTEBOOK
If you are a coach who calls the pitches for your pitchers or you feel you don’t play an opponent enough times to warrant encouraging your pitchers to keep a notebook on the hitters, then this article is for you. Major League teams spend thousands of dollars a year for computer ...
read morePITCHING STRATEGY PART FOUR: THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL IN TODAY’S GAME – PITCHING FRONT TO BACK
In order to understand the significance of pitching back to front in today’s game, it is important to first understand the evolution of hitting and what is being stressed today. To me, the biggest factor in changing hitting technique has been the advent of the aluminum bat. When the aluminum bat ...
read morePITCHING STRATEGY PART THREE: DEVELOPING YOUR SUCCESS ENGINE – COMPLIMENTARY AND ANTAGONISTIC PITCHES
The cornerstone to successful pitching strategy is the ‘Will to Win’. Every time a pitcher thinks about pitching, picks up a ball to throw, or walks out between the lines, he must have an attitude of preparing to win and of doing all he can to win. Next comes the ...
read morePITCHING STRATEGY PART ONE: THE CORNERSTONE – THE WILL TO WIN
What’s the purpose here, anyway? I ask this question to every pitcher before I begin working with him. I am always surprised by the variety of answers I get. Examples of responses are: throw strikes, strike everyone out, don’t walk anyone, throw hard, make the team, get outs, ...
read morePITCHING STRATEGY PART TWO: THE FOUNDATION – THE HEDGEHOG CONCEPT
A couple of years ago I read a book by Jim Collins titled Good To Great. In his excellent book, Mr. Collins showed the findings of his research team that contrasted companies that went from good to great and stayed there over a fifteen year period with good companies that ...
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