| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | you he's tiring any more than this. |
| There are eight obvious warning signs that will tell | | | | Watch for a pitcher who stops following through. |
| a coach when his pitcher is getting tired and the | | | | The more a pitcher tires, the less he follows |
| risk of injury to his pitcher is increasing. Forget | | | | through and doesn't finish his pitches. It's |
| that the game may be put at risk if he's getting | | | | affectionately called getting lazy. Remember that |
| tired. Much more important is that your pitcher's | | | | the follow through protects the arm from coming |
| risk of injury skyrockets. | | | | to a sudden halt. It's not good for your automobile |
| Here is a list of some obvious things that anyone | | | | if you're driving 60 m.p.h. and jam on the brakes |
| involved in baseball coaching should look for. Never | | | | and it's not healthy for your pitcher's arm |
| mind the outcome of the ball game. Your player's | | | | accelerating and then coming to an abrupt stop |
| well being is far more important than any ball | | | | either. When a pitcher stops following through, the |
| game will ever be. | | | | risk is not just to the quality of the pitch but |
| Keep track of the number of pitches thrown. | | | | more importantly, the risk is to injuring his |
| There isn't anyone on the planet that can give me | | | | throwing arm. |
| one valid reason as to why baseball coaches at | | | | Watch for any changes in your pitcher's usual |
| any level of play do not keep a pitch count on | | | | mechanics. Watch everything in general. He may |
| their pitchers. In no time at all, you will know for | | | | be raising his front leg more, he may be raising it |
| sure at what number of pitches any of your | | | | less, he may be turning his hips more or less, he |
| pitchers are starting to run out of gas. It can | | | | may be leaning back more, etc. He may be |
| influence the outcome of the game by leaving | | | | consciously or sub-consciously changing his |
| your pitcher in the game too long but more | | | | mechanics because he is tired. Knowing your |
| importantly it can increase the chance of injury to | | | | pitcher's normal mechanics ahead of time will |
| your pitcher's arm! It's one of the easiest things | | | | make it easier for you to recognize a change in |
| to do on the ball field. You can pick one person on | | | | his mechanics. |
| the team to do it. It can be the manager, coach | | | | Is your pitcher striding longer than he usually |
| or a player on the bench. If you are not doing | | | | does? This clearly tells you that the pitcher is |
| this, you really should start immediately. | | | | trying to use his legs more to compensate for his |
| Watch to see if your pitcher's elbow is dropping | | | | tiring arm. |
| down lower. Watch carefully to see if the pitcher's | | | | Observe your pitcher's pitch selection. He may be |
| elbow is starting to drop below the point that it is | | | | throwing more of a certain type of pitch and less |
| normally raised to, which is usually about shoulder | | | | of another type of pitch. Watch to see if your |
| height. When the elbow starts to drop down low, | | | | pitcher hardly ever throws breaking balls and all of |
| it's because fatigue has set in and the arm is not | | | | a sudden he's throwing them often. It's quite |
| cooperating when the pitcher is asking it to | | | | possible that he's tired and finds the breaking ball |
| elevate. Obviously, this would not apply to | | | | easier to throw but of greater concern is the |
| side-arm pitchers because their elbow is low | | | | fastball may be hurting his arm when he throws it. |
| already. Aside from a pitch count, which is | | | | Is the fast ball losing velocity? If your pitcher has |
| foolproof, this is a very strong indicator that a | | | | a very good fast ball and you have watched |
| pitcher is getting tired. It also causes a pitcher to | | | | batters swing late for several innings and all of a |
| start pushing the ball instead of throwing the ball. | | | | sudden they are out in front and pulling his fastball, |
| It will make the fast ball and off speed pitches | | | | he is running out of gas. You should strongly |
| miss high and the curve will flatten out. Pushing | | | | consider making a pitching change. |
| the ball instead of throwing the ball will also | | | | Please take these eight guidelines very seriously |
| increase the risk of injury to your pitcher. | | | | and put them near the top of your baseball |
| Is your pitcher taking more time in between | | | | coaching tips. They can determine the outcome |
| pitches? Be very observant if your normally fast | | | | of the ball game but the real important thing here |
| worker has slowed down the pace considerably | | | | is they will lessen the chance of injury to your |
| and is taking more time in between pitches. If | | | | pitchers! |
| your pitcher had a megaphone, he could not tell | | | | |