| Growing up I was instructed by some of the best | | | | pitch. Of course, on rare occasions when the |
| pitching coaches in the world. I was always told to | | | | hitter steps in the bucket, or is quick, you can |
| "pitch in to win." I think we have all heard it | | | | avoid the inner part of the plate. |
| before, but most coaches never teach this | | | | Why don't more pitchers throw inside? They fear |
| important technique. The fact is, great pitcher's | | | | hitting the batter, getting behind in the count |
| find success throwing on the inside part of the | | | | simply because they are not confident enough in |
| plate. I think throwing inside gives the pitcher | | | | their ability to control the inside pitch. This thinking |
| more of an advantage simply because of the | | | | happens particularly in Little League and High |
| psychological game we play with hitters. We show | | | | School levels. |
| them we are not afraid to come inside to set | | | | If you have a fear of hitting a batter, maybe you |
| ourselves up for our strikeout pitch. | | | | should tryout for another position. Just kidding! But |
| It is important for a pitcher to control the strike | | | | you need to understand that getting hit by the |
| zone to be effective. If a pitcher doesn't utilize | | | | ball is bound to happen and its part of the game. |
| the inside part of the plate, the hitter has that | | | | It only hurts for a minute in most cases. |
| much more of an advantage to get on base. If | | | | Also, if you have a fear of hitting someone, you |
| you're a Pitcher you need to get the confidence | | | | need to get out of the bullpen and throw to live |
| to have the ability to throw effective inside | | | | hitters. A great substitute that I have found, if |
| pitches. | | | | you are on your own is to use a Bullpen Buddy. It |
| One of the many reasons I like throwing inside so | | | | is an inflatable batter you put in the batter's box. |
| much is that it appears, to the batter, that the | | | | It isn't pitching unless there is a batter standing |
| ball is coming quicker. The batter has to hit the | | | | there. Have you noticed that a lot of pitchers |
| ball in front of the plate to connect and avoid | | | | throw well until a batter steps up? Again, get out |
| getting jammed. So, as a Pitcher, you are working | | | | of the bullpen and pitch like it's a game situation. |
| with distance here. If you throw seventy, it may | | | | This will also help you with other important skills |
| seem like you throw seventy-two miles an hour | | | | you need. |
| because the batter has less time to react to the | | | | |