| Baseball pitching is the antagonistic and | | | | effective at baseball pitching? The pitcher must |
| complementary action to baseball hitting. Basically, | | | | always keep in mind during games that he is the |
| the hitter wants to hit the ball with the bat; the | | | | master of the game. Once he foots that rubber |
| pitcher wants to make the ball miss the bat, | | | | on the mound, the game totally hinges on him, |
| either by causing the batter to miss when he | | | | even if there are runners on base. The pitcher |
| swings or by freezing him with a pitch that either | | | | must understand why he throws every single |
| the batter is completely unready for or he | | | | pitch, what he wants to accomplish with it and |
| believes is a bad pitch when it's a strike. | | | | why he thinks it's most effective at that time. He |
| This all sounds extremely simple, especially since | | | | also needs to see every pitch successfully into |
| we are so very familiar with pitching and hitting in | | | | the catcher's mitt in his mind's eye, every time, |
| the sport of baseball. Many among us tend to | | | | no matter how bad his last pitch was or if the last |
| miss the finer, more difficult to master aspects of | | | | batter hit a grand slam. Every pitch must be |
| baseball hitting and baseball pitching because we | | | | designed for one purpose only: to make an out |
| think we've been there and done that--even | | | | (or outs). |
| though very few of us are good enough to be | | | | The successful pitcher must always keep in mind |
| professional players. And one of the most | | | | not to waste any pitches. He must always have it |
| misunderstood and underappreciated aspects of | | | | in his mind to control the rhythm, to get ahead in |
| pitching is the mental aspect. | | | | the count, and to make every out with as few |
| The complex technique of pitching a baseball to a | | | | pitches as he possibly can. Another aspect of |
| major league hitter gets so much attention that | | | | control is that the pitcher must demand that |
| the mental techniques get undersung. A pitcher | | | | hitters prove to him that they can hit his "power |
| must have a strong, supple, flexible arm and | | | | pitch", which is the phrase for the pitch over |
| rotator cuff; keen vision; strong legs; and great | | | | which he has the most control and to which he |
| hand-eye coordination. Of course, he must also | | | | can give the most movement. A successful |
| have knowledge of how to throw different | | | | pitcher always "brings it to" hitters with this pitch |
| pitches; and even the young Nolan Ryan, who | | | | and gives it to them fearlessly. |
| only needed two different pitches (a fastball and a | | | | But the pitcher also has to be able to win games |
| change-up) to strike out more batters in one | | | | without his best stuff, if he finds that his power |
| season than anyone else ever has, still had to | | | | pitch(es) is/are just not up to snuff today for |
| have different PLACEMENT of his two | | | | whatever reason. This art can be mastered by |
| pitches--sometimes throwing it higher, sometimes | | | | never throwing what are called "hitter's strikes", |
| lower, sometimes inside or outside. But many | | | | not with the power pitch and not with any pitch. |
| people think that this is about the be all and end all | | | | Every time the pitcher throws a strike, he is |
| of the pitcher's mentality. | | | | attempting to throw one that the hitter either is |
| For one thing, the techniques required for major | | | | not expecting or has proven before that he has |
| league pitching are already far more complex than | | | | great trouble hitting. But a pitcher must never |
| most would realize, and because of this they | | | | throw a ball unless he is attempting to make the |
| require a great deal of mental discipline and | | | | batter swing at junk or set him up for an |
| preparation just to practice and master them. | | | | unexpected strike-out pitch next. |
| Knowing how to stride, understanding how to | | | | Related to this, the pitcher must know how to |
| leverage front side tilt to put maximum velocity | | | | engage in "situational" baseball pitching, where |
| on the ball, finding your natural arm angle, being | | | | what he throws has to do with the inning, the |
| able to recognize and repair problems with your | | | | number of outs, the baserunner situation, and the |
| pitching mechanics should they arise, and | | | | type of hitter who is at bat. There are times |
| understanding how to practice to gain more | | | | when it's better to throw a pitch that attempts |
| control and variety over your pitches all require a | | | | to get the hitter to hit into a double play than one |
| certain mental approach to the art of baseball | | | | that is meant to make the batter get a strike |
| pitching. | | | | against him, for instance. All pitchers must always |
| The mentality of pitching begins simply with | | | | have it in their minds to: get three outs before |
| tenacity and discipline. Your natural abilities are | | | | any runs are scored, no matter what; prevent |
| nothing without these. Good pitchers are some of | | | | "big innings" for the other team; and shut down |
| the world's greatest athletes, and nobody | | | | the other team's running game. |
| becomes that without seriousness and long, long | | | | And on top of this, the pitcher must develop a |
| hours of practice and fighting through frustrating | | | | delivery technique that enables him to be |
| obstacles or walls that seem to be holding you | | | | effective at holding runners on base, and always |
| back from getting more accurate, getting faster, | | | | strive to better the playing relationship he has |
| mastering that new pitch. | | | | with his catcher--the man who is foremostly |
| Beyond that, what does it take to be highly | | | | calling the game. |