| There are even more styles of pitching than | | | | other low pitches that induce the batter to hit a |
| there are for baseball hitting and that's due in part | | | | ground ball. This provides a great chance at |
| to the specialization of pitchers at the Major | | | | getting the batter out if you can master those |
| League level. You cannot simply be a "pitcher" | | | | pitches. A fly ball pitcher on the other hand tries |
| anymore. You can be a starting pitcher, a closer, | | | | to pop the batter out and might throw a lot of |
| a middle reliever, a left handed specialist, or any | | | | pitches high and inside. Typically, a ground ball |
| number of other pitchers... but not just "pitcher". | | | | pitcher will be known more as a finesse pitcher |
| You can try to get people out in many different | | | | whereas a fly ball pitcher is more commonly a |
| and assorted ways as well. From a young age, | | | | power pitcher. Both styles are effective and |
| athletes participating in baseball training are learning | | | | ultimately what you end up relying on depends on |
| to tailor their programs and techniques to specific | | | | which pitches you can control the best and how |
| styles, hoping to hone in on a specific area of | | | | fast you can throw the ball. |
| pitching they can excel at. | | | | Windups and Techniques |
| What's your goal in the game? | | | | There are also many different windups and |
| One of the main separators in terms of different | | | | throwing motions that a pitcher can deploy. As a |
| styles of pitching is what your goal in the game | | | | pitcher, you really have to focus your baseball |
| actually is. A starting pitcher won't have the same | | | | training on methods that will lead to the best |
| goal, and therefore won't have the same | | | | results, and learning a new windup or throwing |
| techniques, as a closer or middle reliever. | | | | motion can take a great deal of time and effort. |
| Additionally, even different pitchers within the | | | | Even within one game you will need to use |
| same role, i.e. starter, will have different goals in a | | | | different deliveries or styles of pitching. You can't |
| specific game. One day your team may be low | | | | take a long windup with a base running threat on |
| on available relievers, so as a starting pitcher your | | | | the bags. |
| goal above all else is to eat up as many innings as | | | | Careers have been saved and lost based around |
| possible, as opposed to flat out dominating | | | | learning new delivery motions and adapting one's |
| several. | | | | self to what you can do the best. Sometimes a |
| The different assignments a pitcher will have | | | | pitcher will have no success out of a classic |
| strongly helps to determine his style of pitching. | | | | overhand delivery, but will go on to learn an |
| How will you get a batter out? | | | | underhand or sidearm delivery and see great |
| Of course not every pitcher achieves his goal - | | | | results. Deliveries like this are less common and |
| getting the batter out - in the same way as | | | | therefore give the pitcher the edge because a |
| everybody else. Many pitchers, especially pitchers | | | | batter will have less experience dealing with it. |
| in Little League and in high school, rely purely on | | | | Baseball hitting is always trying to play catch up to |
| power. They are going to wind up and chuck the | | | | the pitching component of a game. As soon as a |
| ball as hard as they can and hope they can leave | | | | new pitch or style of pitching is developed, |
| the batter swinging and missing. Other pitchers | | | | batters will study it and learn how to try to deal |
| rely more on finesse. That includes using a wide | | | | with it. |
| array of successful pitches, including more than | | | | So as a pitcher you have to stay ahead of the |
| one "out" pitch, focusing on pinpoint placement of | | | | game by really finding out the style of pitching |
| a pitch and working the count the get the | | | | that works best for you and your role in the |
| advantage on a batter. | | | | game. You don't have to - and shouldn't try - to |
| Other styles of pitching include focusing on either | | | | be the best at every pitch, windup or style, but |
| producing ground balls or producing fly balls. A | | | | rather focus in on the key areas you can develop |
| ground ball pitcher typically uses many sinkers and | | | | to your fullest potential. |