What's Most Important....

For teaching a hs pitcher?

Teaching him to be a power pitcher, trying to stike every batter out, or teaching him how to pitch so the ball can be hit?

 

IMHO - THe most important things are:
1. Teaching good mechanics, to prevent injuries
2. Teaching to be in top physical condition, to prevent injuries
3. Giving him the confidence to trust his stuff.
4. As he develops trust in his stuff, then he will learn how to get batters out, with the help of his catcher and coach.
5. Teaching him the nuances of the game and how to do the little things, such as covering 1st, backing up bases, and fielding his position.
6. IN effect, teach him how to pitch, when he is developed and ready to do so.

 

Lets say he is a freshman with a million dollar shoulder. The ball literally sizzles when he throws it. Obviously he is in great physical condition. Mechanics are good, knows the game and how to play it. I coach him in the 7 & 8th grades. He has a fast ball with movement, can sink a 2 seamer, and a change. Are you going to teach him to be a strike out king or pitch so the ball can be hit?

 

Based on the description given, I would say strikeout pitcher. They commad attention from the next level. If ya got it, flaunt it. If the pitcher is more of a location and control guy, then pitch to contact.

 

My Perspective

I do not know of a pitching coach who teaches a pitcher to "pitch so the ball can be hit". I can only assume you mean that you want your pitcher to get batters out. My philosophy on that question is really simple: it takes 1 pitch to get a flyout or groundout whereas it takes 3 pitches to get a strikeout. Having said that, I personally don't care how a pitcher gets them out - just get them out!!!!

 

My school of thought is....

....to attack the strike zone low and be able to change speeds. By attacking the strike zone you avoid walks, keeping the ball low induces a lot of ground balls and pop-ups and being able to change speeds will result in some strikeouts. To put it simply, I would want my pitcher to throw outs. I would not care if they were so's, ground balls or pop-ups. Just get me some outs. Of course, I am not a pitching coach.

 

the level of competition can dictate how a kid develops as a pitcher. Having superior velocity as a younger player (before high school) where he mostly competes against kids his own age can sometimes be a detriment to developing as a pitcher. I've seen the "throw harder" mentality in kids like this when things get tough. In high school, at the varsity level, that can lead to balls just getting hit farther!

Location, movement and changing speed are the key ingredients of a successful pitcher. Strike One is the most important pitch a pitcher can throw. As said before, believe in your stuff, but also understand that you can learn something new every game. A pitcher's brain can be his greatest tool... the million dollar arm verses the five cent head thing!

Ground outs and fly outs save arms. Greg Maddox was asked one time about pitching a perfect game with 27 strikeouts. He replied that an absolute perfect game would be 27 pitches ... ground outs to his shortstop and 2nd baseman.

The reality is no one is going to strike out every batter, or get every batter to ground out to an infielder. But, if a pitcher is consistently throwing strikes, with movement and change of speeds, he will be very successful at any level.

 

some starters...

1. The best pitchers over time are mentally tough and emotionally stable....remember the head controls everything, including that "million dollar shoulder", and those release points, and remembering to do your job (back-ups, covering first, managing base runners), etc. So, job one is to set them on a good path upstairs.

2. Make sure they save their upper body rotation until after their plant foot is down. Here is where good mechanics will provide repeatable and easy whip of the arm to provide velocity. Let the body throw the arm instead of just the arm throwing the ball. A righty's chest should be facing 3rd base when the stride/plant foot lands and a lefty's chest should be facing 1st base at the same moment.

3. Get the ball up. I've seen hundereds of pictures of MLB pitchers and they eventually get the ball up behind their head (kind of in an "L" position) and throw downhill from there. The best way to get it up is to take it down as it is removed from the glove in the early stages of the delivery.

4. Stride out and follow through. Short-striders rob themselves of velocity. Have a short-strider reduce his stride even further and you will see the velocity drop further. Short-striders who throw hard are almost always over-taxing their arm and shoulder and eventually pay a price for it. A goal of striding out to a distance equal to the pitcher's height is good. The pitcher needs to attack the plate, but in a smooth, repeatable and controlled fashion

5. Bend it over. The stand-up pitcher is leaving his large back muscles on the sidelines. Use them...and take some stress off the arm and shoulder.

6. Lastly, the three golden rules of pitching: Pitch ahead, keep it low and mix it up (speed and location). Greg Maddux said when he is in trouble on the mound he reminds himself to throw the ball slower and lower (Hence, my TBR moniker: Low & Slow)

 

good stuff low and slow


teach him a change-up