TBR Instant Classic: Ask Applejack

I agree for the most part. It seems that the hardest transition for a young pitcher is going from a power thrower at a young age to a smart pitcher...and it would seem that the only way to develop would be through experience.

I know of a young man who studies a batter while he is on deck. He may throw the first pitch, the first at bat, just to see his swing. He reads their emotions on the bench, at the plate and where they are standing in the box. The joy he receives in pitching is the chess match between himself and the batters. He doesn't like a coach to call his game, because if he doesn't like a particular pitch he still must throw ......and guess who gets the blame if it is crushed.

I don't know, but where I agree with AJ 100 percent is the chemistry between the catcher and pitcher. It's kind of hard for a coach to see the intricacies a catcher and pitcher see, while the batter is in the box....but what do I know? I ain't a pitcher!!

 

In my last post please note and put emphasis on the word suggest.
The catcher suggest what he thinks the pitcher should throw but ultimately the pitcher makes the decision.
Braves is right, after all is said and done, the W or the L goes next to the pitcher's name.

 

Applejack:
How did you tend to deal with the inevitable situation when you had your "stuff" as a pitcher, but the defense seemed to have never seen a baseball before? What would you say to your teammates following their error(s), and how did you handle it mentally, yourself?

 

Prepster, delicate issue.
When pitching one of the most important things is composure.
When a pitcher is on the mound he has to project the image that he has everything under control. If he becomes rattled, the opposing team will try to capitalize by creating distractions of some manner.
If a pitcher wants to ask a player about a particular play that is in question, I would reccommend that he do it tactfully during the game, and in private. You do not want to blast a player during a game, it will only hinder his performance either mentally or physically. Always remember that baseball is a team sport and you need your teammates to be at their best mentally and physically. I can go into more detail but I want to leve you with this:
One of the most encouraging things that happened to me was when I was playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. The pirates major league pitching coach was there to see me pitch.
It was in a close game around the 6th inning and I was doing well. Score was like 3-1 in favor of the good guys.
Rex Hudler was playing shortstop for us and it was one out in the sixth. I worked my butt off to get Roberto Alomar to hit a routine ground ball to Hudler at short. Rex booted it and Alomar was on 1st base safely. The ball ended up right in front of Hudler and instead of getting all pissed off after he knew he had blown an important play, he simply picked the ball up, walked to the mound where I was, looked me dead in the eye and said, "You are pitching your butt off and I quite simply blew that one. Make 'em hit it to me again, C'mon!!!" And he slammed the ball in my glove and jogged to short and screamed" Make 'em hit it to me again!!"
I had a nasty sinker working that day and was getting ready to face a right handed batter. Guess what? Ground ball up the middle, Hudler dives face first to make the stop, back-hands the ball to Carlos Baerga at second and they turn the double play and we are out of the inning.
In the dugout I tell Rex, "nice play Hud, Guess you do not like to make the easy ones." He replied, "My job is to make the plays when given the opportunity, when you pitch like you are pitching today, I'll run through a brick wall for ya."

 

This is a two part question AJ. You knew somebody would bring this up at some point. How did you get the nickname Applejack?

And a more serious question; Which theory do you subscribe? " Tall and Fall " or " Drop and Drive " and why.

 

Applejack arrived when I was maybe 6 years old. i used to eat the cereal everyday. I don't know if most of you remember but the slogan song was "A bowl a day keeps the bullies away".
My older next door neighbor started calling me that and it stuck.
My original nickname was Pookie.

I prefer the drop and drive because it forces the pitcher to utilize his legs in his delivery. It teaches them through repetition to use their body more and not have to depend on arm strength alone.
Plus it may add to your fastball with the leg usage and push off of the rubber.

 

Whew...just think..this thread could have been titled " Ask Pookie"

Just kiddin' AJ

 

What a terrific story...and response...on what is, admittedly, a "delicate" topic.

It's great to have your perspective on the board!

 

Did you ever have a "dead" arm? What are some things you learned to help a pitcher keep or build their arm strength?

 

The only time that I was ever hurt to the point that I could not pitch was one year in A ball.
What a dreadful summer, I was in Lodi, California of all places.

I had to fly to Los Angeles to see Dr. Jobe. For those of you that do not or cannot remember Dr. Jobe, he was the man that performed the Tommy John surgery.
He said that I had a slight tear in my rotator cuff.
I had an intensive rehab program of long toss, light weights, more long toss, surgical tubing exercises and even more long toss.
The initial part of the rehab program was to not even pick up a baseball for 2 weeks.
I was blessed to not have any serious injuries for a 12 year career. I was on the healthy DL for short periods. Get my drift.