Pitching
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106766364 1 Pitching 8. The Fundamentals of Pitching Pitching is the single-most important aspect of the game Good pitching will stop good hitting any day Pitching Dictates The Game Pitching can keep a team in a game Pitcher sets the tempo of the game Becoming good pitcher requires commitment and focus Outstanding pitchers realize it is not just a physical contest Exceptional velocity Pinpoint control Deception The Velocity Vs. Control Debate Coaching opinion differs on initial efforts focusing on Developing control Or learning to generate maximum velocity Best results come from first learning to generate maximum speed then focus on control Same approach as golf instruction Coaches are more often interested in overall performance Won-lost record of team versus Individual development Not wrong, just their job Pitchers must do their job and what is asked of them But also must practice and develop on their own time practicing year-round Learn to throw with max velocity The begin to work on controlling the location of the pitches One good drill is to draw large strike zone – 2 ft. wide by 3 ft. high – on a wall. Pitch to that strike zone until you can hit it consistently. Then make the rectangle smaller. Then put a circle on the rectangle. When you are able to consistently throw the ball inside that circle, focus your attention to the outline of the circle. Move the circle around the rectangle. This helps you place your pitches on the edge of the strike zone. A lot of hitters can hit pitches that are in the middle of the strike zone, but few make solid contact with pitches on the corners of the strike zone. You may walk or hit more batters for a time Never slow your motion to achieve control You will never develop into a great pitcher if that happens The Windmill Pitch Today’s universal pitching style Underhand motion Pitching arm begins in front of body Moves in a perfect circle Backward then forward again Until ball is released at the hip Centrifugal force created by arm rotating down and away from axis of body Involves entire body To generate arm speed you use the lower body Stride forward Begin forward weight shift by pushing off rubber Continue shift until you straighten front leg Rotating around the front leg until belly button faces batter Use repetitious training to establish correct form and comfortable rhythm Pitch is broken into eight parts for explanation 1. The pitch presentation 106766364 2. The windup 3. The stride 4. The sideways rotation 5. The firm front side 6. The drag 7. The release 8. The follow-through Be aware of all Don’t devote too much attention to one at expense of the others The Pitch Presentation Begins with A sound grip A comfortable stance on the rubber Stance remains the same Grip varies with pitch selection The Grip Grip with three fingers Middle fingers lay across the seams Pinkie and thumb on the sides Tucking pinkie ensures ball is not sitting in palm Grip ball so fingers are the only part of hand to contact the ball As hands get bigger and stronger Use two-finger grip Increases velocity May sacrifice some control For fastball Hold firmly without too much pressure Squeezing ball too hard Tightens muscles Hinders wrist snap Decreases speed Decreases movement Grips can be across seams or with seams Four-seam grip Hold ball across seams so seams facing you look like a “C” Throws ball straighter and faster Two-seam grip Grip ball with the seams Fingers along the seams Seams create a “U” shape Creates more sideward and downward movement Remember: 4 seams for velocity, 2 seams for movement Pay attention to how seams behave to detect flaws If straight pitch, seams should roll directly over one another The Stance Face catcher with hand on the ball and ball in glove Some hold ball out of glove by hip – fine if you don’t tip off your grip Arms about waist high Elbows at 90 degrees First Choose most difficult grip Position fingers accordingly If you and catcher agree on that pitch, you are all set If you and catcher choose another pitch, then quickly make the switch Front leg is slightly bent Right front foot (for RH) extended over the pitching rubber 2 106766364 3 Toe of back foot touching rubber Feet a bit less than shoulder width apart Weight on balls of feet Some pitchers have weight slightly forward in stance Used as a reminder to shift it back as they start their motion Heels slightly elevated The Windup Where most flaws occur Learn proper fundamentals To start Take a small step back Shift weight back onto heel of left foot Shift weight forward onto throwing-side foot so you can push off rubber with lower body Still holding ball in pitching hand in the glove As weight shifts forward over rubber Pull arms into midsection Then push down in a counterclockwise motion As your glove moves down Begin to take your stride Ball remains in glove Extend both arms Downward and out in front of you simultaneously Holding ball in glove Break your pitching hand from the glove Raising your arm above your head in a clockwise motion It should remain fully extended throughout the throwing motion The Stride Most critical step Influential to the direction and velocity of pitch Distance Positioning Timing Plant Full-body action Begin by bending your back forward slightly as arms push down and out Raise your striding knee up with the glove Extend the knee forward Extend arms directly in front of you while kicking the lower half of your leg Plant your foot Straighten the leg When you stride out Step as far as possible More power you generate into the pitch Keep upper body as tall as possible Allow your leg to bend slightly when you plant striding foot Permits transfer of weight over front side without losing balance Leg should land on a straight line to home plate Foot should point to 1 o’clock position (slightly closed) Allows body to turn sideways Add hip rotation to your delivery The Sideways Rotation Rotating body sideways as your stride foot lands Allows your hips to supplement your throwing motion As pitching arm accelerates downward Hips rotate through with your pitching arm Then hips square up with home plate 106766364 4 Be careful not to stride off-line If you open foot when planting Hips open too early Reduces power from motion Sometimes helpful to draw line in the dirt toward home plate Turning sideways and using your hips will provide More consistent control Greater power Front side is facing third (for RH) If you do not rotate sideways You will hit your hip Or compensate by moving your arms outward losing control and power Virtually impossible for perfect circle with arm swing unless totally sideways Takes practice to develop rhythm with arm swing and hip rotation Will add velocity and control Sideways rotation is crucial to the pitch for three important reasons: 1. Most women pitchers have hips that are wider than their shoulders. More space is created by turning the body sideways on their stride 2. The sideways rotation makes the motion more fluid. It is much harder to make a nice, smooth arm circle when you are square to the plate than when you are sideways. 3. By turning your hips sideways and then bringing them around on the follow-through, you involve your hips in the pitching motion, and this will help you generate more power. The Firm Front Side Foot must first land with the leg slightly bent As you transfer your weight forward Stiffen that front leg to resist weight transfer Front leg provides an axis around which hips rotate Helps maintain power and arm speed As weight comes through the pitch Push up on front leg too straighten and make firm Some even finish with a little hop Finish tall rather than leaning forward If front leg remains bent Very little resistance and weight carries out in front of body Takes lower body out of pitch Lose power and arm speed The Drag When you stride forward with your lead leg Push off rubber with your throwing-side leg Rotate your forward or planting foot open to help turn your body sideways As you deliver your pitch Want foot on rubber to follow motion and drag along ground Drag should be on inside part of big toe, not on top of the toe Practice motion without arm movement Continues all the way to the end of the pitch As hips open and square up to plate Dragging foot becomes a diagonal movement in direction of front leg Foot finally lifts off ground, hitting front leg at about midcalf “Making a figure four” The Release The moment your foot lands Pitching arm should be angled out toward center field Glove arm should be extended pointing at catcher Making sure you are not opening hips or shoulders Arm acts like a whip and should be relaxed throughout the motion 106766364 5 Windmill uses centrifugal force Bigger the arm circle More force you are going to create During the downswing Extend arm fully Keep wrist cocked Brush arm along front part of thigh Keep palm behind the ball Snap your wrist releasing the ball at your hip If you snap your wrist hard The ball will spin in a straight downward rotation Imagine a book hanging over the edge of a desk. With your hand about six inches underneath the book and facing upward, flip the book off the desk with one swift blow. This is the wrist action you want in your release. The Follow-Through As soon as your arm swings begins its downward motion Square up your hips to home plate As your arm approaches the release point Open your hips up slightly to allow room for arm to extend through Once arm gets to release point Snap your hips around quickly to add power to the pitch Hips should be square to home plate after ball is released Belly button facing the catcher Continue moving arm in a circle all the way up toward your face Make sure to finish high At the end and only the very end Bend at the elbow so it is pointing to the catcher You must follow-through on every pitch to ensure Good wrist snap Complete extension Maximum velocity Remember, this is the follow-through for the fastball Other pitches require a different follow-through Teresa Wilson’s Eight Key Pitching Points 1. The pitch is executed in one continuous motion 2. Make a perfect circle with your arm 3. The longer the lever, the more force that lever can produce 4. Pitch on the direct line of force 5. Open the hips and pitch, then close the hips and follow through 6. Never guide a pitch. The arm is a noodle 7. The legs produce the power. The arm produces the speed 8. Power should build throughout the pitch and reach its maximum at the point of release Pitcher Training Pitchers train like anyone else in flexibility, weight and agility training Pitchers have to be in better shape because she is exerting energy on every pitch Aerobic activity – oxygen is inhaled by the lungs, passed to the bloodstream and carried to muscles all at a rate that is sufficient to keep up with the muscles’ demand for air Jogging Bicycling Anaerobic Activity – performed at a level that is more intense than the body’s oxygen-delivering system can keep up with Sprinting Pitching is an aerobic activity; you should not be out of breath after a sequence of pitches Anaerobic training is helpful because each pitch is a cyclic burst of energy 106766364 6 Sprint workouts Short sprints of 40 yards, performed in rapid succession Short sprints with short rest times Train body to recover quickly Building Endurance Build endurance through aerobic training Distance running Jumping rope Legs must be strong Lower body works every pitch Base and foundation for pitching mechanics If legs tire, upper body compensates Shortcut motion or delivery Problems with throwing form Legs can no longer maintain proper positioning throughout the delivery Coaches should make pitchers run more then position players Weight training Work hard in the off-season Stop lifting weights in pre-season Arm should act like a whip and be relaxed If you workout with heavy weights during season Muscles stiffen and may be too tight whip the ball Work on form during season If you need to gain strength during season Pitch at longer distances to build muscle through your pitching motion Working Out The Kinks All pitchers experience slumps Sometimes, extra work on a certain part You compensate or pick up bad habit somewhere else Locate problem as soon as possible Consult pitching coach Videotape pitching motion Seeing mistakes with own eyes may provide additional help Pinpoint problem, work on correcting it Break down pitching motion step by step Isolate area that needs work Regain proper feel of that motion If trouble extending stride, rotating sideways, or dragging back foot Practice motion without the arm swing or without the release If arm swing is problem Isolate by getting on one knee Throw the pitch with the rest of your body To get feel of maximum speed and relaxation in the arm University of Washington’s head coach, Teresa Wilson, recommends getting into your sideways rotation and moving the arm in a perfect circle until you feel a tingly blood rush A favorite drill of University of Missouri’s head coach, Jay Miller, is the weighted ball drill, which helps improve speed. “We weigh it two or three ounces from the normal seven-ounce ball. There are weighted balls on the market, so you can buy them or you can make them yourself. We take oneand-a-half-inch-long finishing-nails and pound them into the seam. About thirty nails equal one ounce. Start out every day with a weighted ball for your warm-up drill. Start at a short distance and gradually move back to where you are throwing eighty to a hundred feet. Then throw long, looping throws, not line drive types at all, and work on snapping your wrist and making the ball spin. That’s going to help develop strength in your wrist and forearm.” Taking Aim 106766364 7 Move your accuracy drills to a higher level Create a target that replicates the strike one, only smaller. Draw four corners on your target. See how long it takes you to reach ten points. If you hit a corner it is a point. The middle of the strike zone equals no points, and again, outside the strike zone is minus one point. See how quickly you can reach ten points, then twenty points Pitching is not like riding a bike Can’t take extended periods of time off and pickup where you left off Need to work constantly for velocity and accuracy Give 100% effort during practice If you slow motion to improve accuracy, really not improving at all “Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.” 9. Developing Your Pitches A good hard fastball is not impossible to hit Good hitters make adjustments according to t he pitcher they are facing Up to the pitcher to counter those adjustments You’ve learned that velocity, control, and deception were imperative for success At higher levels, the best pitchers Mix speed Create movement Lure hitters to swing at pitches outside of the strike zone To have success at advanced levels learn to Make the ball drop, rise, curve, knuckle, and tail away from hitter Vary speed of your pitches Learn to keep hitters off balance and guessing Helps pitchers who do not have great velocity Being able to change speeds makes fastball look faster Master The Basics Learn the proper fundamentals Master striding, rotating, resisting, and getting a good leg drive Then steadily master different pitches through trial and error Age is not a factor – ten year old with smooth mechanics and consistent location Change-Up The first advanced pitch that a pitcher should add to her arsenal Also called off-speed pitch Slower than fastball Throws off hitters timing Hitter has two-tenths of a second to decide to swing Hitter has to decide High or low Inside or outside Will spin cause it to drop, rise, curve, or tail Change in speed adds to factors in hitters’ decisions A number of different ways to throw See which works best for you Most effective appears to batter as same motion and spin as fastball Deception is key to a good change-up Simplest variations Is to tighten your grip on the ball Keep fingers in same position Squeeze ball tightly Another simple variation is to grip the ball back in your palm Instead of holding ball in fingers, jam it back into the palm of your hand 106766364 8 Diminishes velocity of pitch by decreasing the snap during the delivery Neither will cause a major reduction in speed But enough to disrupt the hitter’s timing Easy to learn Same pitching motion as fastball Change-ups are very effective to hitters who frequently pull the ball A good time to also throw a change-up is when you’ve thrown a bunch of fastballs consecutively There are several other types of change-ups; you may want to learn more than one Make sure it’s an effective pitch Try it to a batter If it fools her it is effective If she’s hitting it hard, it’s not ready for competition The Circle Change The most popular and is easy to control Lay your pinkie alongside and thumb underneath the ball Place the three middle fingers on top of the ball Put pressure on the ball with your thumb and middle finger Other fingers lay limp You are essentially making a circle with thumb and middle finger around the ball Automatically pushes ball farther back into palm Still has same wrist snap Gives ball identical spin to fastball Follow through to about cheat level The Backhanded Change Grip and motion look similar to fastball Difference comes at point of release Grip the same as fastball As arm circles downward to release point Keep hand on top of ball so that ball is facing ground As you release Face back of hand toward catcher Flip the ball out of your hand Keep wrist snap below the waist Snap too high – ball too high Firm snap gives same look and feel of fastball Ball won’t reach home without firm snap Drawback is hitter may recognize difference in release Pitcher must apply maximum effort in hand and arm action The Stiff-Wrist Change Effective and easy to learn Keep motion and grip the same as fastball But lock wrist so it does not snap Lack of snap slows ball down considerably Stops ball from spinning Lack of spin can alert astute hitters The Knuckleball Grip the ball so knuckles are behind the ball Usually use two or three fingers in this manner With seams making a C facing you Dig your fingertips under the top seams Grip the sides with thumb and pinkie Delivery is the same as stiff-wrist Use same fastball motion but lock wrist upon release Arm should be locked at elbow 106766364 9 As you release Push outward with fingers you had dug under the seam There will be little or no rotation Difficult timing release of this pitch Have to release as you are pushing the ball Too early or late and you lose control The Rise Pitch breaks upward Spin is backward or upward Release ball to maximum rotation on the ball or it will not rise Nearly impossible to hit Hitters’ first movements are to bring hands and bat down No chance for hitter to raise her swing once initial move downward is made Best she can do is foul off or pop it up Place the index finger and the ring finger across two wide seams as the main grippers Lay the middle finger flat in the middle Place pinkie and thumbs along sides as guides Don’t grip ball tightly Make sure ball is in pads of your fingers not in the palm Another grip requires strength in the pitching forearm Take the two seams closest together Place the ring finger and middle finger slightly to the left of the seams Curl the index finger slightly Pressure will be on the inside part of the tip of that index finger Very difficult to master this grip initially, but gives max movement When throwing Lead with inside part of elbow on the downswing Pitching hand should slightly trail the elbow As you approach the release point Your palm should point toward third base Fingers should sit underneath the ball When you release Cut underneath the ball with your hand This cut underneath gives the ball its backward rotation Palm faces the sky as ball rolls off your hand The ball should last touch your index finger when it leaves your hand Follow-through goes straight up and finishes high Keep your body low to ground Because pitch rises, release point must be as low as possible Take a long stride Keep back leg bent to stay low to ground A good drill for the rise ball is to get about sixty feet away from the catcher. The extra distance allows you to see the flight of the ball. It is instant feedback, because it is hard to pick up rotation and flight at normal distance. With the extra space, you can really analyze your pitch. If you are throwing it too high, it is because you are arching your back or short-arming it. When the ball is curving too much you are not getting fully underneath the ball for the up snap. If it is rising too soon, you need to release the ball a little earlier. Drop Ball Breaks downward and induces ground balls You want the drop to accelerate its break about four feet from home plate Two methods: the peel drop and the turnover drop Both are tough on hitters who uppercut The Peel Drop Same grip and same motion as the fastball You peel your fingers off the ball as you release 106766364 10 You’ll want to shorten your stride Make sure not to shorten too much Push upper body slightly over stride foot Enables weight of body to get over top of ball Producing an earlier release To make the ball drop Get your palm on top of the ball Release point is a bit sooner Just before release, fingers are pointing down to the ground As you release Pull up on the ball Snap your wrist Fingers should make a fist after the ball is thrown Shoulders dictate location of pitch Square to home plate – down the middle Inside – shoulders more open Outside – shoulders rotate more The Turnover Drop Requires a distinct grip and delivery Place your fingers to the side RH – holds her three middle fingers on the right side of the ball Instead of fingers covering that “C” formed by the seams The seams are now visible As your arm completes its downward swing Throwing shoulder lifts up slightly (Picture shoulder blade rising up, as if shrugging shoulders) Allows your hand to get on top of the ball As you release Turn your hand over so the palm faces the ground Drive the ball downward This gives ball forward rotation (topspin), which makes ball drop Fingers should point down at the ground on follow-through The drop pitch forces hitters to hit the ball on the ground Valuable pitch when a ground ball gets you out of a jam A great drill for practice is to set up a string that runs across the front of home plate (you could use two sticks on each side of the plate). Run it about four feet in front of the plate at about knee level. The goal is to throw your drop pitch so it goes aver the string but hits home plate. Curveball Key is the extended follow-through Hold the ball as if a two-seam fastball Push the index and middle fingers together As you deliver the pitch Keep hand underneath the ball Palm facing up Turn hand over the ball as you release Same motion as if turning a doorknob Gives the ball a sideways spin Pull your arm across your body on the follow-through Use the curveball wisely Do not locate so it curves over the middle of the plate Start it down the middle so it curves to the corner of the plate when throwing for a strike If ahead in the count, and trying to make hitter swing at a bad pitch Start curveball on the corner so it curves out of the strike zone 106766364 11 Curveball is extremely tough on batters who hit from same side as pitcher throws (RH vs. RH) Blending Two Pitches May be times when you combine mechanics of two pitches to create a new pitch Try out in practice, if effective; give it a shot in a game Drop-curveball Common pitch at college level Take grip and release of turnover drop Add follow-through of the curve ball Has downward movement because of topspin Has sideways movement because of follow-through Screwball Cross between fastball and a rise pitch Grip as if a two-seam fastball Put pressure on index finger Deliver with same arm motion as fastball As you release Cut underneath ball (as you would a rise pitch) Gives it a 7 to 1 o’clock rotation Do not cut underneath quite as much as the rise But enough to spin the ball so it tails A RH screwball Will tail into a RH batter Tails away from a LH batter 10. Advanced Pitching Pregame Preparation Pitching requires both physical and mental preparation Game preparation begins upon arrival at the field Thoughts and actions focus on getting ready for the game Stretch muscles to get loose and limber Catch with a teammate throwing overhand Remember you will have to make throws during the game Twenty minutes before game warm up with a catcher Stand about ¾ of the distance from home plate to the mound (30 feet) Toss the ball underhand with ease to the catcher Do not go into full motion yet Just gradually loosen your arm and lower body Continue until legs and arms are loose Next work on spins of your pitches Throw each about 15 to 20 times until comfortable with proper spin Now you are ready to throw from full distance Using your entire windup and pitching motion Throw each pitch about ten times At this point you may realize that 1 or 2 of your pitches are not working If you’re not comfortable with them in the bullpen You probably won’t want to throw them in the game At least not right away Finish throwing about five minutes before game time Make sure you have a jacket to wear in the dugout between innings Helps keep arm warm and loose Visualization Train your brain to think positive thoughts During the ride to the game 106766364 12 Sitting in the dugout Getting a drink of water Play the game in your imagination Puts you in a positive frame of mind Gives confidence entering the game Visualize throwing the all your pitches for strikes Make it fun Visualization can also help pregame jitters Close your eyes Place yourself in a pleasant atmosphere Relax your body and put your mind at ease Pitching Strategy “Each pitch should have a purpose” Have an idea of what you want that particular pitch to accomplish May be to get ahead in the count To setup the hitter for the next pitch Expose a hitter’s weakness To get her to chase a pitch out of the strike zone Never throw a pitch without a purpose Best approach for young pitchers, make the first throw a strike Important to work ahead in the count You can work on throwing to the edges of the strike zone Batter will have tougher time hitting pitches on the corners If you’re behind, hitter can wait for a pitch down the middle Also decrease chances of walking the batter Takes pressure off yourself, allows you to focus on making good pitches Setting Up The Hitter Throwing a pitch that will set her up to be fooled on the next pitch Here is how it works Suppose first pitch is fastball for a called strike on the outside corner Next pitch is changeup on inside corner that hitter pulls foul With count no balls and two strikes Take note that batter has seen hard outside and off-speed inside Next pitch is hard fastball, high and inside for a ball A purpose pitch Not thrown for hitter to swing at Thrown to set batter up for next pitch Plants seed in her mind to start swing early Pitch will be hard and inside Next pitch is off-speed and on outside corner Hitter will either swing early and miss or hit it weakly Another approach is to throw pitches on outside corner early Most hitters do not like outside pitches Won’t swing unless they have two strikes Get ahead and the batter may lean out over plate and look for pitch outside Now throw hard on the inside corner Will most likely freeze the hitter and look at third strike Or she’ll swing late and hit the ball weakly (get jammed) Defining The Role Of Your Pitches Once you can throw a variety of pitches Define a role for each pitch For example Fastball when you have to throw a strike Throw a rise when you need a hitter to swing and miss A drop pitch hoping for a ground ball Understand how each pitch works for you 106766364 13 You will also develop a best pitch The pitch you rely on in a tight situation Make sure not to fall into predictable pitch patterns Vary your pitch patterns throughout the game Keep hitters guessing, deception is as important as velocity and movement Scouting Your Opponents Get to know your opponent as well as you can Stay away from their strengths Attack their weaknesses Be observant and watchful each time you have an opportunity You may face teams many times Possess scouting reports Enter the game with some idea of their strengths and weaknesses There are opportunities even if you are facing for the first time Watch batting practice Do they like pitches inside or outside? How do they handle low pitches or high pitches? Are they free swingers? (Swing at everything) Do they only swing at strikes? Is their swing long or short? (Long swings susceptible to fast pitches) Do they practice slap hits or drag bunts? Look at practice swings on deck or in batter’s box Is the arc of their swing level, an uppercut, or chopping? Some hitters give away weaknesses by their stance or where they stand in box A hitter who holds hands low will have trouble with high strikes Stand far away from plate, Gets arms extended, throw inside Throw outside may have trouble getting to the ball Best information is what she does when she faces you Pay attention to how you got her out Did she swing at pitches out of the strike zone? Was she late on your fastball? Does she have trouble keeping her weight back on off-speed pitches on the outside part of the plate? If she crushing your pitches, make adjustments as the game progresses To execute a successful pitching plan, need a close relationship with catcher Pitcher/catcher combination known as “the battery” Battery needs two ends to work together to get power flowing Catcher will have a good idea of what pitches are working best for you She’s go the best view of pitches She may recognize weaknesses in hitters Allows pitcher to concentrate on pitches Catcher works on setting up the hitter Ten Tips For Pitchers 1. Look at the batter’s position in the box. If she is way back in the box, she probably does not have a very quick swing and is trying to give herself more time. Look to throw your fastball. If your fastball lacks velocity, try the drop pitch. The drop will practically be in the dirt when it reaches her, yet will have been a strike when it crossed the plate. 2. If a hitter stands in the front of the box, go with your fastball inside. She will have less time to react. The rise ball is a good one for this type of hitter, too. Start it out low so it rises into the strike zone as it passes her. 3. Pitch the hitter inside if she’s using a closed stance. She’ll have trouble getting her hips open in time to get the barrel of the bat on the ball. 4. Pitch the hitter outside if she has an open stance. 106766364 14 Pitch a slap hitter inside. It will slow down her momentum to first base, and it’s a tough pitch for her to handle. Most slappers try to hit the ball by the shortstop, so they look for an outside pitch. Keep the pitch inside and low in the strike zone. 6. In a bunt situation, throw high strikes. It may force a pop-up. 7. Throw a changeup to a hitter who has just pulled a fastball foul. If she is in front of your fastball, she’ll be way out in front of a changeup. 8. If the batter is a power hitter, pitches low and away are your best bet. She will not be able to get maximum strength into her swing. 9. If the player has a reputation to swing at everything, stay away from the strike zone. Why throw her a good pitch when she’ll swing at one out of the strike zone? 10. Always stay ahead in the count. In that way you’ll force the batter to hit your best pitch. If you fall behind, the hitter gains the advantage. Adjusting To Game Situations Each time you take the mound There is a different condition that requires you to adjust your approach Hitters vary Weather conditions affect hitters, pitchers and fielders Personal talents often change from game to game Some days you may not be able to control pitches Other days you may have a little extra zip on pitches The Umpire’s Strike Zone THE person who has the authority to influence your performance more than anyone Umpire can heavily influence your pitching performance and the game Learn the umpire’s strike zone Discover what it is Adjust your pitches accordingly Don’t get upset, focus on the job Arguing and yelling may even work against you Most umpires differ with vertical strike zone Width of strike zone is fairly consistent By all means, use it to your advantage Inning, Outs, And Score Inning, score, and the number of outs may influence how you pitch to a batter For example, late innings, tie score, tow outs, runner on third, best hitter at plate Don’t throw her strikes Pitch around her Try to get her to swing at a bad pitch If she swings you may be out of a jam If she walks, then you’ve gotten past their best hitter without giving up any runs Another example, runner on third with fewer than two outs Fly ball to outfield will score the runner Want her to hit the ball on the ground Steady diet of low strikes and drop pitches Don’t make the mistake of changing your pitching philosophy with a big lead Your team is winning, why do anything differently? Stick with what has worked Continue to pitch as if the score was 0-0 Fielding The Position Part of the pitcher’s responsibility is to learn to field her position With bunting and slap hitting, defensive skills are critical Develop quick reactions You are only forty-three feet from the plate Balls get to you in a hurry After follow-through, prepare for a ball hit back to the mound Work in practice 5. 106766364 15 As you throw balls, just when you release have coach hit balls back to you As you improve, have them hit to left or right to improve range How much you contribute to bunt coverage is significant It takes pressure off third and first baseman At times you may even be able to tell third that you’ll field bunts that way Useful if runners on first and second and no outs Third baseman plays third for force-out Allows first and third to play back to improve their range Because of limited reaction time Know where you are to throw the ball before delivering pitch Ask yourself about certain situations For example runner on first Ball hit back to you quickly - throw to second for the force Bunt down 3rd base line – throw goes to first Backing Up Bases Balls not hit in your vicinity, need to think about backing up bases Need to be about fifteen feet behind the base and in line with throw Also need to get involved in any rundowns On balls to right side that takes 1B away from base Have to cover the open base Wild pitch or passed ball and runner on third, you must cover home plate for throw Because of added responsibilities of developing fielding and hitting skills Some pitchers like to make pitching practice an every-other-day routine One day, work on speed and movement Next day work on fielding and hitting drills Stagger days on and off with other pitchers so someone is always available Teamwork Pitcher is most influential position on the field However to achieve success, she must still have support of her teammates Offense has to supply runs Catcher, infielders, and outfielders have to catch and throw the ball flawlessly At times hitters will struggle and fielders will make mistakes These times require patience and understanding Remember: on days when your pitches are getting hit hard, you will need your teammates
