Pitching Tips: The Fastball

With the fastball, we look for three basic things: control, velocity, and movement, but without control, the latter two skills are not very effective. 
Control: An effective pitcher must be able to throw his fastball to predetermined spots and not just for strikes. Unless a pitcher is really overpowering, just to throw the fastball in the strike zone is not enough to get good hitters out. The best way to develop control of a pitch is to have an effective and consistent grip, a consistent release point, plus great visual and mental concentration. 

Velocity: There are very few truly overpowering fast ball pitchers and most have a natural, not learned ability. I do believe a coach can help a pitcher improve his velocity somewhat by improving his mechanics, arm action, weight transfer and increasing his strength and stamina with a year round program. 

Movement: An effective pitcher’s fast ball will move int a right handed hitter from a RHP. Proper grip, finger pressure, loose wrist and proper release will give the ball fast rotation and movement. A live fast ball is much more difficult to it than a straight fast ball because the hitter has to judge two planes instead of one.

Pitching Tips: Use Of The Intentional Walk

We will use the intentional walk to:
1. Pitch around good hitters
2. Set up a force play and/or double play situation
Often times we will resort to the “unintentional but intentional walk”. Even though we do not really want to pitch to the hitter, we are willing to let him hit bad pitches. Usually we throw him curve balls slightly out of the strike zone, hoping he will make an out on a bad pitch to hit. 

On a true intentional walk, the pitcher should pitch from the set position, come to his stop, check the runners and throw 3/4 speed fastballs shoulder high to his catcher, 2-3 feet outside the strike zone. 

The catcher may stand up, hold his hand out for the target, but he must stay in the catcher’s box until the pitcher releases the ball. 
On an intentional pass, all infielders and outfielders should cover their normal defensive area because the pitch could still be hit.

Pitching Tips: Use Of The Pitch Out

The coach will usually give the catcher the pitch out sign, but sometimes the catcher will call it on his own. The pitch out can be used: 
1. In a suspected squeeze situation
2. When there is a likely steal or hit and run play on 
3. In conjunction with various pick off plays
Be careful not to overuse the pitch out since it puts the pitcher behind in the count. The best times to call a pitch out is: 
1. When you have stolen an opponents signs. 
2. On the 1st pitch to a hitter, or on a 0-1, 1-1, or 1-2 count. 
In the squeeze, steal, or hit and run situation, the pitcher should pitch from the set position and hold the runner slightly longer to ruin his take-off timing. The pitch should be delivered with a quick motion eliminating the high knee lift. The pitch should be a fast ball thrown at 90-95% velocity, and thrown chest to head high to the catcher about 2 feet out of the strike zone, and away form the hitter. On a pitch-out, infielders must anticipate that the ball could be hit, but the pitch out should allow them an early hard break to their cover responsibilities.

Pitching Techniques: Modified Slide Step

Because the true slide step often negatively affects control and causes early arm fatigue, we prefer the modified slide step. This technique does take slightly longer to unload the pitch than with the true slide step, but it is much quicker than a normal leg lift. 

With the modified slide step, the pitcher rocks back quickly as he breaks the lead knee back quickly before slide stepping outward. This action helps to keep his weight back and not rush. Also on first movement, the pitcher breaks his hands downward quickly. These two adjustments allow the pitcher to use his normal arm action which should help his control. 

Most left hand pitchers don’t develop the slide step, but I’ve come to believe it is a very effective technique on occasion for lefties. With a runner on first, the modified slide step presents another read for the runner. It’s almost like a quick pitch. It’s also effective against runners who like to gamble steal on first movement. But the most effective use of the slide step for the lefty, is with a runner on 2nd base. This technique allows the left hand pitcher to unload the ball quickly and vary his motion. 

The left hander should also develop a pick off move off the modified slide step . Just break the hands quickly, slide step within the 45 degree angle towards first base without using the normal lift of the lead leg and foot. This in conjunction with a good step back move makes it real difficult for the runner to get a consistent read on the left hand pitcher.

Pitching Tips: Pitch Counts

Keeping a pitch count limit for young pitchers is a crucial part of keeping their arms healthy. Allowing a youth pitcher throw too many pitches in too short of time increases the risk of them having arm problems and burnout. 

Many Little Leagues and Pony leagues around the country are enforcing pitch count limits for young pitchers. These rules state that a pitcher of a certain age can’t throw a certain amount of pitches in a certain number of days. Following these rules can help keep a pitcher’s arm healthy and rested.

Every league has different pitching limits, but there is a common theme to them. As the pitchers get older, they are allowed to throw more pitches per game. The more pitches a pitcher throws, the more days rest they are required to have before they are allowed to pitch again. These rules have been proven to protect young players arms.

Pitching Mechanics: The Leg Lift (RHP)

Having good leg lift mechanics is important to the success of any pitcher. The RHP must quicken up and reduce the height of his lead leg lift. A good technique to use is to bring the lead knee back to the pivot leg thigh area which transfers the body weight over the pivot leg. A little leg lift is necessary to allow time for the pitching arm to make its normal arm swing to the cocked position, and to transfer some body weight and momentum back before starting the body forward. 
The hands should break down along the mid-line of the body between the letters and the belt. The actin of the pitching arm should be down back and up, exactly the same as in the wind up. The RHP may want to break the hands on the first downward movement. 

The LHP may use a lot more preliminary hand action of up and down to hold and deceive the runner (runner on first only), but the RHP must break quickly to get the hand up into a good cocked position and unload the ball quickly. 

After the hand break, the pitcher’s motion and arm action should be the same as from the wind-up.

Pitching Advice: Knowing Your Limits

The number of pitches a pitcher should be allowed to throw depends on physical development, age, prior rest and recovery time, pitcher experience and the pitchers’s arm stamina. I believe pitch count as a measure is more effective and reliable than the number of innings pitched. 

In a competitive situation, often a pitcher will not admit that he is fatigued, overly sore, or has a minor arm injury. It is very important that a coach is able to recognize changes in a pitcher’s normal motion. Besides a loss in some velocity, and usually control, a pitcher will often change his mechanics to compensate for the loss of arm strength or to protect his arm from further pain.