Want to pitch? Play golf.

I’ve always been a big fan of Cliff Lee.  I still am even though he is currently winless in 2012.  The current buzz around Philly is centering around the question “Why is Cliff Lee still winless?”   In the beginning of the season, his lack of wins was clearly a case of no run support. […]

Uphill vs downhill

One of the more consistent problems I see with young pitchers is the inability to throw on a downward plane.  The reason why they have trouble doing this is simple.  They all play other positions on the field and do most of their throwing away from the mound.   In the eight other positions on […]

Catchers: Don’t ever make this mistake

At the major league level, catchers get no discretion when it comes to whether balls thrown in the dirt can be tossed back to the pitcher.  There is no shortage of baseballs at that level so every time a pitch hits the dirt, the ball is immediately removed from the game and replaced with a […]

Pitching without your best stuff

The more you play the game, the more you begin to realize that rarely will you be at full strength.  The long season, the heat, the physical nature of the game, and the stressful mental side all conspire against baseball players.  The first step in dealing with all this is to accept it and realize […]

“Get me over” breaking pitches

When pitchers get to the high school and college levels, they often will have more than one breaking pitch.  Usually one stands out as the better pitch.  For example, a pitcher may throw a good slider but also have a fairly ineffective curve ball.  It not surprising that this pitcher uses his slider most of […]

Jim Abbott & pitching with confidence

My very first college at-bat was in Florida during our spring trip when we played the University of Michigan.  The starting pitcher for Michigan was Jim Abbott who was also in his first college game.  Aside from watching in amazement how he could use a glove with only one hand, it was clear he had […]

The science of pitching to contact

Below is a link to an article discussing the concept of “pitching to contact.”  I’ve always been a firm believer of the concept but of course, you need a solid defense behind you for it to work. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/150112305.html

How to know if a pitcher is hurting

A coach walks to the mound and asks “How do you feel?” The pitcher says “Fine coach.” Sound familiar?  It should because in high school and above, that’s pretty much all you are going to get from any pitcher.   Most pitchers are not forthcoming when it comes to hurt arms.  Reasons for doing so vary.  […]

Different pitchers = different bullpens

Probably the biggest problem I see that wrecks a pitcher’s ability to be effective is not warming up properly before the game.  I’ve written a couple posts on general and specific tips on how to warm up prior to games.  Click HERE and HERE to see them.  However, like everything else in the game, no […]

Up vs Down for effect

In yesterday’s post, I mentioned that one former MLB pitcher’s strategy for throwing to David Wright was to throw a pitch up and in to see how he recovers.  Although there is an obvious danger every time a pitcher does this, a pitchers must develop that pitch in order to continue to be effective at […]

Pickoffs at third base

We’ve all seen a left handed pitcher with a great pickoff move to first base.  They can single handedly stop a team’s running game in its tracks.  Here’s my question.  Why don’t right handers do the same at third base?   Lefties can “cheat” quite a bit on their way to first by stepping at […]

Keep a journal

Roy Halladay is a pleasure to watch on a regular basis.  Watch his preparations and his game day performance and there will be a lot of positive things to see and learn from.  But there is something that you won’t see that is a big part of his preparation and in-game performance.  His pitching journal.  […]

A tip for gripping tough pitches

Not only are pitches like change-ups, split finger fastballs, and forkballs tough to throw, they can be tough to get your hand in the proper grip.  Here’s a tip for those who struggle with that.

Secondary and Out Pitches

  Every pitcher needs to rank their pitches in terms of effectiveness.  By that I mean best pitch down to worst pitch.  On a normal day, here were my rankings: Fastball (4-seam or 2-seam) Change-up Slider Cutter Curveball  This is important to know because in a jam, a pitcher has to know what his “go-to” […]

Miss where you want to miss

Pitching isn’t just about having command of your strikes.  It also involves having control over your misses!

The four second rule

Fast runners can make it down to 1st base in about 4 seconds.  Occasionally a guy who can absolutely fly can get down there a little sooner but 4 seconds is usually a good number to play with.  If you are an infielder, you must develop a “4 second internal clock” that guides most everything […]

Which side of the pitching rubber is best?

The title of the post is a question I sometimes get from pitchers, parents, and coaches.  As you will see in the video, most pitchers naturally gravitate towards one side or the other.  Unfortunately, most pitchers probably will not be able to explain why they are pitching off that side of the rubber.  They just […]

Seminar: How to improve velocity

The following three videos make up a seminar I recently gave to area coaches in the Lansdale, PA, community. Go to the Baseball By The Yard YouTube Channel to see these and other videos in all areas of the game.

Why pitchers should watch batting practice

In pro ball, you will rarely ever see the starting pitcher on the field or in the dugout while the other team takes batting practice.  They would rather relax in the clubhouse and go through their other preparations.  If the pitcher is a high school or college kid, there may not be any kind of […]

5 things hitters want pitchers to forget

If the wishes of hitters came true, pitchers would forever fail to learn/remember the following:   1.       Hitting is hard.  As pitchers get older, the likelihood of them having to hit drops significantly especially if they move on to college.  Even minor league pitchers of National League organizations are usually not asked to hit until […]

Advanced – Flat wristing a change-up

This video features a very common problem when pitchers throw a change-up.  Flat-wristing makes it extremely tough to hide the fact that a change-up is coming.                        

A common mistake on a change-up

Although the change-up, in my opinion, is the second best pitch in baseball – the first would be a good fastball, it can be a difficult pitch to learn for some players.  There are many different grips that can be used and each one can be altered slightly to match the pitcher’s comfort level and […]

How to handle a hole on the mound

Pitch long enough and you will have to deal with all kinds of holes on the mound.  This video post gives some tips for handling the dreaded hole right in front of the pitching rubber. Click “YouTube” on the bottom right of the screen to expand the view as needed.

Video: How to throw a four seamer

A while back I wrote a post on this but I’ve received a question or two since on the topic. (Click on “YouTube” in the bottom, right corner to widen the view as needed)

Another option from the stretch position

One reason why the stretch position can be tough for pitchers is that most only use two types of deliveries to home plate:  the full leg kick and the slide step.  Today’s video post shows pitchers a third option that incorporates the positive aspects of both of those deliveries without the drawbacks. Click on “YouTube” […]

Staying on top of the ball – Pitching

This is part 2 of “Staying on top of the ball.” This one deals with the concept as it relates to pitching.To watch it in a larger view, click “YouTube” at the bottom right on the screen.  You can then expand the view from there.

The importance of the shutdown inning

There is nothing more demoralizing then scoring a few runs in an inning and then giving up the same amount or more when the opposing team bats in their next turn.  Your team is riding high with an emotional lift and then seems to hand that “lift” right over to the other team.  Keeping or […]

The proper way to film pitchers

I produced another video post for today which hopefully will help parents and coaches get more out of their videotaping.  This one is for filming pitchers.  I’m in the process of doing a similar presentation for hitting.  In the near future, I will be doing some that will show some very basic things to look […]

The one flaw of Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay had one flaw this season.  For some reason the first inning and more specifically the first batter in the first inning was a problem for him.  In his 34 starts in 2011, the first batter he faced reached base 17 times.  That’s 50%!  In most cases, Halladay responded with his usual toughness and […]

Watching Roy Halladay

If you are a fan of good baseball, you have to be in heaven every time Roy Halliday takes the mound.  If I had to point to one guy young pitchers should pay close attention to, it’s him.  There is so much to say about his competitiveness, the movement he gets on his pitches, and […]

Pitching is not rocket science

About a month ago, I listened to Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels give a post-game interview after a complete game shutout.  He was asked what the reasons behind his great outing were.  I immediately wrote down his response.  It was almost exactly as follows: “Tonight I was able to get many batters out early in the count […]

Fielding a bunt is all in the footwork (Part 2)

If you are practicing bunt plays at a slower speed than the fastest  runners, you are practicing to fail. Part 1 of fielding bunts involved the importance of getting a player’s body/feet into the proper position before the bunt is fielded.  Part 2 involves a tip when practicing all this. It’s very important to practice the […]

Fielding a bunt is all in the footwork (Part 1)

This young man properly sets his feet and body with hisfront side facing the target before he fields the bunt. Anytime I have written a post regarding defense, I have emphasized the importance of getting the body/feet in the proper spot prior to actually touching the ball.  When people see dropped balls or throwing errors […]

Earned vs Unearned runs

On every pitching stat sheet you’ll find a column for RUNS and EARNED RUNS.  Usually they are two different numbers.  Sometimes very different numbers.  When people look at these stats, most just ignore both categories and put all their emphasis on a pitcher’s ERA (Earned run average).  That’s what you see every time stats are […]

There’s no such thing as a “wrong pitch to throw”

It is very common for a coach – usually a pitching coach if the team has one – to sit down with pitchers and catchers after games in order to debrief.  Discussing what went well, what didn’t, and why is certainly beneficial to all involved.  One topic that usually comes up in that process is […]

A tip for improving location for pitchers

As pitchers move up in levels, hitting their spots or improving the location of their pitches becomes more of a priority.  The next time you watch Sports Center, Baseball Tonight, or one of the many other highlight shows on the MLB Network, pay close attention to the home runs that are hit.  Actually, pay attention […]

Vance Worley, Phillies Rookie

9-1, 2.65 ERA (As of 8-29-11)  “I was confident in my stuff,” he said. “That’s the only way to pitch in this game. If you’re not confident on the mound, you’re going to get shelled. You have to look like you’re not going to get beat.”– Vance Worley, Phillies rookie starterThat about covers it.

Don’t speed up the hitter’s bat

As pitchers get older, it becomes more important to develop off-speed pitches.  Coaches can respectfully disagree with which off-speed pitch should be developed first (I believe a change-up should always come before a curve ball) but it is clear that the overwhelming amount of pitchers will no longer be able to simply throw a fast […]

Everyone can hit a fast ball

One of the many rewarding things about coaching a high school team is watching your players move on to the college level to continue playing.  My baseball experiences above high school were very memorable and to help players also get an opportunity to experience them is one reason I coach.When those players return to visit […]

AJ Burnett needs to "trust his stuff"

It’s safe to say that Yankees starter AJ Burnett is having a rough season and more specifically, a rough month.  His stats for the month of August are as follows: STATS IP H R ER BB SO WHIP ERA August                                […]

The flaw in 1st pitch hitting stats

The other night I’m watching a game on TV and a stat appeared on the screen regarding the batter.  It indicated that he had a higher than normal batting average on the first pitch of his at-bats.  The announcers discussed it for a little bit and, not surprisingly, warned that opposing pitchers better be very […]

Learning to pitch by casting a fishing rod

As a teacher, you learn pretty quickly the power of analogies when it comes to explaining difficult concepts to kids in the classroom.  Explaining the same thing over and over again the same way just makes students who struggle more frustrated.  Relating the concept to something they may already know and/or have an interest in […]

Pitching: Keeping the foot under the knee

Cliff Lee:  Leg up, foot under the knee. Good balance and good command. To be successful as a pitcher, actually anything in baseball, good balance becomes a top priority.  If your balance is poor, power and quickness will usually suffer.  This is certainly true for pitchers who have the not so easy job of trying to […]

Can a pitcher throw too many strikes?

When you listen to major league announcers, especially the former major leaguers, you’ll hear them say some great stuff.  I always recommend that my players really pay attention to the announcers when they watch games because they can learn a lot about the game just by listening.  The problem that arises, though, is that announcers […]

I got it, you take it!

Mention “PFP” to an experienced pitcher and you’ll probably get a major groan or eye roll.  PFP stands for “Pitchers Fielding Practice.”   I haven’t played with many pitchers who liked the idea of practicing covering first base for the 200,000th time or getting come backers hit at them by some sadistic coach who enjoys […]

The new and improved (?!) Justin Verlander

There are a few pitchers that I would love to face as a hitter.  Justin Verlander is one of them.  When I say “love to face” I don’t mean “I’d love to face them because they are not very good.”  Watching Verlander on TV is something special in and of itself but standing in the […]

Inside for effect and inside for a strike

Here is a pitching sequence that is rarely used but can be very effective. Inside for effect … When the count is in the pitcher’s favor (0-2, 1-2), many pitchers are aware of the “Inside for Effect” fast ball.  It’s a fast ball designed to move the batter off the plate a bit.  It’s not […]

Go with your best

To beat Roy Halladay, you know you aregoing to have to beat his best stuff. A general tip for any pitcher that is in a jam is to “go with your best stuff.”  Most pitchers by the time they reach the high school level are going to throw at least three types of pitches.  They […]

Swing and Miss stuff

Pitchers who can get batters to do this more often are seen as more valuable, especially come playoff time. This time of year involves two important things:  high school/college playoffs and the amateur draft.  In both, the importance of good pitching is key.  The teams that tend to do the best come playoff time generally have […]

Pick-off throws to second base

One of the more demoralizing things that can happen to an offensive team is to have a runner picked off.  This is especially true when the runner is at second base and thus taken out of scoring position.  A pitcher has a couple different ways to perform a pick-off at second base.  One is the […]

The slide step

Let me say right off the bat that I am not a big fan of the slide step.  In my opinion, it is way overused at the younger levels and even at the high school level.  I even think some arm injuries are at least partly caused by too much slide stepping.  I’m sure there […]

The forbidden conversation

Having pitched at the college and professional levels, I think I have a pretty good idea as to what makes a pitcher successful enough to pitch at those levels.  Although I did not make it to the major leagues, I played with and against many pitchers who did.  We have had many conversations with our […]

Pitching: Using both sides of the plate

As pitchers move up through the various levels of baseball it becomes increasingly important to have command on both sides of the plate.  Hitting is a very difficult skill.  However, a pitcher who uses only half the plate – say the 8 ½ inches of the outer half – is making things much easier for […]

Step and Throw

“Step and Throw!”  If you were/are a pitcher, how many times have you heard that phrase on a ball hit back to you?  How many times have you said it as a coach?  A wonderful friend to any pitcher is an easily fielded ball hit back to them.  This is especially “friendly” when the pitcher […]

Pitchers: Pre-game routine (Part 2)

In the previous Pre-game routine (Part 1), I provided a pre-game schedule for starting pitchers.  The timing involved allows pitchers to properly prepare to avoid having a sluggish start to the first inning.  Today, I provide a suggested pitch-by-pitch routine when pitchers are actually on the bullpen mound practicing their pitches.  This too can be […]

Pitchers: Pre-game routine (Part 1)

Two MLB starters.  Both have a personalized routine that gets them fully prepared to be 100% at the first pitch of the game.(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Going into his fifth start of this 2011 season, Cincinnatti Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez had a 1st inning ERA of 29.25.  Prior to his latest start, the announcers talked quite […]

Change your sights for a better breaking pitch

When pitchers throw a fast ball or a change-up, they usually focus their eyes on where they want the ball to end up.  They get the sign, stare at the catcher’s mitt, and throw it to the glove.  Pretty straight forward.  But what about a curve ball or a slider?  Actually, throwing a breaking pitch […]

Pitchers and the set position

When pitchers throw from the stretch, you’ll see a number of variations as to where they come set with their hands after getting the sign from the catcher.  Some bring their hands together and come set (come to a stop) around chin level.  Some come set at the chest.  Some even stop down near the […]

Pitching later into games

The “complete game” seems to have had the same fate as the black and white TV and phones with cords.  In 2010, Roy Halliday led the Major Leagues with 9 complete games on the way to the National League Cy Young Award. Entering his 14th season in the Major Leagues, Halliday tied his career best […]

Shortstop: The 1-6-3 double play

An easy ground ball back to the pitcher with a runner on first base is called “a pitcher’s best friend.”  It should be an easy double play for the defense.  There are a number of little things the pitcher, the shortstop, and the first baseman must do in order to execute this play efficiently and […]

Pitchers: Take good care of your fielders

A pitcher’s ERA and win-loss record depends largely on what the players behind them do during the course of the game.  If players make more plays, a pitcher’s ERA tends to go down.  If a pitcher’s ERA goes down they tend to have a better win-loss record.  The point is that fielders are a pitcher’s […]

Pitching with a runner on third base

Here’s a tip for pitchers who find themselves with a runner on third base.  Be sure to look at the runner prior to starting your delivery to home plate. Be sure to look at this guy at third BEFORE youstart your delivery to home plate.(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) Especially from the wind-up.  Here’s why.  […]

Perfect hitting speed

At any level of baseball, there is going to be a pitching speed that most of the hitters at that level are comfortable hitting.  It’s that speed that is not too fast and not too slow – the Perfect Hitting Speed (PHS).  Your game-plan as a pitcher depends largely on knowing where you are on the […]

Tips for an underhand toss

There are a number of plays in baseball that require an underhand toss: Ranger pitcher CJ Wilson A first baseman tossing the ball to the pitcher covering first. A pitcher fielding a hard hit bunt on the first base side and tossing it to the first baseman. A pitcher tossing the ball to the catcher […]

The importance of repeating yourself

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) The other day I am watching the MLB Network (surprise!) and they are doing an analysis of the Chicago White Sox during their 30 Teams in 30 Days Tour.  They spent a bit of time on a young pitcher named Chris Sale who was drafted in […]

Don’t let their best hitter beat you!

Walk him! … or at least don’t give him much to hit.(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) Growing up, I heard many great “baseball sayings” from my father and grandfather.  Some sayings or cliches are meant to be funny but most are also instructive.  On a mile high pop-up to the catcher, my dad would say […]

Anatomy of a control problem

I found this article the other day and thought I’d share it with everyone.  It’s for any player who has experienced control issues and how aspects of sports psychology can be applied to address the problem.  Great for coaches and parents as well! Anatomy of a control problem I confirm the subscription of this blog […]

The power of a routine

Most players at the major league level have rituals or some sort of routine they go through prior to games.  Some might put on their uniform the same way everyday.  Others might eat at the same times on game days.  Hall of Famer Wade Boggs was famous for his pre-game rituals.  Although some might scoff […]

Pick-offs and holding runners at 1st base

First of all, it needs to be said that picking off runners at first and holding runners close are not necessarily the same thing.  When a pitcher picks a runner off first base it clearly sends a message to future runners to be more cautious.  Obviously this is a good thing.  However, holding runners close involves a lot […]

Cardinal sins of baseball (part 3) – Pitching

Cardinal Sins Part 1 and Part 2 were on Defense and Offense respectively.  Here’s a separate one for pitching. Click HERE for a site that sells a t-shirt for this design. A come-backer to the pitcher and he does not know who he’s throwing it to at second base on a double-play.  The middle infielders […]

Pitching – Making the switch to the bullpen

On a high school baseball message board I check every now and then, a college player asked what he needs to know now that he has gone from a starting pitcher in high school to a reliever in college.  It’s a common switch that many high school pitchers have to go through early on in […]

Mental Toughness – Cliff Lee

About a year ago I conducted a seminar for teachers about how concepts and strategies within sports psychology can help underachieving students in the classroom.  One thing I talked about was mental toughness.  To give an example of mental toughness, I used an ESPN clip of Cliff Lee speaking after his phenomenal 1-0 win over […]

Pitchout tips for pitchers

One of the things that pitchers and catchers rarely practice is pitchouts.  Pitchouts can be very effective even if the runner does not steal.  Obviously, if the runner goes the catcher has a better chance of throwing the runner out.  Even if the runner doesn’t go, it still puts the pitchout in the mind of […]

Tips for Long-tossing and/or "Long-throwing"

Disclaimer There is an on-going debate in baseball circles about the value of long-tossing. I know it’s shocking to think that anything in baseball is debated.   (Yes, that’s sarcasm if you weren’t sure.) Some love it, some hate it.  This post does not get into that argument. I’m in the “love long-tossing” camp and […]

Protecting pitchers

Today’s post is a continuation of yesterday’s in which I described the problems and a remedy for not finishing your pitches correctly.  Today I focus on what picthers can do to better prepare themselves for a ball hit directly back to them.  Below are three important tips to keep pitchers safer on the mound. Finish […]

Pitching mechanics – finish before you field!

Photo 1: A common Little League finish. When pitchers are young, they are commonly told to “throw the pitch and get right into the fielding position.”  This advice is not as much of a problem at the Little League level for the following reasons: The distance from the mound to the plate is shorter. Young players are still developing the skills […]

Four seam fastball grip

Here’s a tip for anyone looking to improve their four-seam fastball, especially if the player is younger and now has a hand big enough to do more advanced grips on the ball.Have a player hold a four seam grip in front of them so they can clearly see the seams.  The seams on the ball […]

How to throw more strikes

How many kids have heard their coach, parent, etc say “Come on Johnny, throw strikes!” while on the mound?  The body language of the kid shouts “Gee Coach, I didn’t know that.  All this time I was out here trying to throw balls until now.  Thanks for the advice!”The point is, every pitcher tries to throw […]

Covering first base correctly

 (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)Left foot = Wrong!  (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)Right foot = Correct! Go to any spring training practice and you are bound to see a drill in which pitchers cover first base on balls hit to their left.  It continually amazes me that this play can be screwed up with the […]

The importance of a good catcher

If you have not seen this article from espn.com, it’s worth the time.  Especially if you are a catcher or know someone who is.  Click on the title.  Below the picture are links to a few other sites that catchers and coaches might find useful.  “A relationship that’s extremely important“  (Photo: Howard Smith/US Presswire)As if […]

Adjustments for a better change-up (Part 2)

Today is the second half of my ten adjustments for a better change-up. Try adjusting the pinky finger placement. 6. Move your pinky finger.  Many times a change-up is held with the pinky finger on the side of the ball (right photo).  Try moving the pinky finger up on top of the ball next to […]

Adjustments for a better change-up (Part 1)

In yesterday’s post I recommended that pitchers schedule time to “play around” or “tinker” with their pitches, grips, etc.  I’m a huge fan of the change-up so the next 2 posts are dedicated to adjustments specific to developing a better change-up.  Both posts will have five adjustments – ten total.  Try them all! 1. Increase arm […]

Off-season pitching tips

After the holidays is when many pitchers start to throw off the mound and work on pitches.  Here are 10 tips to get the most out of an off-season pitching program: Build velocity slowly.  Many high school (and above) pitchers have been spending time lifting and possibly long-tossing since games ended in the Summer or Fall.  […]

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