Throwing a Bullpen or To Live Hitters

I find it fascinating that players can throw perfect pitches in a practice bullpen, but struggle when facing live hitters. If your approach is the same, shouldn’t the results? 

I understand there is a difference between a hitter standing in the batter’s box ready to hit any mistake you throw and pitching to a catcher with no real hitter. There is no real pressure because there are no consequences. If a pitcher throws a fastball down the middle of the plate, there is no one to hit it in the gap or over the fence. 

But why do players that throw excellent practice bullpens struggle in a game? Many pitchers are scared of contact. 

Recently, one of my players struggled with his command when throwing live to hitters. But he threw an outstanding bullpen where he showed great command of his pitches. I already knew the answer to my question, but I asked him his thoughts. 

Sure enough, he said that he gets a little more timid with him pitches when a batter is standing in the box.

As a pitcher, you have to try to eliminate the hitter from your mind as you are ready to pitch. While you have to take the hitter into account when choosing what pitch to throw and in which location, once that decision is made, remove the hitter.  Think of yourself as throwing a bullpen to the catcher. 

If you throw a pitch where you want it, three things will happen. The hitter will take the pitch and it will hopefully be called a strike. The hitter will make contact, but because the pitch is where you wanted to throw it, he will get out. Or he will hit a ball over the infield that may fall in for a single. 

The worst thing that can happen if you execute the pitch is a single. And while this isn’t scientific, I would guess that happens about five percent of the time. 

Good things happen when you throw the pitch you want in the place you want. 

Again, I understand that it is easier for me to say these things than to put them into action. But they can be accomplished. 

Focus on every pitch. Remove the hitter from the at-bat. Welcome contact. Three things to help improve your accuracy, cut down your walks and allow you to pitch deeper into games. Three things to make you a more successful pitcher.

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Left Handed Pitchers – Runner at Third Base

With a base runner at first base, left-handed pitchers have a great advantage. Facing the runner, a lefty can watch the runner and try to gauge whether or not the runner is thinking of attempting a steal. But with a runner on third, left-handed pitchers have a disadvantage. 

The disadvantage of the lefty is a bigger deal than that of the right-handed pitcher. A runner advancing from first to second may lead to a change is strategy, but a runner scoring from third can change the game. 

Because the threat of stealing home is significantly lower than an attempt to steal second base, the third baseman typically doesn’t hold the bag and wait for a throw as a first baseman does. Not only does a left-handed pitcher have his back to the runner, but there usually isn’t the threat of a pickoff, which allows the runner to get a bigger lead. 

There are two potential game-changing situations that a left-handed pitcher should be aware of with a runner at third base. 

The first is an attempted squeeze bunt – which occurs when the runner from third base breaks for home in the middle of the pitching motion and the batter attempts to bunt the ball. If it works, the runner will score easily and the only play will be at first base. 

If a squeeze play is attempted on a right-handed pitcher, they can catch a glimpse of the runner and attempt to alter the pitch. Hopefully the batter will miss the pitch and the runner will be out at home plate. 

But for a lefty, you can’t see the runner break. You have to rely on your teammates to alert you. And if a squeeze is executed properly, it will be too late. The only chance you have is if the runner doesn’t do his job. 

A runner trying to steal home is the second situation. And while I have only seen it happen twice, a runner stealing home can change the outcome of a game. The swing in momentum can be too large to overcome. 

It is really only a concern if you have a fast runner on third base and the left-handed pitcher is pitching out of the windup. As soon as the pitcher takes a starter step, he is committed to throwing to home and this can give the runner a tremendous head start. Again, not being able to see the runner, the pitcher must hope his teammates alert him. 

But here is the difference. On a squeeze, you should try to throw a pitch that is difficult to hit. When a runner is trying to steal home, you shouldn’t throw a pitch out of the zone. Throw a strike. 

Why? Two reasons. 

If the runner has a head start - he may be close to home plate by the time the ball reaches the hitting zone – and we throw a ball out of the zone (especially with a right-handed hitter up), our catcher probably won’t have time to catch it and put the tag on before the runner scores. 

Secondly, a hitter isn’t going to swing with the runner attempting a steal of home. It is an extremely dangerous play. Throwing the pitch that was called and take your chances.

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Pitch Counts

I really enjoy any topic that allows me to combine my baseball experience and my degree in Exercise Science. One of my favorite topics is to discuss pitch counts.

Pitch counts have become more prevalent over the last ten years – for good reason. Young players are at risk of coming under the wrath of overbearing coaches who put winning ahead of a players health. We have all heard stories of the coach who pitches a young player because he is head and shoulders above any other pitcher on the roster. The overused player can become injured and the other players never get a chance to develop. 

For those reasons, especially among young players, pitch counts are needed. But are pitch counts necessary at the high school and collegiate levels? At higher levels, you are more likely to have deeper talent and more competent coaches (I said more likely - it isn’t an absolute). 

Before you start to roll your eyes – or leave this post altogether – hear me out. I also understand that most Major League organizations put per game pitch limits and season inning limits on their best prospects. But they do that most times because of the financial investment they have made in the player. 

But is that smart? Doesn’t it seem that many times the twenty-something guys that throw outrageously hard in the minor leagues never reach their full potential? Is it because of pitch counts? 

The exercise scientist in me says that throwing a lot allows you to throw harder and pitch longer. The only way to throw harder is to make your arm go faster. There are different ways to accomplish that – strength, momentum, and mechanics – but in the end, your arm speed is what matters. 

While mechanics are important and strength training is a good complement, throwing is what primarily builds arm strength. What about stamina? Conditioning is important, but there really is no substitute for building muscle stamina through throwing. 

But the best argument I have is the former Major League pitchers. These players rarely were injured and all seemed to throw harder. Let’s use the benchmark of 275 innings pitched in a season.

Bob Feller reached that mark seven times as did Bob Gibson. Don Drysdale, Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan all had five seasons. 

In comparison to some of the greatest pitchers of this and the last generation, Roger Clemens had one. Neither Randy Johnson (271.2) nor Andy Pettite (240.1) had a single season. Phillies’ stars Roy Halladay (266.0), Cliff Lee (231.2) and Roy Oswalt (241.2) have all failed to eclipse the 275 inning mark even once.

I understand that there is an argument that these players all have had long, successful careers. But I also don’t think it is fair to compare Major League players to high school and college players. 

All I ask is you keep an open mind and really think about this. If your son or player isn’t throwing as hard as you feel they should, are they throwing enough, especially off the mound?

 Visit our complete online resource for instructional baseball videos and our free eBook at www.ToTheTopPerformance.com.

Bases Loaded, Two Outs, Three-Two Count

When I was younger, I always felt more comfortable pitching out of the windup than the stretch. Although I never did it on purpose, I wasn’t really upset if the ball skipped away from my catcher with a runner on second base. The runner would move to third and I would get to throw from the windup. 

Once I reached the professional level, not only was I more comfortable out of the stretch, but I realized it is beneficial to continue to pitch out of the stretch with a runner on third base. 

Most coaches I have been around, myself included, don’t mind if a pitcher throws out of the windup with a runner on third base. If a pitcher feels more comfortable or more confident, by all means I want to put him in a position to succeed.  

If there are runners on first base and third base, this obviously wouldn’t work as the runner on first would steal. But the situation does come into effect with runners on second base and third base or if the bases are loaded. 

There is however one situation when pitching out of the windup isn’t smart – when the bases are loaded, there are two outs and the batter has a three balls, two strike count. 

In this situation, the runners should be moving as soon as the pitcher commits to home. There are only three things that can happen offensively – an out, a walk or a hit – so it doesn’t make sense for the runners to stand on the base and wait for the outcome. They get a head start. 

As a pitcher, you want to limit the advantage the runners get. That is why you throw this pitch from the stretch. If you throw the three-two pitch from the windup, by the time the ball is in the hitting zone, the runner from first is close to second base. An out or a walk doesn’t hurt you, but a base hit does. 

With the runners moving at the start of the pitcher’s movement, any base hit, from either the stretch or windup, will score the runners from third and second base. 

If you were throwing from the windup, there is a chance that the runner from first can score on a single. More than likely he is going to end up on third base, but I have witnessed the runner from first base score on a single several times.

Pitching from the stretch will prevent the runner from scoring and could hold him at second depending on where and how hard a ball is hit. 

Now, I understand the argument that if the pitcher is extremely more comfortable out of the windup than the stretch, shouldn’t you have confidence in your pitcher in getting the hitter out? Then you wouldn’t have to worry about any base runners. 

And I agree. As I mentioned before, I want to put players in a position to succeed. But if a pitcher is only slightly more comfortable in the windup, it makes sense to pitch out of the stretch.

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Starting Pitching: The Importance of Shutting Out an Opponent

The obvious answer to my statement is throwing a shutout is great because you will more than likely win the game. Only if your team is having trouble scoring runs, is there a chance you may be in trouble. But I’m not necessarily talking about games, more about innings.

There are two instances when it is imperative a starting pitcher has to limit the opposition to zero runs. The first situation is the first inning, especially if you are the home team. Not allowing your opponent to score a run in the first inning is a big boost to your teammates. 

It can be devastating to a team to be behind before the first at-bat. While there is plenty of the game remaining, if your pitcher gives up four or five (or more) runs in the first, it can almost feel as if the game is already out of reach – especially at the collegiate or professional level. 

A starting pitcher has to be just as, if not more focused, in the first inning. Most teams will send their three best hitters to bat in the first inning, so a pitcher has to be ready. 

The other situation it is important to shutout an opponent is any inning after your team scores a run – especially if you score multiple runs. Recording a quick three outs can boost confidence and keep the momentum that is gained from an offensive outburst. 

In a perfect world, a pitcher should hope that every inning on the mound requires this focus. That would mean your team is scoring plenty of runs. 

Games are won and lost in the inning that proceeds scoring. If you, as the pitcher, are able to “throw up a zero,” your teammates can get on a roll and it is likely your team’s offensive output will steamroll. 

But what if you get into trouble? Realistically, you aren’t going to pitch flawlessly every time your team scores. But you have to limit the damage. 

Once your team builds a lead, you have to pitch well – whatever it takes to keep the lead. Giving a lead back after your team goes ahead can have a negative effect on the morale of your teammates. 

I am the assistant coach at a small university. In one of our final games of the 2010 collegiate season, we needed to win two of our final three games to clinch a berth in the conference tournament. The games were against our biggest rival, who had clinched a berth and was fighting to host the tournament. 

We were down five to three going into the top of the fourth. We scored nine runs in the top of the fourth to go ahead 12 to 5. In the bottom of the fourth, we immediately gave back six runs and let our opponent back in the game. 

The game went back and forth the rest of the way and we ended up losing by a final score of 22-18 (you have to love college baseball and metal bats). We lost two of three and missed the conference tournament by one game. 

I firmly believe that if we would have limited our opposition to zero runs in the bottom of that fourth inning, we would have won the game. 

In these situations, pitching well doesn’t happen by placing any additional pressure on you. It occurs by focusing on pitching well and not becoming comfortable because your team has given you a big lead.

Visit our complete online resource for instructional baseball videos and our free eBook at www.ToTheTopPerformance.com.