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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You Don't Have To Strike Every Hitter Out

One of the most basic pieces of advice I share with pitchers is to pitch to contact. Pitching to contact means that you learn to trust your fielders instead of trying to strike out each hitter. It also slows the pace of the game, which can lead to long innings. Long innings can tire out your teammates, and may allow them to lose confidence in you.

Not pitching to contact and trying to strike out every hitter leads to one thing - walks. Walks are a pitcher’s worst enemy, as they allow your opponent to reach base without working for it.

Pitchers that do not pitch to contact are usually scared if the batter hits the ball, the batter will hit it hard and far. Another characteristic of this type of pitcher is someone who lacks confidence and as a result constantly thinks that bad things will happen. They try to make the perfect pitch with the hope that the batter will not swing and the umpire will call the pitch a strike. But the most apparent sign of a pitcher that does not pitch to contact is one who will walk a lot of people and as a result, struggles to be successful.

I have seen pitchers struggle with the thought of contact at every level, from professionals to youth, and every pitcher at every level will struggle with it at some point.

If you find yourself in this situation, you have to find the renewed confidence in yourself and your teammates. Your fielders want to make plays for you. And you have to believe that you can pitch well.

Pitching to contact is not simply throwing pitches down the middle of the plate and hoping that hitters will not make solid contact. You still must focus on making good pitches with good control. If you do this, hitters will not be able to make solid contact consistently and you will be successful.

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