Pitching Tips
Sometimes all it takes is a few pitching tips to help you improve your skills as a pitcher. The advice at the top of any list of pitching tips should be to make sure that you get that first pitch in there as a strike. Ask almost any minor league player what they are working on most in their effort to get to the big leagues and their answer is sure to be learning to throw a strike on the first pitch. Once you get behind the hitter, you are always at a disadvantage.
When you throw a strike first time to every batter it allows you to follow the mental plan you have prepared to get him out. Pitchers who throw first strike balls consistently are apt to walk a much higher total of batters than a pitcher who can stay ahead of the hitter. Getting behind in the count is a surefire way to have to throw a strike just to get one in there to even up the count, and that is the pitch that batters are sure to hit. Pitchers who win games are the ones who throw strikes on the first pitch.
Another must that should be high on any list of pitching tips is to learn to throw the fastball well. All of the other pitches are dependent on how good a fastball you have. How many times have you heard of young rookies being sent back down to the minor leagues because they need to work on their fastball? It happens all the time, especially on the really good Major League teams. A pitcher who can’t locate his fast ball or doesn’t have enough velocity on his fast ball is going to get in trouble pitching.
A curve or a cutter that’s effective is so because of your fastball. Almost every pitch is effective when you have your fastball working. That doesn’t mean that you have to have the power to be clocked in the 97 to 100 power range, but it does mean that if you cannot blow every hitter away you’ve got to have total command of your fastball--with the ability to put it anywhere you want on either edge of the plate. When you can do that you will also find that all of your other pitches will be working off your fastball and you will be winning a lot more games.
Another quality every really good pitcher needs is to be tough mentally. Put on your game face and keep it on till the game is over. That’s why Major League players avoid the starting pitcher on game day. Getting the right mental toughness for the game is really something that is developed throughout game day. One of the best at this is Curt Schilling. By the time you’re ready to step onto the mound for the game you have to be wearing your tough look which does not betray any emotion you might be feeling.
Mental toughness will help you get batters out. It is also what will allow you to come back and strike out the side after you have loaded up the bases. No matter what a batter does, don’t let it show that you have been affected in any way. Stay tough. It is this mental attitude that will help you work beyond any mistakes you might make to come back and get the side out.