Originally Posted by roothog66:
I'm going to introduce a novel concept (tongue firmly in cheek). Can you teach velocity? Yes. Can you teach control? Yes. Is there a difference in how you teach them? NO! How exactly do you teach control? I think most would agree that the secret to control is repeatable mechanics. So, how is teaching repeatable mechanics counter to teaching mechanics that provide increased velocity? I'd say it's not. Look at Randy Johnson. If you remember how he was early in his career, he was a bus wreck. Upper 90's with no idea where it was going to end up. There was no "working" on his control. It just took years of repetition until he got to the point that his mechanics were consistent and then control came all at once.
What’s unfortunate is there are so many who sincerely believe velocity is almost entirely genetically based, many who have the capacity aren’t given the opportunity. Included in that group are those sincerely believing that velocity can’t be taught in any way, shape, or form.
I happen to be one who completely believes in the secret to pitching is repeatable mechanics, but I go a bit further than most. I believe trying to have pitchers throwing different pitch types at young ages only makes getting repeatable mechanics that much more difficult because the mechanics for the different pitch types are all different to at least some degree. The quest of repeatable mechanics is also hampered by switching from throwing from the stretch as opposed to the windup, which is a big reason I’ve always like close bases as opposed to open bases.
In the final analysis, too many confuse youth pitchers with miniature ML pitchers and try to make them look, throw, and act like the cream of the crop of grown men playing in the ML.
Nice post. Yes many are genetically gifted.
As I have posted many times, you can improve velocity and control by teaching repeatable mechanics and good conditioning included in a healthy diet is the key.
Its really that simple.