Attending first showcase-what to do?

have try for 92-94 (only kidding)

If he pitches 84-86 let him pitch at 84-86. If he rares back on a few thats fine (there may not be much velocity difference anyway) but IMO I don't think it is going to matter, unless he hits 88-90 consistently. The coaches will want to see where he is most comfortable with velocity.

The coaches will be looking at his mechanics (for ease of motion), arm angle, arm action, arm speed among other things that other posters are more versed in.

The coaches may look at him in the bullpen as well. They will look at how he handles himself and his composure on the mound. How he reacts to whats happening.

With only 1 inning of work I would recommend focusing on his fastball and his best off speed.

One more thing...once he is out there go find a quiet corner and watch from a distance and be quiet. They'll be watching for the nutty parents too!

Bagsbaseball,
Have your son approach a showcase in this manner:
Two things he should focus on.
1. He should be in the best physical shape as possible at the exact moment he takes the mound in the showcase.
2. He should be in the best mental state as possible when he takes the mound in the showcase.

For the best physical shape a few things are important. Get plenty of rest and eat properly prior to the showcase. Get there early but not too early.

For the mental preparation it is important to “get organized”. This means making sure the equipment is all checked, cleaned and ready to go. The bat bag has all the necessary items including bats, glove(s) cleats, and whatever personal items he might need. Make sure his clothes are picked out, clean and packed.
Don’t set your son up for failure. Ignore the 88 mph fastball or 75mph curve. He needs to relax and have a good time and be what he is...not try to be what he isn’t. When your son gets to the showcase he needs to be confident that he can succeed with what he has, not concerned about failing because he lacks something.
Best of luck.
Fungo

For me the thing I want to see in a player is for the player to be HIMSELF---dont try to be something you are not

My son has been to several showcase tournaments as a pitcher only. The advice above is right on point. Another thing which has helped our son, is that he has a warm up routine that he used during HS and did this in his showcases. Although it is tough sometimes to do the whole routine, he almost always does his stretching routine and his run in the out field. This has helped him to relax, get into his rhythm and his own zone.

My son has been to several showcase tournaments as a pitcher only. The advice above is right on point. Another thing which has helped our son, is that he has a warm up routine that he used during HS and did the same thing in his showcases. Although it is tough sometimes to do the whole routine, he almost always does his stretching the same way and his run in the out field. This has helped him to relax, get into his rhythm and his own zone.

Would agree and disagree..normal routine, be who you are, do what you do those present will always see what they want to see - including their own biases and their own needs and quirks.

That being said...we can talk all we want to about mechanics, and mental attitude, pitch command, and getting batters out....but having been through scores of these things and having debriefed scores of recruiters and scouts...there are what I call "Qualifying velocities" for each level of ball. (MLB, DI, DII,...) You don't make that velocity you will simply not be considered at that level. No matter how well you ply the craft.

Case in point...Watched a couple prospects who we'd watched for years, at a showcase who simply rared back at the event and threw as hard as they could to get their velocities up. Hit batters, walked players, threw in the dirt, and on that perfromance were invited to national events simply due to "qualifying velocity". Both ended up with big DI rides, one has command the other still struggles to find the plate but has a velocity that makes schools drool. Other clean pitchers at the shcowcase with finely crafted motions, who simply got players out were ignored.

We'd all love to believe that beautiful mechanics and an ability to get batters out counts, and it does, but only beyond a qualifying velocity.

Do you overthrow at a showcase? No, absolutely not. but be aware that velocity does matter and it is worth throwing a couple ball to "touch" (not my term, a scouts term) a qualifying velocity.

Here is another thing to be aware of...many Scouts will judge your future velocity in part on the basis of your running speed, no, really.

Without going to far into physiology...to scouts footspeed is very indicitive of a high percentage of "fast twitch" vs. "slow twitch" muscle fibers, fibers that are in part responsible for creating velocity. Don't underestimate the importance of your 60 time, even if you are a pitcher.

Velocity is irrevelant next to movement, location, a fairly decent arsenal of pitches and how he uses them, mechanics, projection and attitude, as far as a pitcher is concerned.
If son throws a fastball at 90+, it means nothing if he only has one pitch to throw. JMO.
We didn't showcse our son until we knew he had a fairly decent command of his pitches, therefore we waited until his mid junior year for the first showcase.

TPM..What is your son's velocity? What velocity does he live at...and what can he touch? I know he is a quality DI pitcher.

I have noticed the "Tall" 6'5" + is highly sought after. People were hot for the Ranger Team at area code due to the Tall kids and the "heat" they threw. A few had good outings and few did not. Some colleges will take a project kid who is tall as an oak and yet only throw 82-83 in high school. I say throw what you know and throw low.

My Two Cents

Observer44,
Last summer he hit 94, this past year maybe max 92, maybe.
FB lives at 87-90. Three effective pitches for strikes and go as low as 74 on his change up and since it is his most effective pitch he uses it pretty frequently. Loose arm, 3/4 slot, which was corrected this year in not throwing aross the body as frequently as he did in HS. At 19 is still encouraged NOT to rely too much on the curve (for all of you who insist on your 14 year olds throwing them). Not afraid to throw inside or outside.
At a game I asked one of the scouts what was his velocity was and he said it didn't matter, the movement (and sink) he gets was more important.
And Penja is right, keep it LOW!

I also wanted to mention how we get so wrapped up with velocity. Greg Maddux still amazes me throwing in the low to mid 80s where the power hitters just drool "dinger!" Roger Clemens had 80s ball in high school and transfered to UT Later. LOL, Then who knows 8 to 9 CY Youngs in the end.

My two cents

Penja,
Your two cents was worth it!
There are too many youngsters who need to concentrate on more than velocity. I say make good habits early on to establish goals in pitching mechanics and the velocity will come.
One does not have to have a 90+ fastball to be effective. I agree with the qualifying velocity, 90+ is noticed, but don't try to reach for it the first time at a showcase.
Bagsbaseball,
Do not have your son pitch to the gun. Trying to throw his hardest may not help him in hitting his spots.

TPM...Very impressive. Congratulations for not letting him give into the lure of the curve! It will be fun to watch him excel this year!

With all due respects, Velocity is another area where your "Blue Chip" world and my real world of "less than Blue chips" differs.

You are absolutley correct, pitching craft asnd movement is most important....in the Blue Chip World where high velocity is common.

Here is the reality right now for most college prospects...not the blue chips mind you, but good young pitchers who throw 85-86.

Am currently in touch with at least 8 parents of '06 pitchers who have really developed the
craft, demonstrated a solid ability to get players out at their high schools, in select team play, and in well known regional showcases in the last two and a half months.

At 85-86 MPH they have all been told that they have nice motions, and good pitch selection but do not have the velocity to be even considered no matter how well they pitch or how many kids they get out. They are all DESPERATELY searching for a way to increase velocity. Believe me they would LOVE to meet a DI coach who is looking for pitchers rather than throwers.

As for Maddux....Listen to any game that Maddux pitchers, the announcers go on and on about how it would be impossible for him to make in todays velocity hungry world. Zito had a heck of time getting taken seriously with an 88-89 MPH fastball.

Not saying that it is right...but I can tell you from this years recruiting trenches that it definately is the reality out here right now....

Observer44,
TRUE...

don't throw to the gun?

who in their right mind could give that advice?

TPM et all make good points, but comparing established college players to unknown hs players is apples & oranges

velo does turn heads!

the significace of an 84 mph guy letting it fly will be, are those "flyers" 88mph or 94mph

Bags, let us know how your weekend in Columbus went

The showcase is over, thank goodness! How did he do? I don't know. His fastball was 82-84, change-up 72-74, I don't know on his curve. He was the only pitcher that we saw in two games that did not allow a runner on base. He had two ground outs, three pop flies. From what I can tell, the line ups started with the best hitters and he faced the 3 thru 7 batters the second time around. It was clear that the first two pitchers were the best there but after that I have no idea. Some kids threw hard but were all over the plate and gave up lots of hits. I guess only time will tell!

Bags,
Keep us posted on what you hear.

Bee>,
Not sure about your post, but a young pitcher should not pitch to the gun in a showcase. If you are a pitcher who is not in good shape, you could get hurt..it is NOT worth it. JMO

Observer,
Maybe you didn't read my post. If a young pitcher concentrates early on development, by the time he reaches recruiting time he my have safely hit "Blue Chip' velocity. If a junior in HS is throwing mid 80's in the fall,chances are he is not going to be throwing 90 or above come senior summer. And if the criteria is 90+ for the larger D1 schools, then maybe that player is just not and never will be a D1 candidate for that school. I personally would rather see my son safely stay in his comfort zone, without struggling to impress and go play where he best FITS in. A really good college recruiter knows when a player is throwing comfortably or throwing to impress the gun. As Bags said, there were some pitchers who threw really hard, all over the plate and gave up hits. And as you know, in the bigger conferences, everyone can hit the 90+ fastball down the middle. Velocity gets you noticed, but the pitcher who shows potential and has a good feel for his pitches and how to use them will get the nod. In other words as TR said, BE YOURSELF.

In the ACC, there are a lot of players who do not hit 90+, in fact CU STRUGGLED when a slower pitcher started. They had very good control and able to off set the hitters timing and take sometimes 3-4 innings before they could adjust to the velocity.
Sorry, know lots of young pitchers who stepped it up in their junior, senior year for the scholarship now sitting out with arm and elbow surgeries. Or they suddenly realized they don't throw enough different pitches
so along with increasing their velocity now they are working on other pitches. Instead of developing theose muscles over the years, now their whole body is slighty confused, chances are injury will occur sooner or later.

Thanks Tiger Paw, you made me feel better. My son stayed away from the curve ball until late last summer and this summer. He has always known how to throw one, but did not. He is lucky in that he has four pitches that he can throw consistantly for strikes. I hope that helps where he lacks in velocity.

quote:

but a young pitcher should not pitch to the gun in a showcase

TPM, soo, just what purpose do the 25 guys behind the screen flashing their radar guns serve?

and if they are of NO importance, why not chase their butts outa there?

I have yet to see or hear of a showcase requiring scouts to
"CHECK YOUR GUNS AT GATE"
and you can have 'em back on your way out



How about it TR, it that the way to go?



.

TPM...

Agree with most of this post. Particularly the middle part You have done a very nice job IMO and based upon whats out here in the trenches, of explaining where velocity and development fit into collegiate selection. And of the fact that some may never reach quaklifying velocities for the higher levels of play.

My concern was with the initial view that velocity was irrelevant. It is VERY relevant. As evidenced by the Radar guns.

And as evidenced by the The kids who throw 90+ in the NCAA and stuggle. This is a direct result of coaches lthinking like this..."if he can throw 90+ he qualifies! and I can teach him to pitch." I know of few coaches who think the other way..."well he can pitch but I'll teach him to throw 90"

The player who gets to the NCAA and cannot pitch, or gets hit is a perfect example of the thinking that exists out here. Velocity clouds thinking and is arguably the single most important qualifying factor for high DI.

Give me a kid who knows the craft of pithcing and has velocity and he gets a June/July offer or gets drafted early. Give me a kid over 90 and he is a July scholarship guy. Even if he struggles to throw a range of pitches. I can alwsy teach a kid who can throw 90.....Give me a kid who throws 85 and can get kids out and I'll give you smaller schools and smaller JC's.

Not so sure about trying to throw hard as being a major components of injury...Yes, it may be a factor, but I figured the major casues were likely overuse, lack of training, too much junk too early...

Bee>,
Don't know where your sarcasm is coming from.

You know what I mean, pitcher has to be himself, relaxed and not throw harder (when he is not used to it) because the gun is pointed at him.

If you notice this was the posters FIRST
showcase and asked about what to do. It was my opinion, you don't like it, that's ok, so then state your own reasons why they should pitch to the gun. The first showcase should be a measure of where the player stands within his class, seeing for himself (and parents) what improvements need to be made. For a pitcher it shouldn't be, throw your hardest so you can be a 90+ invite to the next showcase. Because then you get there and your son struggles with it while others are pitching with the greatest of ease. Now your son is going to be ranked among those players.
I hope that you understand my point. Which is, begin a good development program while the player is young, which includes all phases of becoming a good pitcher.

Observer,
The velocity is irrevelant if there's nothing else to go along with it.
Something my son was taught a long time ago, your next pitch could be your last pitch.
Coach's have different philososphies, some are willing to develop, some just want others to be able to get the job done (we have had this discussion before). At that point it becomes the recruits choice.
If the player is ranked a D1, D2, D3 player, he can work on what he needs to to improve to get to where he FITS in, not where he or his folks THINK HE SHOULD fit in.

Bags,
Good luck to son. I am sure that your son learned alot about himself this weekend, mine did too after his first showcse.

TPM, you seem say in a showcase/tryout situation - just show them what you can do well

I add to that - also "LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE" and give them a glimpse of your potential by "letting some fly"

as observer said above - "It (velocity) is VERY relevant. As evidenced by the Radar guns."

regarding injury -
if you're not in shape to throw - - don't show

My take on this is that a pitcher shouldn't be trying to set new velocity records for himself at a showcase. All pitchers should have a speed at which they can locate the fastball, a speed at which they can throw the fastball somewhere around the zone and a speed at which they have little or no control. Pitchers need to learn how to throw at all three of these speeds long before they ever get to a showcase. They then need to throw at the speeds appropriate to the situation, but with idea that there are scouts with guns in mind. If their speeds are 84 location, 87, hard and 89 wild and they get the first two hitters in an inning on 84 mph two seamers they might want to throw that 87 mph pitch to the next hitter just so the scouts can get a reading on the gun. If they get ahead of a hitter early down in the zone they might want to try the 87 mph high heat. If they get ahead 0-2 on a hitter they might want to waste with the 89 mph wild one.

The key is to not try to do something you've never done before at a showcase. By the same token it doesn't make any sense for a pitcher who is successful throwing a 84 mph two seamer and mixing in an 87 mph four seamer every now and then to try to throw all 87 mph four seamers at a showcase. In addition to most likely getting hit hard the scouts are going to know the difference between a pitcher who is pitching and a pitcher who is just throwing for the gun.

CADad...Agree, well put.

When the situation arises take the opportunity given to get one velocity pitch in. It sets the "touched speed" which means to coaches that you have velocity that you are not touching or may grow into. "Touched" speed does matter.

For all who think pitchers need to be throwing at or near 90 to be recruited by D-I schools......when my son attended the Midwest Area Code Tryouts in July 2002 (he was a 2003 grad), his fastball was being clocked at 85-86........the next day he received phone calls from several D-I coaches (from the Big 12, ACC, Big 10, Big East, MAC, Big South, Missouri Valley).

Velocity is only one pice of the puzzle.

"As for Maddux....Listen to any game that Maddux pitchers, the announcers go on and on about how it would be impossible for him to make in todays velocity hungry world. Zito had a heck of time getting taken seriously with an 88-89 MPH fastball."

What hurt Maddux is MLB stated to tighten the strike zone. yet what Maddux and Glavine do now is start tight and slowly start moving out. Those two used to drive me nuts throwing same spot everytime and the Astros were hopeless. Heck, some strikes were so far out that the full extension still couldnt get to the ball LOL

I agree that velocity is cool to watch but I see quite a bit of this so called 90+ action with some serious arm strain due to poor mechanics. The arm will give eventually.

Another point to stir the pot is some of these out of area 90+ throwers who get some great show case exposure, but they do not get the crunch time exposure. I have seen some amazing velocity picters get drilled in Texas. The fastball is great but if you don't place it with consisentcy and have a solid 2nd pitch your toast down here. I have seen low velocity 75-80mph mixed speed pitcher give batters complete fits and when they bring in the 89-91 fastball closer its like the batters smile and say "Thank you, God"

My 2 cents

well put CaDad,that's what I was attempting to convey - -
and as Grateful reminds mid 80's is still pretty awsome & will garner some good attention as well - - even tho any player(s) invited to AC tryouts have already turned some scouts heads

another thing to consider is that the 5'-10" rhp will have to show better than a 6'-3" rhp to come out even

quote:

Originally posted by Bee>:
another thing to consider is that the 5'-10" rhp will have to show better than a 6'-3" rhp to come out even

That I can agree upon.

BEE

I dont know about "the way to go" but I can tell you what we do

WE DO NOT THROW IN THE BULLPEN WITH GUNS FLASHING ALL AROUND BEHIND THE CATCHER !

We have our pitchers throw in the games and we "gun" them there

In the bullpen I truly believe the kids overthrow just to achieve high gun readings-- they are not pitching

I would just like to add to this post that with an 06 also going through the showcase/recruiting process, the more I seem to learn, the more confused I get.

.

domimick....Completely understandable....ask some specific questions on this site and at the very least you will get a variety of opinions - and in those the opinions the information you'll need to succeed. There are some very intelligent and very "recruiting experienced" people here who understand and have successfully negotiated the process and are more than happy to help unconfuse you.

Keep asking questions....

..

Again we are on the velocity thing--- if a pitcher only has heat, but no change or offspeed stuff and has no location or ball movement he is "Dead Meat"

I am the Dad of a Division I "hitter" and his eyes always lit up when he saw a 95 MPH fastball and the pitcher had nothing else--

You nned to be able to PITCH regardless of how much "heat" you may or may not have

That's a great point TR. Heat plus little movement or change of speed equals power. The power of the ball sailing over the fence from the 95mph fastball.

make sure when you get on the mound your arm is very loose and you are in a very relaxed mental state. scouts look to see how well you throw (velocity, movement, accuracy, mechanics) but they also look to see if you are confident and they look to see how you act and carry yourself (they dont want john rockers)
also, it would be good to get a haircut (if you have long hair) and to shave before you go because scouts have told me that those are signs of self discipline

okay, i understand the whole thing about a qualifying velocity. but is it any different for lefties, and what should it be for them?

quote:

okay, i understand the whole thing about a qualifying velocity. but is it any different for lefties, and what should it be for them?

I think due to the fact lefties are 5-10% in the population makes them in a special class themselves. I think any lefty with 89-91 mph fastball with good placement and good second pitch will get alot of attention.

My two cents

quote:

Originally posted by penja:

quote:

okay, i understand the whole thing about a qualifying velocity. but is it any different for lefties, and what should it be for them?

I think due to the fact lefties are 5-10% in the population makes them in a special class themselves. I think any lefty with 89-91 mph fastball with good placement and good second pitch will get alot of attention.

My two cents

That kind of lefty can perhaps be drafted in the top five rounds!

Agreed..In my experience for DI...A lefty who can pitch well, and hits 85-86 will. Righties generally have to have craft and hit 88. Unless they have another exception atribute. DII's may be different.

TRhit you have a PM