Calling Pitches

If I was the coach, I would have him throw fastballs until the other team proved they could hit it. Then start mixing in some off speed stuff to keep them honest. But, that's just me.

On another front, I have always told my son that he needs to throw his own game. Shake off signs if he doesn't agree with the call - regardless of who's calling the game. Do it until the coach tells you not to. If you have to, between innings, explain to the coach why you shook him off. It is the pitcher whose ERA will rise or who will get the L. They should be responsible for the pitches they throw. Especially a senior throwing in the 90's.

If I was the HS coach and was calling the pitches I would do the following- As a general rule with a 90+ MPH power pitcher (which there are very few of in HS) I would have him throw 70% fastballs, and mix in 15%/15% curves and CHANGEUPS (which intrestingly you didn't mention). If you have are facing good hitters I don't care how fast you throw the ball you still need to mix in some "junk" to keep their timing off. Counts on the batters and profiling the batters would also play into the pitches that I would call. ie - if a kid had poor hitting fundamentsls, looked completely overmatched and was late on all of his swings I'd probably be inclined to "go right at them" and blow them away with his stuff, which shouldn't be too hard if he's up in the low 90's...and maybe get them to fish for an 0-2, 1-2 curveball...question though for you bsaeball21- how do you know the MPH of the pitches? Where they radared during the game? I'm not doubting you but there are probably less than a couple of hundred HS pitchers in the US that can touch 93 mph...

quote:

Originally posted by johnj314:
question though for you bsaeball21- how do you know the MPH of the pitches? Where they radared during the game? I'm not doubting you but there are probably less than a couple of hundred HS pitchers in the US that can touch 93 mph...

A parent for our team has a juggs gun they keep in the pressbox..

A few things...I agree that in general pitchers don't throw enough fastballs. I mostly let my catchers call the game, and you would be amazed at how many times pitchers will throw a fastball by a guy and then we immediately speed his bat up with something offspeed. I'm definitely a big "make em prove they can hit the fastball" guy.

However, maybe the pitching coach felt this was something the pitcher needed to work on for future games. Maybe the curveball needs some development and the pitching coach wants him to develop that in the game. I'm still not sure 50/50 ratio is the way to go, but who knows. As for the cheap hits and such, maybe it'll be a little short pain for long term gain if the CB does catch up and now he's got two quality pitches. Plus, he gets to work on pitching from the stretch with the runners on...remember, he'll make the most important pitches of his career from the stretch.

Sure, that's a glass half full perspective, but tell your son to look at the opportunity to get better. As he gets to higher levels it will certainly serve him well to be a more complete pitcher. Working to develop a two (and eventually three) pitch mix will serve him well down the road. Now, that may not be the coach's intention, but I think you can spin it to him that way. No point in dwelling on the "pitching coach is an idiot" stuff.

By the way, regarding throwing 2-0 curveballs, I have heard some coaches say that if a pitcher is missing high with the fastball consistently then a curveball may be the pitch to throw to get him to get his release point down a bit. I'm not sure if it works or not, but I have heard others say it.

Very difficult for a HS player to pitch that velo and find his spots accurately, perhaps there is more throwing involved than pitching so the coach wanted his off speed stuff. Perhaps there are scouts there he is trying to impress? Why no change up, was wondering that myself?

If this continues your son should cut back on his velo to be more effective. That's what counts.

And you need to relax and enjoy and stop worrying so much, your son is signed, that also is what matters.

The first time through I would test their ability to get the bat around and put consecutive hits together. Second time through I would mix an occasional offspeed pitch in just to mess with their mind. I am all about getting outs- the quickest way possible. I don't believe in waste pitches- every one should have a purpose in getting that quick out.

A 90's fastball in high school is going to be pretty hard for a team to dial in and get good wood on it. There may be a few on the team but that is the exception.

BTW, who are you exactly, the player or the parent?

quote:

Originally posted by TPM:
BTW, who are you exactly, the player or the parent?

I see that you have asked about velo needed to get a pitcher drafted (as a player).

Perhaps as a player you should relax (but don't slck off) and enjoy your last HS season?

Baesball21,

quote:

“How many curveballs would you have him throw the rest of the game”

This would depend on how effective his curve was opposed to his fastball and if he supinates (thumb up at drive and finish) it or not? If he supinates his curve I would ask him to quit throwing it that way or quit throwing it altogether!! Deep into a 100 pitch game where you only have 2 pitches throwing 50 supinated curves would have now caused severe inflammation from the bone at the back of his elbow from the hyper extension that it causes now add in the fastball if it is supinated? If his fastball is moving towards the ball arm side of home plate then he is probably pronating (thumb down) at least the release, this is good. What does his fastball do?

If you are willing to continue with a injurious supinated curve and it is a dominant one I would start with the curve to get an early strike then throw several of his fastballs (does he have just one fastball?) to get to 2 strikes then finish them off with the curve. Its tough sequencing with just 2 types of pitches, after the first time through the pitcher has an intuitive knowledge about whether the batters can handle this curve or not so you pitch the next time through with this knowledge. The second time through the line up start the batters whom looked bad on the fastballs with fastballs and the guys that looked bad on the curveballs with curveballs, finish them off with the opposite. The third time through the line up the pitcher can use all the previously attained information to calculate his next pitch sequence

quote:

“The pitching coach for our team had him throw close to a 50/50 ratio of fastballs and curveballs”

Sounds about right if he only has two pitches and they are both healthy, pronated?
Did you guys win?

quote:

“That resulted in a couple of walks and some cheap hits.”

Is this a good thing or bad in your opinion?

quote:

“If you throw 2 fastballs for balls and your sitting there with a 2-0 count, why would the coach think he could throw a curve for a strike.”

Maybe he throws his curve for a strike more often than the fastball that is often the case?
Motor skill performance would dictate that after throwing 2 previous fastballs that he would be better able to locate the next fastball.

The coach need only call pitches if he has not done his job with the pitchers!

Pitchers should be taught how to pitch the three types of batters Pull, spray and Opposite.

Pitchers should be calling their own pitches unless the coach has a play on.

We throw 33 % fastballs at -2(pronated movement in and out) 33% mid-speed called –10’s (pronated Slider & Sinker) and 33% Changeups at –20 (pronated Curve and Screwball). The mid range velocity pitches capture the most strikeouts.

Bballman,

quote:

“On another front”

Nice!

Correction, the catcher should be taught to call the game, with the pitcher having the ability to call a pitch off. Pitching is sequential, it's not hard to figure out what you are supposed to do, the catcher calls it, the pitcher does it. Not too difficult.

As the pitcher advances, the experience pitcher
will understand his game plan and will call his own pitch types and pitch locations.

It's a complex undertaking with many variables.
These variables change throughout the game, the inning, the batter, and many times the pitch.

The old fashioned off-speed pitches for strikes, fastball for spots has been around for years.

One thing is missing here---in the first inning what was the result of these HI Velocity fastballs---outs---strikes--balls--runs--

You cannot judge unless you know this

Absolutely the first inning is one of the many decision loops assessing the execution of the game plan.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
One thing is missing here---in the first inning what was the result of these HI Velocity fastballs---outs---strikes--balls--runs--

You cannot judge unless you know this

2 weak grounders to 2nd and a strikeout swinging.

too many pitchers, get ahead with good fastballs and then think automatically the have to go to the curve on an 0-2 count. If the kid can't catch up to the fastball, why slow it down with an off speed pitch that he might catch up too. Climb the ladder, or brush him off on the inside and then go low and away. We use 0-0, or 2-1 and even 2-2 counts as our off speed pitch counts.

question regarding coach calling pitches. How many teams out there have their coach call every pitch? This is regardless of who is pitching, your number 1 or your number 5. I'd like to know. Our coach calls the pitches and his pitching staff doesn't agree and have been told NOT to shake him off. I'd like to know the precentage of HS teams where the coach calls the game?

danny I can't give you an exact number but I've seen a lot be that way.

What I've discovered is to take young pitcher / catcher and call the game for them as we teach how / why what is called. Now grated if you have an older one of either they can call their own game and we teach the one who is young - pitcher or catcher.

Once we feel they have a good idea as to what they are doing then we turn them loose. Now if we do call a pitch (which is rare) they don't have the right to shake it off. But with that freedom we give them they typically don't doubt what we call. What you find a lot of is when the coach calls it and the pitcher doesn't feel it he tends to hang it or groove it. With what we do the trust in the staff and pitchers has been created. Plus 9 out of 10 when we call something that is what the pitcher wanted to throw anyway. It's a good thing when coaches, pitchers and catchers are all on the same page.

I agree that it is good when all three are on the same page. It seems at our high school that isn't the case. Sometimes the pitchers can't get in a rhythm because something will get hit hard that they wouldn't have thrown and their confidence heads straight South. A pitcher without confidence isn't a good combination.

Time for the kids to realize that it's a fact of life and do their best to execute the pitches that are called. If they make it to college ball the coach will most likely be calling the pitches at that level.

Well I kinda of agree with you CADad but if I'm a pitcher that is borderline on getting a college scholorship and I'm getting rocked because of pitch selection is that ok? When I get to college and they are paying for my education, you can call whatever you want.