But I am a coach.
Kinda slow in here these day.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
LOL - So the tip is to please share here 
I'll bite...so ironhorse, what was the best play you ever saw on your HS field?
I need a tip, or a suggestion on a pitching move they have my LHP doing. Runner on 1B, they have him simply lift front leg while literally looking over at 1B. Depending on what LHP sees going on over at 1B, he either throws over to 1B or goes to the plate. Seems like this take away a whole lot of momentum early on and results in weaker pitches. Almost reminds me of the balancing drills they have 10 yo kids do starting out. No problems with balks, just maybe a few too many hits with a runner on base.
Thoughts?
With winter coming on, I'll throw out an oldie but a goodie from my days as a kid "Don't eat yellow snow"
2017LHPscrewball posted:I need a tip, or a suggestion on a pitching move they have my LHP doing. Runner on 1B, they have him simply lift front leg while literally looking over at 1B. Depending on what LHP sees going on over at 1B, he either throws over to 1B or goes to the plate. Seems like this take away a whole lot of momentum early on and results in weaker pitches. Almost reminds me of the balancing drills they have 10 yo kids do starting out. No problems with balks, just maybe a few too many hits with a runner on base.
Thoughts?
NTGson was taught that move as a young LHP, was regularly drilled on it by his PC. It evolved over the years into a superb pick-off move with no loss of velocity or command. And was effective in showcase and HS ball despite being scouted. An example: in first round of Regional play this past spring, bottom 4, he's on mound up 3-0. 1st batter - single to RF....picked off; 2nd batter - single to RF....picked off; 3rd batter struck out looking. Went on to finish a complete 7 inning, 84 pitch, 8K 0BB, 0 earned run 4 hit win to advance to Semis. The move worked, even against his in-conference teams and never was a balk called.
2017 has loss of velocity - just cannot get moving towards the plate as well. The move to 1B is great and he's made several throws behind the runner after they start taking their secondary lead and realize there is no turning back.
Maybe it because he was told to look at, or watch, the runner, so when he starts to lift his leg, he is not sure which way he is going to throw. Once he decides to go to the plate, just doesn't seem to be as explosive or perhaps get the same stride. Seems a little stiff and maybe doesn't get the necessary bend in his left leg either.
CaCO3Girl posted:I'll bite...so ironhorse, what was the best play you ever saw on your HS field?
We turned a triple play in back to back years. Only 2 triple plays I have ever seen turned as a coach.
NotThatGuy posted:2017LHPscrewball posted:I need a tip, or a suggestion on a pitching move they have my LHP doing. Runner on 1B, they have him simply lift front leg while literally looking over at 1B. Depending on what LHP sees going on over at 1B, he either throws over to 1B or goes to the plate. Seems like this take away a whole lot of momentum early on and results in weaker pitches. Almost reminds me of the balancing drills they have 10 yo kids do starting out. No problems with balks, just maybe a few too many hits with a runner on base.
Thoughts?
NTGson was taught that move as a young LHP, was regularly drilled on it by his PC. It evolved over the years into a superb pick-off move with no loss of velocity or command. And was effective in showcase and HS ball despite being scouted. An example: in first round of Regional play this past spring, bottom 4, he's on mound up 3-0. 1st batter - single to RF....picked off; 2nd batter - single to RF....picked off; 3rd batter struck out looking. Went on to finish a complete 7 inning, 84 pitch, 8K 0BB, 0 earned run 4 hit win to advance to Semis. The move worked, even against his in-conference teams and never was a balk called.
BTW should LHPs also work on having a quick Motion to the plate? A LHP can hesitate on top of his leg lift and still pick but then again that might lead to many steals on first move.
of course that will also lead to a lot of pickoffs but Overall I'm not sure what is better.
CaCO3Girl posted:I'll bite...so ironhorse, what was the best play you ever saw on your HS field?
A"Jim Edmonds diving for a ball hit straight over CF head paralell to the ground almost at the wall catch". Ridiculous catch. Runner at 1b is just motoring. Gets doubled off 1b to end the inning. I wish we had video.
2017LHPscrewball posted:I need a tip, or a suggestion on a pitching move they have my LHP doing. Runner on 1B, they have him simply lift front leg while literally looking over at 1B. Depending on what LHP sees going on over at 1B, he either throws over to 1B or goes to the plate. Seems like this take away a whole lot of momentum early on and results in weaker pitches. Almost reminds me of the balancing drills they have 10 yo kids do starting out. No problems with balks, just maybe a few too many hits with a runner on base.
Thoughts?
The biggest thing to me with LHP is that there move to first and their move home look the same to start. To me, the move needs to be tailored more to mimic his individual delivery, and the delivery needs the fewest amount of changes possible. I wouldn't want to change a kid's delivery totally to make the move effective.
This is also only effective against a team that takes one-way leads. They're useless against a team that's exploiting the catcher and waiting till the pitchers starts home.
I believe every LHP needs a snap throw, a bad, good and great move (shoulders and stride gap usually separate good and great to me), and a very good slide step to mix in. They should be able to mix up looks and be very effective if they have that.
And a stud catcher doesn't hurt either.
A LHP can really shut down the running game. We (HS) want him to show four options (two moves) early and often... look over-throw home, look home-throw home, look over-throw over and look home-throw over. The leg lift and load mechanics should always be the same. Of course, mix the cadence and number of looks. Add an occasional snap throw and slide step.
We want the P to know before he comes set whether he is throwing home or over. Once in a while, we'll get one that has the mechanics and where-with-all to read the runner at leg lift. But, for the others, if they work these different early looks, they are plenty effective. Once in a while, the opponent will go on first move and guess right. But showing the various moves with good mechanic consistency usually slows them way down and provides plenty of 1-3-6 pick outs.
So, I don't have a problem with that teach, LHP2017, as long as it fits the P's mechanics and mental makeup. It can be taught. Hopefully not at the expense of pitching effectiveness.
Dominik, by showing these moves, there is much less necessity for a slide step or quick move home but it doesn't hurt to mix one in once in a while to make it even more difficult for the opposition. Showing these moves allows for the P to maintain his normal mechanics and effectiveness.
Dominik85 posted:NotThatGuy posted:2017LHPscrewball posted:I need a tip, or a suggestion on a pitching move they have my LHP doing. Runner on 1B, they have him simply lift front leg while literally looking over at 1B. Depending on what LHP sees going on over at 1B, he either throws over to 1B or goes to the plate. Seems like this take away a whole lot of momentum early on and results in weaker pitches. Almost reminds me of the balancing drills they have 10 yo kids do starting out. No problems with balks, just maybe a few too many hits with a runner on base.
Thoughts?
NTGson was taught that move as a young LHP, was regularly drilled on it by his PC. It evolved over the years into a superb pick-off move with no loss of velocity or command. And was effective in showcase and HS ball despite being scouted. An example: in first round of Regional play this past spring, bottom 4, he's on mound up 3-0. 1st batter - single to RF....picked off; 2nd batter - single to RF....picked off; 3rd batter struck out looking. Went on to finish a complete 7 inning, 84 pitch, 8K 0BB, 0 earned run 4 hit win to advance to Semis. The move worked, even against his in-conference teams and never was a balk called.
BTW should LHPs also work on having a quick Motion to the plate? A LHP can hesitate on top of his leg lift and still pick but then again that might lead to many steals on first move.
of course that will also lead to a lot of pickoffs but Overall I'm not sure what is better.
If I'm correctly picturing what you are saying about hesitating at the top of the lift, that's a balk.
Matt13 posted:If I'm correctly picturing what you are saying about hesitating at the top of the lift, that's a balk.
Uh no, not a balk if pause at top is consistently part of pitching motion and there is no movement to base or plate until step to plate for actual pitch or step to 1st for throw over. Question probably should be thrown to the umpiring forum, but NTGson in more than 80 appearances over 4 years (HS and Travel) never had a balk called.
Runner on 1B, they have him simply lift front leg while literally looking over at 1B. Depending on what LHP sees going on over at 1B, he either throws over to 1B or goes to the plate
IMO, it's rare for an individual to have the ability to do this without impairing the quality of his pitches. It's not normal to be able to do this.
freddy77 posted:Runner on 1B, they have him simply lift front leg while literally looking over at 1B. Depending on what LHP sees going on over at 1B, he either throws over to 1B or goes to the plate
IMO, it's rare for an individual to have the ability to do this without impairing the quality of his pitches. It's not normal to be able to do this.
That's what I was thinking. He still is able to make a decent pitch, but I have to believe that he's throwing something around 85%. As long as he is keeping the ball low and getting ground balls it seems to work OK, but an 85% fastball down the middle of the plate with runner on first is oftentimes a bad situation. Does not help when you have a slow righty on first base and LHP throws behind the runner and the runner is still safe (righty is having to take a few slow steps to get an angle to throw down to second base - not completely necessary but that has happened on a few occasions.)
Snapthrow.
