Pitcher 1st inning "Jitters"

At first I couldn't tell if you were talking about your son...or yourself!   Because if its yourself, I don't think you'll ever get over it. 

Ha!  Yes, our younger son in particular...if he was gonna give up a run in HS, it was gonna be in the first inning.  He said he wasn't nervous at all, but that first inning was gonna be the problem if there was one.  I still don't know why?

He seems to be over it though.  I don't even know why he's over it?   He was a reliever for his first 1/2 year of pro ball - and I know that disrupted his mindset and preparation a bit, but now he's a starter again and perhaps relieving taught him to be ready to go and to come out of the shoot better?  Just don't know.

When Nolan Ryan pitched the opponent ordered their hitters to take pitches early in the game.

If they could increase Nolan's pitch count above 15 pitches per inning, he would depart maybe one inning early. Maybe the strategy of the opposition is "working". Fine focus on the catchers web in the catcher mitt.

Bob

You face the three/four best hitters in the first inning.  Statistically, a pitcher will give up more runs facing better hitters.

Go44dad posted:

You face the three/four best hitters in the first inning.  Statistically, a pitcher will give up more runs facing better hitters.

That’s likely the biggest reason, but I can think of at least a couple others as well. One is; even though the rules define the height and slope of the mound, it’s not likely the materials used will be the same and it will affect pitchers differently.

Another is; the lower the level, the less chance the mound on the diamond will be the same as the mounds in the pens where the pitchers are warming up and will again affect pitchers differently.

A different one still is that different programs and different pitchers warm up at different intensity levels. Some programs may just want the pitcher to loosen up while others want the pitcher to warm up as close to game intensity as possible and the same things happen with individual pitchers.

The last one I can think of right off the top of my head is, depending on the skill level of the pitcher, the umpire calling pitches can have a huge effect on the pitcher.

A directly related (IMO) phenomena...  

Pitchers at all levels seem to have different "stuff" every outing.  Various pitch types work better than others from one outing to the next.  Comfort level hitting different spots varies from one outing to the next.  I think it takes that first inning to figure out what they will be working best with on that given day.   

I will agree with all of the above. I'm sure our son's have a different view. Maybe they are "amped up" that first inning and that adrenaline rush probably affects control as well. 

For me personally, I will most likely be nervous every time my son toes the rubber after the injuries he has dealt with over the past several months. My hope is that my son can rehab back to pre-injury level so he will have an opportunity to compete for mound time. Just a little different perspective. I never thought about his health before. Now it seems it's all I can think about. 

YoungGun, I am SO with you on the health thing.

My son has always had the first inning "jitters" I think it is a combination of things. Mound height/ difference than bullpen. Figuring out what pitches are doing what movement that day, Umpire strike zone, talent of hitters. I HATE the first inning at a pitcher parent. My jitters are way more than his. But his first outing next year I will be off the wall jittery. One year since being on the mound coming back from a major injury, I may need an oxygen concentrator that first inning

Blame it on the coach, He is calling the pitches (below the pro's anyway). It takes him an inning to know what is working.

Sorry that does not help you Younggun.

As explained to me once, there are guys that do not suffer from this so called phenomenon, they are the MVP, Allstars and Cy Young winners!

The first inning is the adjustment period for most pitchers.  The pitcher needs to take care of business in the bullpen before he takes center stage.  If the first innings are the roughest, that needs to be adressed because you are going to face the best hitters.

Giving up runs early will come back to haunt you.

This doesnt mean that you as a parent has to adjust as well!!!!��

Something that I learned on this site several years ago that my son STILL uses to this day is that on game day when he is pitching to be cognizant of "things" going on around him that may be a nemesis if you will that he just might have to battle part or most of the game as he pitches. And as soon as he can identify this or these things to overcome them so as not to let them affect his pitching and/or game, the better. And it could be a plethora of things that pop up either early or during the game, at various intensity levels, with some subsiding and some not. I'm talking about things like the weather, temperature, humidity, heckling fans, Umpire squeezing the plate, horrible mound, bad baseballs, insects, constipation and/ or other bodily functions, et al. Add any mix of these with the fact they have to perform hopefully at peak performance. The key is to recognize it/them early enough to conquer however possible and not let them conquer you!