Pitcher's intent???

I had a SS who could sit back and blow.  He didn't want to be a pitcher.  He came to me during his senior season and said that if he came in to pitch, he could give me/the team a great inning high velocity but only one inning if I needed it.  He said he felt "jelly armed" when he was a starting pitcher in middle school.  He hated that feeling.  So, I think we used him maybe 4 times at the end of the season and he was unhittable.  I didn't make him a closer since he really did hate pitching but was a great teammate and would have done it had I asked.

So to clarify, when he closes he throws faster and is accurate.  When he starts he throws slower and is accurate.  He can't seem to start with the faster velocity and accuracy...but he does when he closes?

real green posted:

2019 Pitcher.  June 2001 Birthday and is still growing.  Currently 6' 1" 150lbs and grew an inch over the last three months.  

When he comes in to close he throws harder than when he starts.  We discussed it a bit and he doesn't feel he can go as long as a starter throwing with the intent he does when he closes.  

We have discussed during starts actually adding to the FB when needed in tight situations but what we have found is he has trouble controlling it in that scenario.  He throws 85% effort during starts and 95% effort closing.

He is throwing well so I am not sure anything needs to change.  Over the summer he has consistently been able to pitch effectly 90 pitches during his starts.  

Should he be building is arm strength to get to a point that he can take his closing effort to his starts and still maintain mechanics throwing a complete 90 pitch outing?

 

Generally, a P wants to be able to accomplish his max velo with less than max effort.  So, with continued monitoring of mechanics along with continued appearances in competitive situations (to ensure he is pushing his velo ceiling), he will be just fine.  That said, yes, he should also always be looking to build arm strength (of the throwing variety) as well as core, legs, etc.    

CaCO3Girl posted:

So to clarify, when he closes he throws faster and is accurate.  When he starts he throws slower and is accurate.  He can't seem to start with the faster velocity and accuracy...but he does when he closes?

During his starts he could throw the same velocity as closing but he doesn't think he can maintain that level for a complete outing.  So he chooses to cruise on his starts at about 85% max effort.  During his starts, if he trys during a specific AB to reach back and let fly he struggles with accuracy.  

This is very normal.

Even professional pitchers often throw harder when they go from being a starter to becoming a reliever. The hardest throwing pitchers in the Major Leagues are often closers.

Also it is rare to see a young pitcher (HS and younger) maintain his peak velocity for much longer than an inning or two.  Being a starting pitcher does require the ability to pace to some degree.  Not necessary when you know you have one inning to pitch.

PGStaff posted:

This is very normal.

Even professional pitchers often throw harder when they go from being a starter to becoming a reliever. The hardest throwing pitchers in the Major Leagues are often closers.

Also it is rare to see a young pitcher (HS and younger) maintain his peak velocity for much longer than an inning or two.  Being a starting pitcher does require the ability to pace to some degree.  Not necessary when you know you have one inning to pitch.

This is what I was thinking at first than I started to consider that he might benefit by pushing the starting "pace."  If in the starting roll he came out throwing at max effort for as long as possible that his endurance would grow from start to start.  Or is "pacing" himself the correct plan of attack.  Using his conditioning between starts to build velocity and endurance.  

Wow, you have exactly described my son, in fact they are pretty much the the same size. He started most of the away games for his freshman team and closed some home games too, only 32 innings all season total, but I did notice that when he came in to relieve there was much more velocity for the inning or two he pitched, no change in mechanics, just blowing it by kids. I said why don't you do that all the time, he said he could but he wants to throw a complete game, so he paces himself.