-location
-ability to mix pitches (work both sides of plate etc.)
-velocity
-pitch movement
-anything else you can think of? is there any one thing in pitching that dominates more than anything else?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Speed dominates the thinking but you need all of the above to be successful
Speeds kills you as a pitcher if you don't have location and other pitches to go with it
Note that you said Pitchers and not throwers
Speeds kills you as a pitcher if you don't have location and other pitches to go with it
Note that you said Pitchers and not throwers
TRhit
Okay pal, i'm going to stay out of this one and let you carry the ball.
Can you tell us what part of the body is used for targeting?
Okay pal, i'm going to stay out of this one and let you carry the ball.
Can you tell us what part of the body is used for targeting?
ramrod (PIC)
I know this will get me in trouble BUT dont ever ever call me "pal"--it has offensive connotations in my world
And again you change the approach--back here in the East "targeting" is used in PAINTBALL which is a game not a sport-- targeting to me means aiming-- pitchers do not aim at a target-they pitch to an area of glove coverage
I know this will get me in trouble BUT dont ever ever call me "pal"--it has offensive connotations in my world
And again you change the approach--back here in the East "targeting" is used in PAINTBALL which is a game not a sport-- targeting to me means aiming-- pitchers do not aim at a target-they pitch to an area of glove coverage
TR
I'd answer you, but I will be true to my word...
I'm staying out of this thread and let others respond if they want.
I read MN-Mom's Flames and trolls, don't want to be controlling.
I'd answer you, but I will be true to my word...
I'm staying out of this thread and let others respond if they want.
I read MN-Mom's Flames and trolls, don't want to be controlling.
.
Regurgitating my personal Bias...
Speed qualifies, the other charcateristics differentiate and stratify.
Add: body type, projectability, attitude, aptitude, competitiveness, willingness and ability to take instruction....
Regurgitating my personal Bias...
Speed qualifies, the other charcateristics differentiate and stratify.
Add: body type, projectability, attitude, aptitude, competitiveness, willingness and ability to take instruction....
- Velocity (you wont be notice without it)
- Location
- Hability to move the ball
- Location
- Hability to move the ball
Movement and control > velocity
You can throw 20548359 miles per hour, but sooner or later people will be able to time that and hit it. Now if you throw 86 mph, but can place it where you want, and can make it move however you want. That will destroy any batter. Yes, it will destroy them, they will explode in the batters box.
You can throw 20548359 miles per hour, but sooner or later people will be able to time that and hit it. Now if you throw 86 mph, but can place it where you want, and can make it move however you want. That will destroy any batter. Yes, it will destroy them, they will explode in the batters box.
TARGETING
PITCHING TIPS - May
http://www.decatursports.com/drills/base/pitching_tips.htm
Throwing Arm - From the Cocked Position to the Follow-Through
When the arm arrives at the cocked position, the stride foot is planted and the front hip and front shoulder are at pointed at the target. As the hips and shoulders turn or open up, the throwing elbow points to the target and the palm turns from facing sideways to facing up. The acceleration of the hand (including the snapping of the wrist) determines the ball's velocity. The throwing hand proceeds past the head and the ball is released at a point where the ball and the rear foot form a line that is approximately 45 degrees. The hand then crosses the chest to a point below and outside of the knee of the stride leg. This follow-through allows the arm to decelerate. Deceleration protects the arm. Pitchers should concentrate on throwing the ball downhill. This will occur if they have their elbow up at the beginning of this sequence.
PITCHING TIPS - May
http://www.decatursports.com/drills/base/pitching_tips.htm
Throwing Arm - From the Cocked Position to the Follow-Through
When the arm arrives at the cocked position, the stride foot is planted and the front hip and front shoulder are at pointed at the target. As the hips and shoulders turn or open up, the throwing elbow points to the target and the palm turns from facing sideways to facing up. The acceleration of the hand (including the snapping of the wrist) determines the ball's velocity. The throwing hand proceeds past the head and the ball is released at a point where the ball and the rear foot form a line that is approximately 45 degrees. The hand then crosses the chest to a point below and outside of the knee of the stride leg. This follow-through allows the arm to decelerate. Deceleration protects the arm. Pitchers should concentrate on throwing the ball downhill. This will occur if they have their elbow up at the beginning of this sequence.
What is important is winning and not losing
RR
You are becoming a DIBBLE clone--nothing original--just regurgtitation from other websites and authors who many have never heard of
Go for it RR(PIC) -- I only wish that I had the time to do the inane research that you
RR
You are becoming a DIBBLE clone--nothing original--just regurgtitation from other websites and authors who many have never heard of
Go for it RR(PIC) -- I only wish that I had the time to do the inane research that you
TRhit
Just posted the answer to the question I posed so everyone wouldn't think it was a trick question.
I use sources so that young players who might be reading these post can view the sites for themselves, bookmark them if they want to use for future reference.
Just posted the answer to the question I posed so everyone wouldn't think it was a trick question.
I use sources so that young players who might be reading these post can view the sites for themselves, bookmark them if they want to use for future reference.
You must have three of the four to be successful. Maybe it is just terminology, but you must have a target, spot, whatever you want to call it. For us throwing to an area of mitt coverage is not specific enough. The mitt will cover half of the plate or more. We throw to a specific spot. I have even had some pitchers that put a mark on the cather's mitt to throw to.
d8
What I am saying is that you throw to a area not necessarily a spot especially if the pitcher has a ball that moves a lot
What I am saying is that you throw to a area not necessarily a spot especially if the pitcher has a ball that moves a lot
Mr3000,
If you can't throw strikes you aren't a pitcher.
If you don't have a decent fastball you aren't a pitcher (Knuckleballers excepted.).
If you don't have movement you better have good velocity and great location.
You have to have minimums as far as control and velocity to be a pitcher. As you go up from the minimums more velocity, better control and better movement are all good but if any one thing dominates it is velocity.
The reality is that most pitchers bring a certain ability level to the table and they have to work on whatever they can improve. You can work to make gains in velocity but unless the talent is there and you just plain have poor mechanics the velocity isn't going to increase that much and it is almost never worth it to trade command for velocity. In other words it is good to increase your max velocity so that your cruising velocity is higher. It is not good to throw at your max velocity all the time in games to get more velocity during that game. (Edited - The exception to this might be a closer who cruises at about 94. In this case a high 90s fastball as long as it is thrown for strikes might be more effective than a better controlled 94 mph fastball. Even better of course is to be able to mix them up.)
As a result, once a pitcher is mature and has reached their potential for velocity their best bet for improvement comes from working on control and movement.
BTW,
I agree w/ TR that a pitcher with great movement is seldom going to be able to hit spots. If Scott Shields can keep the ball in the right area he's going to be successful.
If you can't throw strikes you aren't a pitcher.
If you don't have a decent fastball you aren't a pitcher (Knuckleballers excepted.).
If you don't have movement you better have good velocity and great location.
You have to have minimums as far as control and velocity to be a pitcher. As you go up from the minimums more velocity, better control and better movement are all good but if any one thing dominates it is velocity.
The reality is that most pitchers bring a certain ability level to the table and they have to work on whatever they can improve. You can work to make gains in velocity but unless the talent is there and you just plain have poor mechanics the velocity isn't going to increase that much and it is almost never worth it to trade command for velocity. In other words it is good to increase your max velocity so that your cruising velocity is higher. It is not good to throw at your max velocity all the time in games to get more velocity during that game. (Edited - The exception to this might be a closer who cruises at about 94. In this case a high 90s fastball as long as it is thrown for strikes might be more effective than a better controlled 94 mph fastball. Even better of course is to be able to mix them up.)
As a result, once a pitcher is mature and has reached their potential for velocity their best bet for improvement comes from working on control and movement.
BTW,
I agree w/ TR that a pitcher with great movement is seldom going to be able to hit spots. If Scott Shields can keep the ball in the right area he's going to be successful.
Location, movement and deception are the three keys to being really successful. Velocity is extremely important too, and if mixed with the three things above, it will pave your way to success.
Velocity alone won't guarantee success. Location, movement and deception alone won't guarantee success, but if you lump them all together, you have a real good big leaguer.
Velocity alone won't guarantee success. Location, movement and deception alone won't guarantee success, but if you lump them all together, you have a real good big leaguer.
While I believe it is implied in many of the posts thus far, I believe one of the most important things for a pitcher (and catcher for that matter) is the ability to think and use strategy in making pitching decisions. Can a pitcher look at a stance or practice swing and pick up that a batter favors a certain type of pitch or location? Does the pitcher make sure they mix things up so not to be transparent on how they will pitch in certain situations? Can they put their ego in check and not let their emotions show through (good and bad) while on the mound?
Velocity, a good second and third pitch, and location are all important factors however IMHO there is a difference between a “thrower” and a “pitcher”. I’ll take the pitcher any day.
Velocity, a good second and third pitch, and location are all important factors however IMHO there is a difference between a “thrower” and a “pitcher”. I’ll take the pitcher any day.