I see often how this kid or that kid will be a "Top Pitcher" this year. For the sake of discussion what is the definition of a "Top Pitcher" in NH.
What makes a particular player a top pitcher?
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That's the guy you want on the mound with the game, season, tournament, on the line. When you have a huge pool to pick from like a state you'll rarely find one, thats when you have a term like "one of the top pitchers"
This year in the Showcase League that guy was Salem's Nick Poore for me, and he proved it by out pitching the Nashua Area offense and beating Kevin McGowan and Tom Hudon in the NH Fall Classic.
This year in the Showcase League that guy was Salem's Nick Poore for me, and he proved it by out pitching the Nashua Area offense and beating Kevin McGowan and Tom Hudon in the NH Fall Classic.
..and some kids at this level are still just throwers, not pitchers. It was clear to everyone that Nick Poore knew how to get the outs against alot of talented hitters.
a thrower, like say a Cole Warren, who has one of the livest arms in the state and has commited to URI got out pitched by Timberlane's PJ Singster in the Fall Classic Final. Cole will go to URI work in their program with their coaches and I will be waiting to see what he makes of it, I think he will be great.
When Concord Green had to win one game against Nashua Area Black and Kevin McGowan on the mound Coach Hodsdon gave the ball to Nick Poore over Warren. Both are fantastic, but Nick Poore really proved to be the top pitcher.
When Concord Green had to win one game against Nashua Area Black and Kevin McGowan on the mound Coach Hodsdon gave the ball to Nick Poore over Warren. Both are fantastic, but Nick Poore really proved to be the top pitcher.
I can't say enough about Nick Poore, second year in a row his coach has given him the game ball to lead his team to the championship game and for the second year in a row this kid came through. I think its good for his development to be pitching in "big games", in my opinion that is one of the biggest advantages of travel tournaments is that it puts players in that position more frequently. Nick has built quite a reputation over the past two falls in the Showcase League as well as last spring in Class L, his high school coach made it a point to put Nick up against the top teams last spring to speed his development as a pitcher. Nick is well past the phase of being a thrower, I saw him change his approach from trying to strike every batter out last fall (and being pretty successful at it) to throwing to contact making outs early in the count getting hitters to chase his pitches. This kid will be something to see this spring.
Keep an eye out for Joe Maher from Bedford, live arm, very effective off speed pitches, should be a dominate pitcher for the bulldogs.
I agree with your comments about throwers. Too many high school pitchers are trying to put up the highest number they can on a gun and not learning the art of pitching. Every time I go to a minor league baseball game I see a pitcher or two who are throwing in the mid 90's. Why aren't they in the bigs? They don't know how to pitch. I tell my guys all the time. 75 on the corner beats 85 down the middle.
Well put Coach Curt. From time to time I ask catchers what their guy can throw. They say fast ball, cutter. etc. I say "GREAT"...... then I ask, "can he throw a strike". Too many young pitchers these days are trying impress by trying to throw too hard and too many different pitches while sacrificing the strike zone. As has been said the most effective pitch in baseball is STRIKE ONE.
Unfortunately recruiting is about the number hit on the radar gun. Coaches, scouts and recruiters don't sit behind homeplate scoring the game to see how effective the pitcher was....they are there holding up Stalkers reading the velocity of each pitch and the movement of the breaking balls etc. They go gaga over the kid hitting 88mph that walked 6 and hit 3 others who lost to the kid who threw 75 and controlled the strike zone. While we all know that the second pitcher will have the better chance to win (especially in high school) as he is a true pitcher but the one whose phone will be ringing after July 1st of their Junior year will be the kid throwing upper 80's. The kid throwing 75 and succeeding will probably be lucky to get a call from a DIII school. Coaches and scouts think that their organizations can be the ones to teach the wild kid control and to pitch but know that they can't teach the other kid how to throw hard. Unfortunatley that is reality and that is why soo many kids tend to be throwers instead of pitchers.
quote:Originally posted by redsox8191:
Unfortunately recruiting is about the number hit on the radar gun. Coaches, scouts and recruiters don't sit behind homeplate scoring the game to see how effective the pitcher was....they are there holding up Stalkers reading the velocity of each pitch and the movement of the breaking balls etc. They go gaga over the kid hitting 88mph that walked 6 and hit 3 others who lost to the kid who threw 75 and controlled the strike zone. While we all know that the second pitcher will have the better chance to win (especially in high school) as he is a true pitcher but the one whose phone will be ringing after July 1st of their Junior year will be the kid throwing upper 80's. The kid throwing 75 and succeeding will probably be lucky to get a call from a DIII school. Coaches and scouts think that their organizations can be the ones to teach the wild kid control and to pitch but know that they can't teach the other kid how to throw hard. Unfortunatley that is reality and that is why soo many kids tend to be throwers instead of pitchers.
Sad but true, well put!!
quote:Originally posted by redsox8191:
The kid throwing 75 and succeeding will probably be lucky to get a call from a DIII school.
A pitcher can succeed with 75 in high school with location and by mixing it up well. But at higher levels, you need a lot of movement and deception to get away with 75. This fall in the GSBA Varsity division, as soon as velocities got up around 80 the hitters were late and location didn't even matter. It is not impossible to get hitters out with 75 even at the highest levels of the game (insert names of soft-throwing MLB pitchers) but you need really, really good "stuff." Bob Tewksbury is a northeast (NH) guy who didn't throw gas and had a very, very good baseball career. Its just a matter of reaction time and advanced skills.
Show me a kid throwing 75 who has consistently succeeded against top competition (East Cobb, Jupiter) but hasn't had opportunities at higher levels. A kid from the northeast who doesn't light up the gun needs to go out and prove himself. Unfortunately, local high school and legions games usually won't lend enough credibility in terms of competition for college recruiters or pro scouts.
Have to disagree that "most colleges look at velocity."
They want guys that throw stirkes with movement. Case in point, read the Wake Forest HC comments about Nate Jones of Portsmouth (recently posted on WF baseball Web Site). I have watched Nate pitch for years. He has good velocity but not overpowering. He he knows how to Pitch (not throw). He learned early its better to throw 3 pitches to get out of an inning then 9. He battles on the mound and keeps you in the game and thats what counts. He will get hit every now and then but he rarely beats himself with walks.
Nathan Jones/RHP - R/R - 5-10 - 175
Greenland, N.H. (Portsmouth High School)
Walter on Jones: "Nate is the sleeper of the recruiting class. His fastball is 86-89 and he possesses plus command. What we liked the most, however, are his two plus breaking balls. Both his slider and his curve ball will win immediately. He will bolster our bullpen and as he matures he will have well above average stuff at our level."
They want guys that throw stirkes with movement. Case in point, read the Wake Forest HC comments about Nate Jones of Portsmouth (recently posted on WF baseball Web Site). I have watched Nate pitch for years. He has good velocity but not overpowering. He he knows how to Pitch (not throw). He learned early its better to throw 3 pitches to get out of an inning then 9. He battles on the mound and keeps you in the game and thats what counts. He will get hit every now and then but he rarely beats himself with walks.
Nathan Jones/RHP - R/R - 5-10 - 175
Greenland, N.H. (Portsmouth High School)
Walter on Jones: "Nate is the sleeper of the recruiting class. His fastball is 86-89 and he possesses plus command. What we liked the most, however, are his two plus breaking balls. Both his slider and his curve ball will win immediately. He will bolster our bullpen and as he matures he will have well above average stuff at our level."
Where did Nathan Jones play his summer ball? How did Wake Forest find about him?
he played for northest baseball, i think thats the name. maybe out of worcester? with monty's son. looks like it was a good move, very impresive number moving on to the next level.
as said in another thread, all our players throw 90........then we go to the bullpen.
as said in another thread, all our players throw 90........then we go to the bullpen.
