As a coach which of these 2 pitchers would be higher on your depth chart and get the most attention from you?
Sophmore RHP 6'3 Low-Mid 70's fastball, decent offspeed stuff, good control, consistent
Sophmore RHP 6'1 High 70's-Low 80's fastball, nasty curveball, lacks control, very inconsistent
Replies sorted oldest to newest
If I'm either one of those two players, I work hard to improve my weaknesses and continue to build on my strengths. I focus on making myself the best pitcher I can be. If the other player is higher on the depth chart, I congratulate him and root for his success because he is my teammate. At the same time, I strive toward my goal to be at the top of the depth chart. I understand that the coach won't make a decision just based on four data points, including my height and velo. The coach has countless other things that factor into that decision. I let him coach and I play and compete... as hard as I can.
If I'm coach, I give the most attention to whoever needs it most at that moment or whoever's turn it is. If a player asks for more help, I make sure he gets it. It doesn't always happen at the ideal time... I may have 30 other players I'm trying to give attention to as well. I try to give every player enough attention to allow them to succeed. It is up to each player to also work hard on their own in order to realize that success.
The low 80's kid. Higher ceiling right now and with more work, he may get more consistent.
Pretty limited data to offer much of an opinion. One guy has avg velo but poor control, the other guy has below avg velo but "consistent". As a coach, I'd be more interested in which guy could get batters out; neither guy in your example sounds dominant. Low 70's "consistently" in the zone could be a guy getting pummeled, or it could be a guy hitting spots, changing speeds effectively, and getting guys out.
Most coaches will be more excited about the kid who throws harder and will invest more time trying to develop that guy. Come game time though, it is common enough to see guys blowing smoke but walking a lot of hitters, then pulling back on their velo to hit the zone, then getting hit and giving up runs. These guys are out quickly. The guy who can work the zone and give the team a chance to play some defense starts to look pretty good about this time. I have seen this play out every season going back through club ball and now HS. But every year, there are more guys available who can do both... ie bring decent velo but also command the zone... so as cabbagedad says above, both guys need to be working to improve their weaknesses or both are likely to be passed by.
I've never had a depth chart in January. I only had expectations that were sometimes proved wrong by the season opener. I would expect both pitchers not to worry about where they rank but how they can improve the most.
One of the most successful pitchers in my son's HS was a 5-7 kid with a fastball that topped out at 80 when he was finally a senior, but who changed speeds and arm slots, and had two breaking balls depending on which slot he threw it from.
Our HS coach was wise enough not to pre judge players based on velocity and size. Mind you, this was a program in the top division, and was a perennial state title contender, although in a small northern state. (However, the baseball world did kind of realize at this time that this state actually did have some talent, as Oregon State won consecutive CWS titles largely using local kids.)
Anyway, Jared was small and Didn't throw hard, but as a sophomore he won pitcher of the league honors, going 7-1.
The coach didn't care about anything except who could get outs and win games. This kid did it. My son caught countless of his games over the years, so I knew the heart of the kid.
My point is, our HS coach also recognized the heart of this kid. So he put the ball in his hands for three years of varsity ball as the #1 guy. was something like 25-4 over the three years.
A high school coach is not trying to retire D1 hitters. The kid I'm talking about had a nice D3 college career as a SS.
The strikethrower.
