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BEREA BASEBALL

 

BEREA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION TRAVEL (BBAT)

   A NORTHEAST OHIO TRAVEL BASEBALL PROGRAM

FROM YOUTH THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL

   2010 SEASON ● BEREA OHIO 

Berea Braves High School, Travel and youth baseball

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PITCHING

by Coach Aten

"First and foremost I am a baseball coach, which doesn't necessarily mean that qualifies me to be labeled a 'pitching coach'. I teach pitching from the teams point of view, not necessarily pitchers mechanics. What I mean by that is I'm looking for the pitcher to command the game from the mound, to hold runners close, and deliver a pitch that compliments our defense. When there are no runners on base, each pitcher may have his own style from the wind-up and deliver strikes to the best of their ability. However, when runners are on-base, our team will run things from a defensive perspective with emphasis on keeping runners in-check before, during, and after the pitch. I encourage my players to seek a personal pitching coach and/or attend pitching clinics and study up on the mechanics of the position if they really want to get serious."

-Coach Aten, Berea Travel Baseball

 

 

THE STRETCH POSITION - We want a quick delivery from the 'set-position' to the delivery of the pitch, therefore we will call for a quick 'slide' step toward the plate as opposed to a high, slow, methodical leg kick. Our pitchers will be instructed to know the runners who are on base; Is the runner aggressive, known to steal, or fast? Or is he lackadaisical, a bit timid, and/or slow? There is a big difference in how much leg kick we will use or if it is necessary to change-up our pace through our mechanics.

 

What first needs to be established is a basic sequence of mechanics in which we can build from. The following video illustrates pretty close to what we work on during our team pitching sessions. The video illustrates only the leg kick, below we illustrate the slide-step.

 

The first minute and a half of this video is chitter-chatter, the meat of what we want you all to review is about four-minutes, between the 1:30 and 5:30 mark on the video. This could be used as a complimentary guide to re-fresh your memory of the things talked about at pitching practices.

THE STRETCH

 

STEP #1 - Make sure you have the ball in your hand at all times. Most times the ball is 'live' at this point, so be in command.

 

STEP#2 - Approach and straddle the pitching rubber. Make yourself aware of your surroundings, know the count, how many outs have been recorded, where the runners are on the bases, and that your defense is set.

 

Step #3 - Toe the pitching rubber. Your foot should be right up next to the rubber, not on the rubber or half-on.

 

Step #4- Preliminary Set Position. Be comfortable, relaxed but in command of your surroundings. Visualize your target of where you may have to throw the ball (to first base) if needed.

 

STEP #5 - The Set Position. We must come to a complete stop ('set'). From this point we can only move our head (not shoulders toward first base or flinch knees).

 

STEP #5A - Step-off or Throw-over. If we don't like where the runner is (too far of lead-off), we can simply step-off and re-set things, or even throw over to make him think we are focused on him. However 90% of our focus is on throwing strikes from the set position.

 

STEP#6 - The Delivery (Pitch). The video illustrates a High leg kick, which in the major leagues with 90' bases, a 90MPH fastball delivered to a Catcher with an accurate cannon-arm, you can get away with that. However, in Youth baseball, we want to deliver the pitch as expedited as we can. In doing so, we will practice a slide step to the mound to decrease the amount of time it takes us to release the pitch.

THE PITCH:

  1. From the Set Position, (your feet are at shoulder width apart, or even close together, if desired. Your hands will be together at your chest). Now is when you will put the desired grip on the ball. (Remember to keep an eye on the runner and remain in command of your surroundings.)

  2. Load up you weight on your right side. (This should be a somewhat quick movement, even bringing your left knee back toward your right knee in shifting weight)

  3. Part your hands by bringing them down then away. Point your glove at the intended target. Your arms should be in a straight line with home plate. Your hand should be on-top of the baseball as it is extended away from you.

  4. Drive with your right leg and plant your left foot in front of you with your foot pointing toward home plate.

  5. Simultaneously pull in your glove hand to your chest as you begin to throw the ball in an over-head delivery. Your arm from elbow up should form an "L" with your shoulder and your fingers/hand should now be behind the baseball.

SEE ILLUSTRATIONS BELOW:

THE SLIDE STEP

STRADDLE

PRE-SET

SET

DELIVERY

DELIVERY

Straddle the rubber. Your legs may be spread a bit farther than you may like, but as you will see in the next picture, once you step next to the rubber, your feet will be approximately 'shoulder-width-apart'. Ball is in hand, focus is on your surroundings.

Stepping next to the rubber will draw runners off of their bases into a lead-off. Many young pitchers make the mistake of waiting for day-dreaming runners to lead-off before coming set. Why? If the runner isn't paying attention, speed up your rhythm and get rid of the ball giving your team an advantage defensively.

In the Set Position, this is where you get your proper grip on the ball. We can only turn our head at this position (not our shoulders toward first or flinch our knees). 90% of your focus should be in throwing strikes here. If we don't like what we see with the runners leading off, we can simply step back off the rubber and re-set.

Here Jacob is using the slide-step delivery to the plate. It is a quick way to deliver the pitch minimizing the time a runner has to get a good jump on stealing a base and allowing our catcher a better opportunity to throw the runner out if they are stealing.

Notice how Jacob is focused toward the target. His step is toward the catcher, foot pointed toward his target, weight is still slightly back, Hand/Fingers on-top of the ball, Arm is in an "L" shape. Glove hand is curling in and pulling back toward the chest.

"Nicely done Jacob!"

 

THE KNEE KICK

STRADDLE

PRE-SET

SET

LEG KICK

DELIVERY
(see above) (see above)
Here Jacob illustrates using more of a wind-up Leg/Knee Kick. Notice how Jacobs head is directly above his foot on the ground, that is good. His leg/knee should not be behind his plant leg though and should be even or slightly in front, but his balance and form look really good here. Practice both the Slide-Step and Knee Kick out of the stretch.

 

 

PRACTICE PHOTO'S

for more player illustrations of photo's with comments taken at recent Pitching Sessions: Click Here.

 

 

 

 

 

PITCHING EQUIPMENT FOR HOME

  Tiger GPS

GPS for Travel Baseball Mom's & Dad's

 Champro Youth Pitching Rubber - Baseball Pitching Rubbers

 Rawlings 5-Tool Resistance Band with Ball - Baseball Strength & Conditioning

  Baseball Express

Baseball Equipment from Catchers gear to Bats

  Champro Youth Pitching Rubber - Baseball Pitching Rubbers ...$9.99

  Rawlings 5-Tool Resistance Band with Ball - Baseball Strength & Conditioning... $19.99

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