PITCHING GAME GOALS: Stick to the Plan

From youth baseball all the way up the highest level of pro ball, the saying rings true, “Good pitching always beats good hitting.”   Pitchers who prove they can consistently throw strikes with movement and change speeds have a huge advantage over even the best of hitters.  Thus it is of upmost importance to the success of your team to not only have talented throwers, but to also have a pitching plan that contains the key concepts to guide them as well as goals for them to shoot for.

 

The following are lists of these concepts and game goals that will give you a way to statistically track each pitcher’s performance besides just winning or losing a game:

Key Concepts

– “Strike One” is the most important pitch in baseball.

–  2 out of the first 3 pitches need to be strikes using two different pitches (if possible).

–  It is critical to throw strikes on 1-1 counts (big difference between 1-2 and 2-1 counts).

–  Hitters are either out or on-base within the first 3 pitches of each at-bat (preferably out!!)

–  Pitch inside for effect, Pitch away for outs!

–  Develop “put away’ pitches that expand the zone when batter has two strikes.

–  WALKS KILL!  If you’re going to get beat, make them earn it with base hits!

–  Control the running game (stolen bases are on pitchers as much as catchers).

Pitching Game Goals (based on 7 inning game, adjust accordingly to level of play)

1.  Throw at least 18 first pitch strikes for every 7 innings pitched.

2.  Throw 2 of the first 3 pitches to each batter for strikes.

3.  Each hitter is out or on-base by the 3^rd pitch.  (Hitters have to earn their way on base!)

4.  Strike out at least 1 batter per inning.

5.  Allow 2 walks or less for every 7 innings pitched.

6.  Allow 6 hits or less for every 7 innings pitched.

7.  No more than 15 pitches per inning.

8.  Allow 3 earned runs or less for every 7 innings pitched.

9.  Give up 2 stolen bases or less for every 7 innings pitched.

Although these goals are fairly difficult to achieve, they do give the pitchers on your team a measurement to test themselves every time they take the hill.  Furthermore by accomplishing these objectives, it places your pitchers in the best position to be successful on any given day – even though the offense may not produce enough runs to get a win on that day!

Be sure to keep good pitching stats, consistent with these goals, in order to provide pitchers with objective feedback after every outing.

FUNDAMENTAL SKILL ROTATIONS: Phase 5 of the DPB Practice System

FUNDAMENTAL SKILL ROTATIONS

30-40 Minutes

The first 4 phases of practice – TEAM TALK, WARM-UP, BASERUNNING, and THROWING –  should take no more than 30 minutes to complete.  The next 30-40 minutes should be devoted to FUNDAMENTAL SKILL ROTATIONS.

Photo from Microsoft Clipart

First of all, divide the team into groups according to defensive position, namely Catchers, Infielders, and Outfielders.  Keep in mind that the groups do not need to be completely equal in number (but do have at least 2 catchers in the group of catchers).  Each group will then rotate through 3 stations:

1.  Pitching Station

2.  Hitting Station

3.  Defense Station

Infielders go to the Hitting rotation first, then to the Pitching rotation, and finish at the Defense rotation where they will work on drills for infielders (groundballs, double plays, bunt coverage, etc.).  When Catchers arrive at their Defense station, they will have drill work designed for catchers (blocking, receiving, throws to bases, etc.); and of course, Outfielders will have drills intended for playing the outfield (fly ball communication, cut-offs and relays, etc.).  In a 40 minute session, each rotation will last approximately 12 minutes with a little time in between to rotate to each station.

Pitching Station

At the Pitching station, the entire focus is on pitching.  The goal is to develop as many pitchers as possible.  In the youth levels (recreation, select, and travel) through high school (and even college level), even players who are usually position player are called on to pitch from time to time.  So although the players are grouped in rotations according to defensive position (catchers, infielders, and outfielders), the Pitching station allows for pitcher development for every player on the team instead of just the few more experienced pitchers.

The focus of the Pitching station will change from practice to practice.  During the pre-season, this station will focus on bullpens, pick-off moves and plays, pitching fielding practice (PFP), etc.  Once the season starts, the concentration will change to game prep work and conditioning (depending on workloads during games).

Hitting Station

Work performed at the Hitting station will have a high focus on hitting mechanics.  This is the time in practice to perfect each player’s swing.  Make sure that coaches running this station can breakdown swing mechanics and provide quality feedback to each player.  All drills should be done in a cage and with hitting screens.  This station should consist of a variety of drills which will allow for a high number of repetitions.  Quality and quantity of swings should be emphasized together.

This rotation should include 3 or 4 stations which will keep each player working with no “down time” allowed.  Players will circuit through the series of drills as follows in these 12 minute examples:

     3 Stations / 4 Minutes each

1.  Tee work in screen

2.  Side toss in screen

3.  Short toss (“flips”) in cage

     4 Stations / 3 Minutes each

1.  Whiffle golf ball machine

2.  Lids (“Towny Townsend Hitting Discs”)

3.  Curveball machine in cage

4.  Tee work in screen

Defense Station

As previously stated, each rotation which comes to the Defense station will be grouped according to position: catchers, infielders, and outfielders.  When each group arrives at the station, the focus will change in line with appropriate drill work for each position.  Therefore, it is imperative to have coaches working at this station who are knowledgeable in a number of defensive areas.  Also keep in mind that some players may play a number of positions so their defensive grouping can change from practice to practice; they may work with catchers one day and then outfielders the next day (this is especially important in the lower youth levels so that players get exposure to different positions).

It is most beneficial to have a drill series customized for each position.  Once players are familiar with the names of different drills in a series, they will waste little time going from one drill to the next. Thus, maximizing defensive drill time!

Next blog:  TEAM DEFENSE: Phase 6 of the DPB Practice System