Why pitching isn't rocket science

Steve Rogers, shown third from right, was the National League ERA champion in 1982 at 2.40 with the Montreal Expos. He recently held a pitching clinic where he taught youth pitchers, ages 9 to 13, the fundamentals of pitching.

Rogers focused on getting "set to pitch" properly and consistently, starting with pointing the shoulder without the ball at the target. "If you do that, it'll make your hips go toward the target," Rogers said. "If your shoulder and hips go at the target, your body goes the same way."

As the pitcher goes in his windup, Rogers also stressed the importance of reaching straight back and pointing the ball toward second base. "That's where you get your accuracy and velocity," Rogers said. "It's not rocket science, but it takes a lot of practice."

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