Making The Switch From A Starter To A Closing Pitcher

I was a starting pitcher in college and a closer in the Chicago Cubs organization. For some, this transition is easier than for others. There's the physical difference - starting pitching is like running a long race, closing is like sprinting. But there's also a mental difference, which in my opinion is most important. Look, the physical ability is already there. You already have the skills or you wouldn't be there in the first place, right? It's the mental part that needs the work. And you've got to take the time to work on it.

I like a closer to be a real son of a bitch. I like the attitude. There's a little macho-ism.  Great closers like Rob Dibble, one of my favorites growing up, had smoke blowing out of his nose. There's got to be attitude there.  When you go from starting to closing, you'll gain velocity because of the adrenaline. It's a rush. A quick rush. You have to be able to control it ... c'mon, let's go, get in the box, I'm going to get you out. 

As a closer, you've got to have command of 2 pitches and you've got to know how to get ready in the bullpen without over doing it. You can do that by throwing a pitch for every pitch that's thrown on the mound ... or every other pitch.

But closing pitching is mostly just coming in and you have to pound the strike zone. Because those early pitches when you're coming into the game are really important.  If you blow a game, you've got to be ready to go the next night. A short memory is best. But above all, you've got to trust yourself. Let's f-ing go, let's see what's going to happen! 

The Three D's Of Pitching Training And Preparation

Training to become the best of your ability takes time and patience. There are a few main ingredients that stick out in my mind as the most important way to reach and achieve the goals you set forth for yourself as a pitcher both on and off the field.

Hard work is the key without it you fall by the wayside and become just a normal, everyday player. You have to have the Three D's of pitching training:

Dedication - to get the job done, work more than what is set for you to do, and be strict and serious about the way you go about getting your work done.

Discipline - being early instead of late or even on time, having a fixed schedule instead of "whenever," and never putting off what you're set to accomplish.

Determination - you must believe in your abilities 100%, during your training one important goal should also be to be better than you were the day before.

Four Pitching Tips To Think About This Weekend

I've always found it easier to learn new things when they were presented in smaller doses. You may be the same. So here are four pitching tips on pitching workouts, pitching drills and pitching strategy to think over the next few days.   

1. Leg strength, Leg strength, Leg Strength. One can generate more velocity and maintain
stamina by having strong legs. You don't have to have big legs to have strong legs.

2. If a pitcher/player wants to improve his arm strength, long tossing and light dumbbells and
tubing exercises will be the most beneficial. Long tossing is very important, but make sure its under control.

3. If you have a problem throwing across your body, try using a 2x6 wooden board.
Stand on it in your stretch position and go through your mechanics (without the ball)
If you land straight, you'll land on the board every time.

4. Never be to fine with your changeup, always try to throw it for strikes.
Let the movement and your arm speed throw the hitter off.

Simple Hydration Strategies For Baseball Pitchers

There's nothing better than pitching when it's hot! You warm up quicker. You stay loose longer. And you throw harder. Even more, when it's hot and humid, the breaking balls and off-speed pitches often work better (air is thicker, which affects the rotation of the baseball). But there is a downside to pitching when it's hot - dehydration. And many times pitchers get dehydrated without even knowing it, which can be detrimental - especially if you're a starting pitcher and looking to pitch deep into a game.

Here are some simple strategies you can implement to take full advantage of pitching on warm days without sacrificing performance.

First, determine fluid loss during baseball practices and games by weighing before exercise begins and again after exercise has finished. This gives a good estimate of how much fluid is lost during physical activity, and lets you know how much fluid you need to replace!

Next, monitor urine output. See your pee. Really! The goal is light in color and a large volume,
especially in the first void of the day.

Finally, drink enough fluid. The guidelines are as follows: Weight ( pounds) x 0.67 = number of ounces of fluid required daily.

Guidelines for fluid intake:

2 cups of fluid 2 hours before a game or practice
6-8 ounces of fluid every 15-20 minutes during games or practices
24 ounces of fluid for every pound lost during practices or games

Best fluid choices for baseball pitchers:

BEFORE: Water or sports drink

DURING: Water, sports drink

AFTER: Sports drink, water

Other considerations:

Juices may cause stomach upset during exercise. Carbonated beverages can cause bloating, and can cause fullness before fluid needs are met. Caffeine-containing beverages may have a slight diuretic, or fluid-losing effect. Alcohol can affect reaction time and is also a diuretic, causing valuable fluid loss. In addition, alcohol after exercise, before the body is optimally refueled will delay the body’s recovery from activity and may decrease performance!

Stay hydrated. Be successful. Plain and simple.

My Six Components To The Mental Side Of Pitching

Success in pitching is contagious, and unfortunately so is failure. That is why, although it may not seem logical, it is much easier to pitch successfully after the preceding two or three outings have already been successful than to do so if they were not. Although pitching is physical, it's also a "frame of mind," one that is created by the way you "feel," or "perceive," opportunities on the mound.

The six key aspects of the mental part of pitching are the following:

1. Physical-mental preparation before game day. What can you do physically before game day (or in the days leading up to game day) to get yourself mentally prepared for success?

2. Putting on a game face. How do you feel? What can you do mentally to prepare for today's game?

3. How to think with hitters. How do you learn to think with different hitters, both before and during the at bat? Do you have a strategy for setting up batters?

4. How to handle failure. How do you stay mentally tough when you have failed? Those who develop a "short memory," letting the bad (and good) go will win over the long term. Stay even with your attitude.

5. Mental to practical: a typical appearance on the mound. How do you translate your mental preparation to an actual trip to the mound?

6. Long-term dedication and goals. What are your long-term goals and how do you prepare mentally for and stay focused on them?

Sure, you've got to keep working on the physical skills involved with pitching - your mechanics, your strength, the fundamentals, etc. But your mental toughness and aptitude will be what ultimately separates you from the competition, enabling you to be successful at pitching.

Setting Up A Batter

The contest between you and the batter hinges upon your ability to keep the batter mentally off stride. You can do this by varying the speed and position of your pitches. Some power pitchers can be successful merely by overpowering batters with fastballs. But those pitchers are the exception. If you're a pitcher with more modest stuff, you must rely on cunning and control to get the batter out.

In general, you should always try to keep the ball low and away from the batter, with an occasional high-and-inside pitch thrown for effect. Unless you have exceptional speed, a high-and-inside fastball should be thrown to force the hitter back from the plate, not necessarily to make him swing at the pitch. No matter how weak a batter is, if he is thrown nothing but a steady diet of low-and-away pitches, sooner or later he'll adjust his swing and hit one of them.

The ratio of fastballs to curveballs to sliders to change-ups you throw each game should be determined not only by which pitches are generally yout best, but also by which pitches are working best for you that day. If you have an excellent curveball on a certain day, you should not work it to death, but save it for only toughest situations. Neither should you ever abandon your weakest pitch on a given day; you should try to use it in certain spots to keep a batter off balance ... not necessarily to get him to swing at it.

That said, try to "show" the batter your weakest stuff early in the count, but throw it to a spot, say, off the plate, where he can't hit it. A curveball in the dirt reminds the batter that you possesses the pitch while still not giving him a chance to hit it. It is one more pitch the batter must think about.

No matter whether the batter is a fastball hitter or a curveball hitter, in a tight situation, you must go with your strength, even if that strength is also the batter's strength. So even if the hitter is a fastball hitter ... and you're a fastball pitcher ... throw the fastball. At best, hitters hit in only 3 out of 10 chances at bat (.300 avg). The percentages are in your favor!

Work on it!

Learning Pitching: How To Become Your Own Pitching Coach

The surest way to achieve your baseball pitching goals is to learn to be your own coach. The first step in this process is acquiring a thorough understanding of pitching mechanics and the pitching delivery. If becoming a major league pitcher is your goal, you need to prepare like one by developing a good work ethic and habits.

Don't take shortcuts to developing your pitches; take the time to learn to throw properly and use your pitches effectively. On the other hand, don't overdo it. Stick with the mechanics that work for you. Don't change your mechanics to try to copy Tim Lincecum's or Ben Sheets' or any other pitcher who happens to be the flavor of the month -- it's a losing battle. This type of player makes himself think of too many things at once, becomes confused, and can damage his performance.

A basic understanding of pitching mechanics is all that is necessary to put you on the road to solving your own problems and coaching yourself. Work to perfect your mechanics from that standpoint and you will be successful.

The 10 Basic Principles Of Strength Training For Baseball Pitching

So you want to get bigger, faster and stronger so you can throw harder and reduce the risk of throwing arm injuries?  Here are 10 basic principles to adhere to when strength training for pitching. I used these principles as a general guideline when developing the popular TUFFCUFF Strength and Conditioning Manual for Baseball Pitchers.

1. Poor conditioning contributes to risk of injury and poor performance

2. Good conditioning can not be achieved in a few weeks

3. A good conditioning program is well rounded including aspects of endurance, strength, power, skill, flexibility, speed and aerobic conditioning

4. Condition the entire body as more than half of the energy used to deliver a pitch comes from parts other than the arm, specifically the trunk and legs

5. Condition the muscles with the action used during the delivery

6. Train for a base level of strength then move on to endurance and power

7. Adhere to quality over quantity

8. Train for agility and endurance especially in the arm and shoulder, but focus more on training for shorter bursts of energy

9. Train for balance in the muscle groups /accelerators and decelerators

10. Train the mind as well as the body

For specific ways to train your body for more strength and power, click here.