How To Throw A Power Curveball Like K-Rod

Here's a great pitching clip of how Frankie Rodriguez throws his curve ball. "I throw it so hard and throw it with the same amount of speed as a slider that people call it a slider but its really hard curve ball," he says.

5 Easy Tips To Get A Better Follow Through (Pitching Mechanics)

1. A good follow-through is important for speed, control, and fielding.       

2. The right-hand pitcher's arm should snap straight across his chest to his left knee (vice-versa for lefty's).

3. Bury shoulder or chest over knee.       

4. Pinch knees and kick back heel up in the air.       

5. Don't cost yourself m.p.h. or control problems by not pitching on line.

3 Challenges Every Starting Pitcher Must ALWAYS Overcome To Win

A starting pitcher has three critical confrontations in every game.

No matter what type of game a starter is throwing, you are going to face these critical situations. If you get out of all three, you're going to win. Two of the three, probably. Less than that, you're probably not going to win.

1. The first inning    

2. The fourth inning    

3. When your team scores/takes the lead I talk to all starters about the first inning being the "tempo setter."

Nothing deflates a team faster than falling behind right away. I talk about the fourth inning being when you see the heart of the line-up again -- and because they've already seen your stuff once, that's a crucial inning. You make your adjustments. You stay ahead of opposing hitters. And anytime your team scores, you have to go back out and put up big zero on the scoreboard. It builds momentum.

Now, into that general mix, add two more things:

A. You have to really bear down to get the lead-off guy.

B. When you have two outs, you have to "close the door" -- allowing an enemy run in when you have two outs is a huge demoralizer.

I've always pushed these issues as being fundamental to good starting pitching. It just gives a starter something more to focus on. Or, for guys having trouble keeping their concentration at a high level, this enables you to do that.

When I'm concentrating on all those points, I'm just focused on the batters I'm facing. I'm not really thinking about being up or down. A pitcher just continues to "do his work." Later on, you'll look up out of your little "bubble" of concentration and find you're in the seventh inning.

For some pitchers, anxiety can be a detrimental factor in performance. If you are concentrating on these things, it lessens the anxiety. You're helping yourself be positive. High attention to immediate detail lessens wasted energy spent on larger, but less immediate, concerns.

For instance, if you've got runners on second and third, you're not thinking, "Oh my Lord, I can't make a mistake here." What you're thinking about are these issues. That's how to be successful.

3 Inspirational Quotes From 3 Famous Baseball Pitchers

Happy Thanksgiving!

When I started this pitching tips blog four years ago to the day, I never realized how much fun it would be to share some of my favorite pitching tips and strategies. Thanks for all the comments and emails!

Today, I share with you three quotes from three of baseball's former greats. Perhaps on a day like today, with all the eating we tend to do (I'm partial to cornbread), you could fit in a run as Early Wynn suggests. :-)

"A pitcher is only as good as his legs. Therefore, he must do a great deal of running."
--Early Wynn

"To be a winning pitcher, a player has to have control of the pitches he has."
--Sandy Koufax

"Getting better spin on the ball is one of the surest ways toward pitching improvement."
--Johnny Sain

Pitch Better With These 9 Simple Pitching Strategies

Here are nine simple strategies that can help you pitch better. How many of these things do you already do well? What do you need to work on?

1. Make living on outside 1/3 of the plate.       

2. When behind, don't go inside.       

3. When ahead, go inside to set up where I make my living (on the     outside).       

4. When you go inside, go from black to dirt.       

5. Embarrass hitter - don't throw same location.       

6. Don't be negative with subconscious - harder you try, less effort.     Example, don't walk this hitter.

7. Get hitter out best way you can. Pitch to letter "L."       

8. I want my pitchers to pitch to their strengths: first pitch ground ball     strike, 2 out of 3 pitches in the box, play nine versus one.       

9. What I want to see:             1) Pitch,             2) Location             and 3) Execute.

Pitching Strategy - What Hitters Think On Certain Pitch Counts

1. 0-0: checking you out, most hitters not ready to hit.       

2. 0-1: hitter now defensive, expects anything and must see himself for any type pitch. The element of pulling for power is cut down.       

3. 0-2: really defensive. Contact somewhere is all the hitter thinks. Choke up, expect anything anywhere and must protect strike zone.

4. 1-2: should be set up for anything. Defensive, protect strike zone and just make contact.

5. 1-0: seen a pitch and is ahead. Knows you need a strike and he can afford to be selective on pitch and location. Expects fastball.       

6. 2-0: all things go. Knows you must throw a strike, so pitch will likely be a fastball in a good spot to hit. Very selective, can be very aggressive. Think pull for power. Looks for certain pitch in certain location. Ideal hitting situation. Excellent hit and run pitch.       

7. 2-1: still aggressive and selective. Has you over the barrel as he knows you must throw a strike. Pull for power still there.

8. 3-1: knows you must throw a strike. Aggressive, selective, and pull for power. Looking for certain pitch in certain location. Ideal hitting situation. Excellent hit and run pitch.       

9. 3-0: all hell breaks loose. You've lost the hitter unless you're lucky. Remember Proper rhythm and timing are the basis of successful pitching.

How To Develop Pitching Mental Toughness

As a pitcher, it's important to have a proper mental attitude on the mound. So how can you develop pitching mental toughness and the mental focus that's needed to succeed at the higher levels of the game?

1. The pitcher must feel (BELIEVE) he is better than the hitter.       If for any reason you lose that focus or find yourself lacking confidence in the next pitch. Step off the rubber. Grab the rosin bag. Take some deep breaths. Re-focus. Then get back to work.

2. Think positively always:

a. Must want to be a pitcher.             
b. Must want to pay the price to be a good pitcher.             
c. Must believe he can be a good pitcher.             
d. Prepare to win -- not lose -- be positive!       

3. Set goals -- pitch no hitter, 1 hitter, shutout, win game -- to stay motivated.

4. Pitch within yourself (know your strengths and limitations).       

5. Learn how to set up and put away hitters.

The 6 C's Of Successful Baseball Pitching

To me, the 6 C's of successful baseball pitching are:

1. Conditioning       
2. Control       
3. Confidence       
4. Concentration       
5. Courage       
6. Commitment

How To Develop Pitching Consistency

To be a successful and consistent pitcher, you must believe in movement and the ability to locate at least two pitches.

For some pitchers, velocity will come with sound mechanics and physical maturity -- it is an added bonus as far as we coaches are concerned.

Movement and location are two absolutes on which most successful pitchers base their success -- live it, visualize it, experience it, and believe in it.

How To Teach Pitching

Over the years, I have been exposed to many different pitching philosophies both as a former Chicago Cubs pitching pro and as a college coach. Having attended various clinics, camps and being blessed with the opportunity of learning from some of the finest coaches in the game today, I have come to the realization that the best pitching philosophy is one that is usually the simplest.

As a pitching coach, your goal should be to to guide your pitchers at every level to a greater understanding of correct techniques and strategies involved with being a successful pitcher.

Every program will have its own personality -- its own philosophies. As a coach you must believe in and have 100% confidence in what you are teaching. Then and only then will your players have faith in your program.

The following are some key concepts I share with the pitchers I work with:

1. Throwing strikes (within the 1st two pitches of the count and locating our FB with as much movement as possible)       

2. Changing speeds (having the ability to throw a second pitch for a strike)       

3. Being aggressive (the ability to pitch inside)

4. Setting a tempo (staying in the present tense -- executing pitch by pitch in an efficient manner)

Good luck with your program, keep it simple and believe!