What is the best pitch in youth baseball? Fastball, curve, slider, changeup? None of these. A first pitch strike (fps) is the best pitch. It is sometimes the most painful, but still the best pitch.
Here’s why it is the best. An fps reduces pitch counts. It teaches kids how to throw strikes. It reduces walks. It teaches pitchers to challenge hitters.
It can be the most painful because strikes can be hit, and hit hard if the other team catches on and starts to be aggressive on that first pitch. So what to do about that?
Sometimes, nothing. I’d rather have a pitcher give up three consecutive hits than walks any day of the week. Usually fewer pitches are thrown in this situation.
And, by the way, I didn’t say throw the strikes right down the middle. If the pitcher can hit spots, I’m telling him to throw a strike on the outside corner. Usually, these are not hit well by most kids. If the kid can’t hit spots, I’m telling him to try to throw the ball right down the middle.
Think about it. I am not telling this pitcher, with a lack of command to throw in or out, high or low. I’m saying throw it right down the middle, in the heart of the plate. If he can’t hit his spot, where is the ball going to go? Not right down the middle of the plate. It still has a decent chance, however, to be a strike. Don’t get cute if a pitcher can’t hit his spots. Manage a player (and a team for that matter) as he is, not how you wish him to be.
If the kid is hitting outside spots and the other team is catching on, what then? Bust them inside with a ball on the first pitch till they respect the possibility that the first pitch may not be a strike. Fps thrown earlier are, in effect, still working because aggressive hitters and teams are being set up and not being thrown what they expect.
Tags: baseball, changeup, curve, fastball, four, pitching, seam, slider, tips, two
April 24, 2009 at 12:30 pm |
Thanks, please do. I plan on doing some more posting