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Tips for
Pitchers - Getting out of a Jam
Pitching success requires skill and total mental concentration. The
number one over-riding factor is COMPOSURE. I always teach my pitchers
to be "stone- faced". Never show your emotions on the mound. Batting
teams tend to "feed" off of negative and positive emotions shown by the
opposing pitcher.
Every pitcher is going to get in a "JAM" sooner or later. We all know
the old saying, "Adversity Builds Character". However, "on the job
training" can make for a long season if pitchers do not develop
COMPOSURE at a early stage in their career.
Here are three suggestions to help pitchers get out of a tight spot
with runners in scoring position. .......1. Focus on the task at hand.
Have confidence in your ability to succeed. Do Not Panic, just do your
best. .......2. Make sure to keep the ball down in the strike zone to
get a ground ball. Let your defense help you. .......3. Change speeds,
hit your spots, and make sure every pitch has a purpose. .......There
are also other things that pitchers and catchers must remember when
"Getting Out of A Jam". The ball should be kept low and away. Coming
inside, high and tight, once or twice will help make your pitches on
the outside half more effective.
Tips for Hitters
- Teach Players to use the Whole Field
This is a drill used to
teach young hitters to "go with the pitch", "hit behind the runner",
and to "use the whole field". The drill uses only 1/2 of the field.
Normally I use it for righted-handed dominated teams, so we use the
right side of the diamond.
The drill teaches players to hit to the right side. The players compete
against each other. They get one run when they safely reach firstbase
on a hit or error. They get two runs if they hit a double which is the
best you can do with one swing of the bat. They are out if they fail to
reach safely. Any ball hit to the left side of secondbase is an out.
A coach pitches and players play the right side positions. The coach
pitches into a screen. No catcher is necessary. After the batter
reaches 1B or 2B safely and the play is over, the batter comes back to
the dugout. Players should keep up with everyones' score and outs. All
players play defense and bat.
Each batter is allowed three outs before they go to play defense. When
a batter makes his third out he goes to play rightfield and the
defensive players rotate. Gloves are left against the fence behind 1B
when the batters come in to hit. The position rotation is from 9 to 8
to 4 to 3. The firstbaseman comes to bat when a players goes out to
play defense. The drill can also be set up with teams competing. When a
left-hander comes to the plate, the ball must be "pulled" to score.
Batters are allowed to take until they get a pitch in a location that
they know can be hit to the right side. This teaches them to read a
pitch before reacting. You may add your own rules or "twist" to make it
even better. It is a great drill and players love it!
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