Getting Outs IN the Strike-Zone

As a professional pitcher, I've spent countless hours working with Major League Pitching Coaches (Mel Stottelmyer Jr., Jeff Pico, Mike Parrot) who, despite having many varying philosophies on pitching agree on one thing: the best pitchers in the game are able to make quality pitches in the strike zone and still get hitters out. As a pitching instructor at Jim Farr's Baseball Academy in Williamsburg, VA (shameless plug) I've found that many young pitchers feel the only way to get hitters out is to somehow 'trick' that batter into swinging at pitches that are not in the zone.

Unfortunately, as hitters get older and better with strike-zone discipline, they become less and less likely to chase pitches that are not in the zone for very long. Aside from the occasional 'bad ball hitter' (think Pablo Sandoval or Vladimir Guerrero) most Big League hitters are trained to look for one pitch and one spot and not miss that pitch, fouling off or taking everything else. So somehow, the Intelligent Pitcher must find a way to get hitters to swing at pitches in the strike-zone and still miss-hit or whiff all together.

To win the battle versus hitters that have become more disciplined, the Intelligent Pitcher must make it impossible for the hitter to tell the difference between his straight fastball and any other pitch that he is throwing. He must repeat his delivery every time and release the ball from the same release point every time. This is especially important when switching from pitch to pitch. Whether you are throwing a fastball, change-up, curve, slider, or anything else for that matter, the most deceptive pitcher's arm speed must stay the same at all times and must release the ball in the same 'window.' To better visualize this, think about what a hitter sees when he's facing a pitcher. At release, the hitter is looking at one specific spot and tracks the ball all the way to the hitting zone. If he is unable to detect a different arm slot at release, he will be less likely to react correctly to the pitch.


Most hitters can't tell an RJ fastball from an RJ slider until its too late - notice the pictures (can u guess which is which)?


Also important is the path the pitch takes to the plate. It is necessary for most off-speed pitches to look like a fastball as long as possible, only deviating from that original path when it gets to the plate. The same reasoning applies here as before, the less time the hitter has to recognize that the pitch isn't a fastball, the less likely he will be able to put a good swing on the ball. For example, a good slider will look like a good inside fastball until it gets to the plate where it will dive down and in. A good change-up will look like a fastball away (usually) until it gets to plate where it will drop down or fade away from the hitter. Even a good sinking fastball will start up in the zone as if it were a good fastball to hit, only to "sink" at the last second. This is why most sinker ball pitchers are ground ball pitchers. Typically the hitter ends up making contact either on the end or handle of the bat - resulting in a weak grounder.

Big Leaguer Breakdown: Josh Beckett

Here it is, as promised. The first installment of "Big Leaguer Breakdown;" where we'll study a video of a big league pitcher's mechanics and identify the pros and cons of how this pitcher delivers the baseball and how they're successful. Today's subject is Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox. So, to pitch like Beckett, all you have to do is throw 96mphs and drop in a hammer curveball from time to time and you should be good! Thats all......


Heres the link to the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSP7iGVj0SY&feature=related

Ok, ok, so throwing like Beckett won't guarauntee 96 or a hammer, but there are a few things I love about his mechnics. This video has him warming up but the mechanics are spot on with his in game style. The main focus I want you guys to notice is the chain reaction from Beckett's hips and "elbows up" postion (I call this the 'power position') to the hip turn and finish. Pause the video around 4 seconds and notice how his hips are still closed (pointing at the catcher) but his elbows have "fired" up to the parallel position. He's gained momentum forward, but there is still weight on his back leg (which means there's still power in the hips). If you move forward just a few clicks (still at the 4 second mark) you'll see the hips have cleared (turned to face the plate) and the throwing arm has started its whip toward release point. Note the head is level and chin is leading to the target (another huge check point) and the glove has begun to turn in toward the chest. The thing that is most impressive about Beckett's delievery is exemplified by this part of the video. If you study most "power pitchers," the chain reaction between their elbows firing to parallel and the hips taking them to release point is nearly flawless. Beckett is no exception here.

The other point I want to look at in this video is at 21 seconds, where Beckett's leg lift has reached its highest point. The hand placement is perfect (inside the knee, close to his body) but you'll notice his momentum has alread started forward. Although Beckett's timing is usually pretty good, leaning forward too soon can cause a pitcher to rush his upper half...usually leading to elevated pitches and trouble all around. Earlier this year, Beckett ran into a stretch of tough starts and it was reported by his pitching coach that the plane of his pitches had 'flattened out' and he needed to regain the tilt on his pitches. The coach was talking about what is happening some here in this video. You can see Beckett start to leak forward on his second pitch, and as a result, his hips are a bit late and he would have to really really accelerate his upper half if were going to throw a strike on that pitch. The difference between the two pitches in this video is that in the first pitch, he does not rush forward nearly as much and therefore, has more power and 'weight' on his back leg when the hips and elbows begin to fire.

So there you have it - Beckett's delivery is the best example of hip turn/elbow's up power in the game today. He is very compact with his hand break and keeps his head on target at he gets to release. He does, however, leak forward some on his leg lift and drop a little too much on his back leg at times as he drives to the plate. Its important to know that the "Intelligent Pitcher" relies on his hip turn for power and keeps his elbows loose and parallel as they begin their turn following those hips!

Image Source: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/mg0Qk1ndZzZ/Tampa+Bay+Rays+v+Boston+Red+Sox/0R0OppDuica/Josh+Beckett

The BP Fastball Explained

One of the trade marks of the "Intelligent Pitcher," is his ability to disrupt a hitter's timing by changing speed with his pitches. Most take this to mean using a change-up to slow down a hitter and get him on his front foot. Today, however, I am hear to discuss the benefits of being able to change speeds with your fastball alone. If given the chance, study a game pitched by Greg Maddux, Brandon Webb, or Tom Glavine, and notice the radar gun readings on their fastballs alone. Chances are, they will vary by as much as 8 mphs. Trust me, that is not just an accidental variation.

The Intelligent Pitcher will purposely throw his fastball slower at certain points in an at bat to entice a hitter to swing as if it were a regular fastball, usually resulting in a ground out or wiff! This is the BP Fastball, or "Batting Practice Fastball." The reason this pitch is so effective is because the hitter sees the same arm action as a regular fastball and the spin is also the exact same, thus leading to a swing. Since the pitch is thrown a few mph's slower though, he will be out in front. Obviously, a pitcher must establish his regular fastball atleast once or twice in an at bat or earlier in the game (to the same hitter) so that the hitter is fooled by the change of speed. Typically, if thrown correctly, the BP Fastball will have more sink and movement than the regular fastball. It is great for inducing groundballs with the movenment or pop ups from the velocity change.

Throwing the BP Fastball correctly actually takes more guts than anything, as it requires a lot of courage to throw a fastball that starts down the middle that you WANT a hitter to hit. The grip is essentially a regular 2-seam grip with your fingers spread slightly wider so that both fingers rest on top of or slightly outside of the seams. The pitcher must do his best to maintain as close to his regular arm-speed as possible but without the same finshish and whip. The key here is to use the glove and front side as aggressively as with the regular fastball. This movement is one of the first things a hitter senses and must be kept the same. The best times to throw this pitch are in fastball counts (not the first pitch of an at bat) where you want to get back ahead of the count (1-1, 1-0, 2-1, 3-1) when you are certain the hitter is going to swing if he gets his fastball.

So the next time you're in a jam and need to fool a hitter, even if you don't have command of your change up that day, spin a BP Fastball in there. Trust me on this one, because it truly is a gutsy pitch.

Leave a comment with any questions you may have and I'll be happy to explain further.

Stay tuned for the next blog for Less is More's first "Big Leaguer Breakdown" where I'll post a video of a major leaguer and discuss in detail the benefits and drawbacks of his mechanics!


Image Sources: http://z.about.com/d/baseball/1/0/F/9/-/-/twoseam2.jpg and http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/writers/tom_verducci/12/06/maddux/greg-maddux..si.jpg

Welcome to Less is More Pitching

Welcome to the first entry of the Less is More : The Art of Intelligent Pitching phenomena. My name is Forrest Cory and I have been a professional baseball player for four years. I've played as high as AA baseball with the Arizona Diamondbacks and won an American Association Independent title with the Lincoln Saltdogs. I have learned and studied my craft under the guidance of countless major league caliber coaches such as Mel Stottlemyer Sr. and Jr., (Yankees and Royals respectively) Jeff Pico (Cubs), Doug Jones (Brewers and others), Jim Farr (Rangers), Matt Nokes (Tigers and others) and many others. I've traded tips and picked the brain of countless teamates and opponents who are currently in the major leagues, (Randy Johnson, Brandon Webb, Max Sherzer, Greg Smith, Brett Anderson and many others) and that is not including the countless catchers and other position players with whom I've discussed hitting and pitching.

I've decided that is now time that begin to share my knowledge. The tips, techniques, drills, approaches, and strategies that I have learned over the years have helped me far exceed my potential to suceed at the levels I've pitched. As a left-handed pitcher who has never thrown a baseball 90 mph, I've used every piece of advice I've gotten to try and gain every advantage possible in the most competitive of sporting match-ups: pitcher vs. batter.

Today, I simply want to explain the main concept behind Less is More Pitching. The common misconception about pitching is that when a pitcher is trying to locate a pitch, get ahead of a hitter, or strike that hitter out, he must physically get tougher, stronger, and exert more effort and power to force a pitch where it is supposed to go. I have learned that the contrary is actually the case. It is said that Greg Maddux understood this mantra the best. He believed that when the heat is on and a pitcher must make that "one pitch" to get out of an inning or get a big hitter out, the worst thing he can do is "press" or try harder. The Intelligent Pitcher must learn to maintain his focus level without getting out of control. He must slow the game down, remain loose, and allow his mechanics to do the work for him.

This belief system is the idea behind my philosphy on pitching. If a pitcher wishes to repeat his delievery more often, to throw the ball harder, to excute the right pitch at the right time, he must prepare himself the right way everyday before the game so that when it comes time to make that pitch, he can "let go" and let his delievery do the work for him. This blog will be maintained and update a few times a week with shorter posts and videos covering any and all aspects of the "Less is More" philosphy. Please leave comments and questions and I will happily add some of them into the blog. Its time to command the game the way and Intelligent Pitcher should.