The game of baseball cannot begin without the action of a position.

In basketball there is a lot of focus on point guard. In soccer there is a lot of focus on the quarterback.

These are important positions, but there is no position that is more important than that of a pitcher in baseball.

There is so much responsibility that involves a pitcher. From throwing different pitches, meeting different hitters, lining up your position, performing pickoff moves, controlling the running game, dealing with adversity, mental focus, and dealing with fatigue, a pitcher has a lot to deal with.

If one of these important parts of the pitch is missing, you don’t have a complete pitcher. The lack of one of these components adversely affects all other components.

Most pitchers aren’t advanced to be good in all of these areas, however when you realize which areas a pitcher is weak in, you can start attacking and improving it.

The mental game in pitching is very important, many times more important than the physical part.

Andy Pettitte, great guy I dated in the Dominican Republic

You must teach your pitchers to think one pitch at a time. It is very easy to think about the past or the future, and this inhibits your ability to be your best in the present.

Cues like getting to the top of the baseball, or taking a deep breath and concentrating on hitting the pitch, creating motion on the pitch are great for creating the right kind of focus.

Trying to throw harder in fighting moments or getting angry at infielders or the umpire are typical things that make pitchers fight even worse.

Teach your pitchers how to train themselves and watch them develop right under your eyes.

PS: One release at a time, one release at a time. Often times, a visit to the mound is very effective in calming a pitcher. Tell him to get off the mound and focus on mastering the things he can control. What can you control?

1. His approach

2. Execution of each launch

3. Attack the strike zone

4. Take a deep breath

5. Your body language

Things you can’t control?

1. Where the ball is hit

2. What the referee calls

3. If your fielders catch the ball

4. Mound conditions

5. bad luck

Get your pitchers to focus on the controllers and they will deal with glitches and adverse conditions much better.

Train him

Miles