How to be Successful in Pressure Situations

There are situations in baseball when you have complete control and that is when the baseball is in your hand. I agree that the mound, field, catcher, batter, umpire, even weather might be different but the baseball, distance to home plate, and strike zone are always the same. The rest of baseball is impossible to control. Most things in life are out of our control, but some important things are. I like to call them the strikes of life.

Let’s go over life’s routines: You go to bed, get up, and start your morning routines which consist of eating, reading, and focusing on your daily responsibilities. What is the key? “Preparation” you are consuming the right ingredients to be successful. You are preparing your mind and body by having the good stuff on hand to develop routines that lead to correct thinking on the playing field of life.

The key is to create a simple system then follow it. Organize your thoughts then exercise your system. Just 15-30 minutes a day makes a big difference. Create a morning program of exercises, pitching drills, and mental game situations that require no trip to the gym. If you do these little things then you will be able to perform under pressure.

How do you throw strikes? Simple, adopt a system, a proven routine that works for you, and practice the heck out of it!!!

“If you’re not practicing, somebody else is, somewhere, and he’ll be ready to take your job.”

Brooks Robinson

I. What to say when he is not throwing strikes.

A. Missing high- He is probably dropping his elbow. What to say! Tell him to turn his thumbs down when taking the ball out of the glove then lift with the elbows while taking the lead shoulder to the target. (problem: deltoids are weak)

B. Missing Low- He is pushing the ball, and must be over striding by bending the back leg then pushing off. This causes his body to get out in front then you try to short arm to catch up thus creating a pushing motion. What to say! Don’t collapse back leg, stay tall then step don’t fall to deliver the pitch. (problem: weak legs and rotator cuff muscles)

C. Missing up & away- He is turning away from the target before he accelerates to the throw the ball. During your take away you swing the glove to catch up throwing your body away from the target. What to say! When he reaches his balance point keep his hands forward then extend the glove hand with the lead leg allowing his front houlder to stay on the target. (problem: weak pectorals muscles causing you to sling the ball)

D. Taking too much time between pitches- He is thinking to much (a sign he is lacking confidence) tell him to speed up his tempo. Try to pump him up to make him feel like you believe in his ability.

E. Pitching tempo is way to fast- He is either mad or nervous tell him to relax and think about the simple steps to pitching. 1. Get to balance point- don’t rush!2. Glove follows lead leg to the target.3. Throwing shoulder finishes with the head towards the target.

“Never give a hitter too much credit remember hitting a baseball is very difficult, if you throw strikes most batters will get themselves out.”

Greg Mathews

II. Reading Hitters

A. Hitter is standing away from plate- He is either afraid of the ball or he likes the ball away wants to get his hands extended to drive the ball the other way. Make sure you pitch him inside to not allow his hands to get extended then finish him off with off speed.

B. Standing close to the plate- Most lead off hitters will do this to draw a walk but usually it’s because they like the ball inside and have a tough time with outside strike zone. Pitch him away with fastballs and breaking balls.

C. Batter has wide stance- Tends to be impatience which cause him to lunge at the ball that’s why high fastballs followed up with straight change ups are to tough to lay off.

D. Crouching stance- Most definitely a low ball hitter and will chance anything in the dirt. Don’t bother with high fastballs. Pitch him low just out of the strike zone too tempting to lay-off.

E. Open stance- Hitter has slow hands so he opens the stance to help get his hands out in front. Easy, pitch him inside all day long then put him away with high fastballs.

III. Working the Count to your Advantage

“Having good pitches are important but knowing when to throw them are just as important!”

Greg Mathews

What a Pitcher’s Objective should be.

A. A pitcher’s job is to throw strikes, get ahead in the count but more important is to get the batters out. Too many times pitchers will use their best pitches to get ahead then wonder why they are not getting outs. Simple, you are allowing the batter to adjust to the second time when you throw the pitch. You need to decide how you want to get the hitter out or where you want him to hit the ball. For example: Runner on first with a left handed batter, you want him to hit the ball away because first basemen is holding runner creating a big hole between 1st and 2nd .

B. First decide what your three best pitches are to throw. Let’s say fastball, change up, and breaking ball. Best case scenario you can throw strikes with your fastball 75%, change up 50%, and breaking ball 25% of the time.

C. First batter of the game your thoughts (like I mentioned earlier) are to throw strikes, keep the ball down, and get ahead in the count. True, but also you need to establish all your pitches. The rule of thumb is to use your 2nd and 3rd best pitches early saving your best pitch to put him away. If I use my breaking first, even if I don’t throw it for a strike I still have my best pitch to even the count. If I use my best pitch first then I have to rely on a curveball or change up which is only a 50/50 at best to throw it for a strike. If I back up a fastball with another one the batter can now adjust and hammer the pitch.

“Hitting is Timing, Pitching is upsetting timing.”

Warren Spahn

IV. The Mental Game Plan of Pitching.

A. First objective- Get a rhythm with all of your pitches early in the game. Use the 2nd

and 3rd best pitch early in the count. You can always throw the fastball to even the count so as the game progresses; you have a good feel for all of your pitches.

B. Presence-Make the hitter believe you will throw any pitch at anytime in the count. If you make a mistake give the hitter a look like that is exactly where I wanted to throw that pitch. Demand respect when you’re on the mound and the hitter will more times than not give it to you.

C. Confidence- Have you ever wondered why some players look confident while others don’t. It is simply the fact that those players have prepared themselves to the best of their ability. When you step on the field knowing you have prepared yourself mentally and physically it becomes very obvious to everyone you are confident. How does this happen, first you must train your body physically, second refine your skills, third learn everything about your competition, finally stick to your game plan. Control the things you can and let everything else go if you don’t it will affect your performance.

“In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept constructive criticism. Without one-hundred percent dedication,

you won’t be able to do this.”Willie Mayes

V. Understanding how to pitch to line up.

A. Lead of hitter- Good speed, little power, makes you throw strikes, tries to draw a base on balls. Good fastball hitter so make him pull the ball with change ups.

B. Second Hitter- Patient hitter, good two strike hitter, handles bat well. Good breaking ball hitter, pitch inside tie up his hands. Puts ball in play to advance runners, good bunter, and good speed.

C. Third Hitter- Good all around hitter with some power to all fields. Hits for average power, line drive hitter, and average speed. Protected by fourth hitter. Get’s a lot of fastballs. Below average breaking ball and change up hitter. Throw fastball 1st pitch, slow stuff for the rest of the at bat.

D. Fourth Hitter- Power hitter, RBI guy, pull hitter, has power, streak hitter, good first base hitter, bad off speed, breaking ball hitter unless he is hot. Because he wants to drive in runs will chase pitches out of the zone so don’t throw him a strike, if you walk him so what. Don’t let him beat you with a hit.

E. Fifth Hitter- Exactly like the fourth hitter, just not as good. Go after him early with strikes. Don’t let him have the opportunity to sit on good pitches to hit. Weaknesses- Slow runner, Long swing creating more holes. Get ahead force him to chase pitches out of the strike zone. Start him off with fastballs inside then slow stuff away.

F. Sixth Hitter- Second lead off hitter can be dangerous because you don’t expect it to happen. Doesn’t have the ability of the lead off hitter but is a very smart hitter. If you let your guard down he can hurt you. Weaknesses- Slow bat speed, average running speed, pitch him hard stuff middle away let him hit lazy fly’s outs to center.

G. Seven, Eight, and Ninth Hitters- Very scrappy type players that will try to get on base anyway they can. Most rallies are started with the bottom of the line because the pitcher let his guard down next thing he knows its bases loaded with the top of the line up staring him right in the face. Be aggressive and attack them inside with hard stuff. Remember, most wins and losses are determined by what the 7, 8, & 9 hitters do not the 1, 2, & 3, because they are expected to get their hits.

“The reason I think I’m a good pitcher is I locate my fastball and I change speeds, Period. That’s what you do to pitch. That’s what pitchers have to do to win games.”

Greg Maddux