Every outcome in baseball is determined by how well can you make adjustments. For every player who puts on the uniform is subject to this facet. Slumps are not just for hitters. Pitchers go through them also. Trying to determine whether the root of recent failure is physical or mental, can be seen by many as the chicken or the egg theory. In reality, it’s a balancing act. One plays off the other.  When one dynamic falters, the other overcompensates….and we all know how that goes.

Right now, it is the MLB Postseason. October Baseball. The top 10 teams enter the bracket with have a shot to win it all.  Now we are down to 4.  With much more riding on these contests, game plans change more frequently. Managers will stick with the hot hand. They don’t have the patience to get someone ‘right’ again.

Regular contributors throughout the 162 game grind, may find themselves as spectators at the hand of just a few bad outings.  Baseball is based off of production.  You play until you can’t perform accordingly.   It’s the way it will always be.

In light of this topic, let’s look at the recent struggles of the Dominant relief pitcher of the New York Yankees, Dellin Betances.

In his first 4 full MLB seasons, Betances as racked up over 100 strikeouts in each of those years.  Thus earning an all star game selection in the corresponding campaigns. His track recored says that he will get back on track. However, the postseason is not a grooming process. Clearly, only the strongest survive.  Especially, with the small margin for error in the late innings where relievers are accustomed to thriving.

The big righty has no doubt shouldered quite the workload for manager Joe Girardi since 2014.  It has showed in his sub par finish to the last 2 seasons.   His issues here have been with command. The inability to establish the fastball puts all pitchers at risk.  Now at 6’8”, obviously, he has a lot of moving parts. A flaw in his delivery will be more magnified than that of a counterpart with a common size build.   With that said, here are 3 Ways to Fix Dellin Betances’ struggles.

Dellin Betances’ Struggles
Front Hip Determines All

As a behemoth of a man, Betances’ mechanics are unable to be textbook by any means.  His front hip does open sooner that most pitchers.  That is to enable his large torso and hawk like wing span to rotate through to deliver the pitch.  When you watch him throw, you will see that he often misses, glove side, with his pitches.  Both fastball and Slider.  That is because of his front side opening sooner than it should.  

When you open your front side too early, everything in your mechanics breaks down.  Your front shoulder opens too soon, thus losing power and torque.  When you see the front side open up prematurely, it is followed by the hand falling underneath the ball releasing it too soon, and not out in front.  The pitch comes out flat with no life, no movement, and certainly no deceptiveness.  This is when most breaking balls are hung in the strike zone.  The damage speaks for itself.  

Especially when the adrenaline is pumping and the ball feels like a hot potato.  It is human nature, that when you get too far ahead of yourself, you become anxious.  In the case of standing on the mound, you lose focus of making 1 pitch at a time.  Quite often, overthrowing.  This simple adjustment is also a method to slow down the game for you.

The simplest way to correct this common flaw is to stay closed with the front hip a split second longer.  Stay sideways in your stride a bit more, in order to rotate your hips later.  This quickly simplifies your delivery.  It will keep your mechanics consistent and fluid.

Dellin Betances’ Struggles
Forget About Velocity

Now that you fixed a major mechanical flaw, it eliminates a lot of mental strain.  Locating pitches has now become much easier.  You can better trust your abilities as you already feel a weight lifted off you.  In the case of Betances, despite his struggles, his 99MPH fastball was still there.  It was just a matter of where.  

You have to win the mental game.  Knowing that a well located pitch will get a hitter out.  A well located Plus+ fastball will get a lot of hitters out!  At this velocity, as long as you stay in the strike zone and out of a hitter’s nitro zone, you will have the upper hand.  Remember, Velocity, you either have it, or you don’t!  Use your visualization practices, see how and where you want the pitch thrown in your mind, and then physically execute it.  

Dellin Betances’ Struggles
Keep The Game In Front 

With this enhanced approach that has gotten you out of a rut, you know that you are in control when you can keep the game in front of you.  All that matters is what goes on between you and the catcher.  You can only control so much.   When you are struggling with command, you may subconsciously lose the synergy with your battery mate.  

Focus on making your pitches with conviction with the intent to induce weak contact in the middle 3rd of the field. This is the bigger part of the park and where your best defenders are playing.  It is always a big confidence boost when you can make a pitch to either corner of the plate and have a weakly hit ground ball to a middle infielder. What is the Pitcher’s Best Friend?  We all know that one.  The nature of a ball put in play in the middle of the field stays closer to your ability to control the game.  

Balls hit into the corners tend to create more chaos in the mind.  As the game goes further away from your equilibrium, it tests your peripherals, thus stretching your focus and sightlines.  It is not that complex.  The next time a hitter smacks one into the corner off of you, be mindful of how long it takes your to regain your focus on making pitches, compared to balls which stay in the middle of the field.  This mindset also is beneficial when you come into the game with runners on base.  Minimizing Damage is key.  

When Betances is on his game, he is going for the strikeout.  14.45 K/9 IP for his career cannot make you think differently.  His approach shows that everything is in front of him.  His body language shows his intent.  For all pitchers, where there is a noticeable struggle, you can feel how this vibe has been lost.

 

Dellin Betances’ Struggles
Will He Figure it Out?

At some point, Yes!  His stuff is too good.  He is the caliber of pitcher who does not have to worry about giving into hitters.  As for a matter of when, that is to be seen.  His September command issues have carried over into October.  His last 2 outings both came when the Yankees had a comfortable lead, yet he was unable to record an out while walking 4. The back-to-back quick hooks sure test a player’s psyche.  Quite often, it is back to basics to get out of a funk.  The 3 points listed here can benefit any pitcher when adversity of the mental/physical duality arise. Put it into action, get back on track, and enjoy the success!

Keep Dominating!!!

 

 

Dellin Betances’ Struggles