My college coach always told us, MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT. Initially, it was frustrating, because he never told us what the adjustment was. As the season progressed, it dawned upon me. The adjustment is always unique to the individual. Every player is different. Every pitcher is different. Secondly, he left it open ended because it was up to the self to take the initiative. Case in point, when it is 2nd & 3rd, no outs and you fall behind 2-0 to the 3 hitter, no one is there to hold your hand. When you haven’t figured out how to make adjustments, a big, fat crooked number is about to be bestowed upon you. Autonomy is everything in life. So is a sub 2.00 ERA.

 

 

Make The Adjustment
How Soon?

The Best of the Best are able to make the adjustment from pitch to pitch. The next tier adjusts from hitter to hitter. The further we go down the line, it varies from inning to inning all the way to WHAT ADJUSTMENT? So lets stay at the top of the pyramid. As the proper adjustments are made from pitch to pitch when necessary, naturally, that would be the pitcher with the best numbers. It’s not all about STUFF. For example, look at how pitchers handle a based loaded, nobody out situation. The good ones slow the game down and focus on making 1 pitch at a time. The incompetent try to strike out the side on 1 pitch. Which one is rational? It’s a no brainer. The over emotional response of the inadequate lets down the team, and over time can lead to demotion or release.

Make The Adjustment
How So?

Adjustments on the mound should be kept as simple as possible. When something is not going right, it is not a massive overhaul to perform on the mound. Small tweaks are what gets the job done in moments of distress.

According to The Mental ABC’s of Pitching, author H.A. Dorfman states adjustments as a thoughtful, rational assessment of:

 

A.) What The Pitcher Was Trying To Do

B.) What Went Wrong

C.) What He Must Do To Fix It

 

For example, a pitcher wanted to throw a fastball down and on the outer black. He also felt obligated to overpower the 8 hitter, thus he overthrew the pitch as it was elevated over the outer part of the plate. The result, Double in the gap. The fierce moment of doubt and regret awoken him to his mistake. So now he must relax and focus on aggressively throwing his fastball through his target. Under control and consistent with his delivery.

Jacob deGrom, Painting with Flames (99mph Fastball). 🔥👨‍🎨🎨🖌️🖼️ pic.twitter.com/ejcKhmuVoO

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 11, 2018

This is not just an adjustment for the next time facing the momentarily joyous bottom of the line up hitter. The adjustment is for the next time he has to throw a fastball down and away…which could be very next pitch.

Being disgusted with yourself for making a mistake is acceptable for the time being. However, flush it out, regroup, and get back to business. The endeavor of pitching comes with a significant degree of accountability. Your value on the mound is paramount. 

 

Make The Adjustment
On The Slider

You have a hitter at 1-2 and set up perfectly to put him away with your best Slider. Over Anxiousness caused an inability to control your rhythm and rushed your delivery. Which caused you to break the first of the Simple 3 essentials to throwing the Slider correctly. The adverse chain reaction followed suit as the next 2 checkpoints were lost well before the chance to execute them. The result. You threw a flat, loopy Slider that thankfully missed up for a ball. Now it is 2-2 and the hitter feels a bit better as he is sitting fastball, because he assumes that you won’t go back to that Slider again.

 

Well, what do you have to do to fix it?  Simple.

1. Stay Behind the Baseball
2. Release the Slider Out In Front
3. Throw it Downhill

As you have full conviction about throwing the Slider correctly, start the delivery process with a controlled rhythm as it progresses to the Simple 3. When you let go of the Slider with an aggressive intent…another pissed off hitter doesn’t know what just hit him as he is heading back to the dugout!

Shane Bieber, Filthy 86mph Back Foot Slider (path) for his 10th K. pic.twitter.com/MmL1tbQGOc

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 12, 2018

 

Keep Dominating!!!