The most primitive aspects of civilization divide us into 2 groups. The Hunter and The Hunted. Since it is obvious which side you want to be on, it’s no different in baseball. Big time match ups between pitcher and hitter awaken our caveman DNA. We see it as Life or Death. Naturally, choosing the survival component. When the game is on the line, the competitor in us embraces the challenge as we teeter on the brink of insanity and failure in order to be victorious. Pitchers Are Hunters.

Being the hunter eliminates any fears or doubts which may occur during this endeavor. What separates the Alpha from the Beta is mindset. How many times have you seen a pitcher enter a game unprepared to attack the strike zone? Then the pitching coach, or even more seriously, the manager himself, makes a mound visit as a wake up call. The gist of the meeting is ‘get your head out of you know where’ and make pitches like you know how. That verbal kick in the ‘you know where’ can trigger the correct response to adjust the mindset. As the pitcher then proceeds to aggressively attack the zone with a purpose, he transitions back to being The Hunter.

 

Pitchers Are Hunters
Overcoming Jitters

Pitchers beat themselves when they have no game plan. They begin by hoping things will work out. Since they don’t, shortly thereafter, they are afraid to throw the ball over the plate. Thus, nibbling like a feeble minded weakling on the submissive levels of the food chain. The ugly snowball effect of this is lack of conviction, depletion of competitiveness, and refusal to make adjustments. In the blink of an eye, a pitcher is kicking himself until the next time he has an opportunity to take the mound. Unfortunately, he just allowed himself to be The Hunted….That’s a Big No No!

 

 

Pitchers Are Hunters
Hunters Strike First

The pitcher always has the first move in this cut throat chess match. He has the ability to position himself ahead of the hitter for the entirety of the at bat. Therefore, the 1st pitch Strike will always be the best pitch in the game. This level of efficiency shows the hitter you mean business and can put him on the defensive. As a result, at some point in the at bat, he will be forced to swing at your pitch(s).

 

Pitchers Are Hunters
Alpha vs Alpha

When you find yourself in an epic match up as neither are willing to budge and the hitter seems to have very few flaws that day, the goal is still simple. ATTACK. Aggressively attack the strike zone with intent to get outs. Your focus is on executing pitches regardless of the magnitude of the situation. Attack with your strengths and be persistent through misfortune. Winning every battle is not always attainable. Relentless pursuit of the conquering is what matters most within in the tribe.

With this mindset, you will get outs. If you get beat, you get beat while operating on the highest frequency. Everyone involved in your clan can live with that. Failure, as a result of omission in execution, is unacceptable.

 

 

Pitchers Are Hunters
Attacking With the Slider

A good hunter stalks his prey strategically. Even when starving. You can’t always go for the kill on the initial impulse. When your “A” Slider is the most Dominant weapon for annihilation, you have to build up to it. The process of setting up a hitter is the prerequisite to bringing home the bounty.   

When the Slider is your strikeout pitch, you know that you have to get to it. That is done so by making the pursuing pitches with full conviction. Locating your fastball, changing speeds and staying out of the middle of the plate set up the final attack. The killer instinct in The Hunter maintains composure the closer it gets to the thrashing. When 2 strikes arrive, The Hunter releases his Dominance. As the hunted now feels most vulnerable, the wrath is set to finish him off, unmercifully.

Showing the Slider early in the count, puts the hunted on notice. Consider it a warning shot. As he survived it once, he knows his methods of self protection have become more limited. His livelihood is now endangered. The Slider may strike harder on any given pitch, or it may lie in waiting…

 

Keep Dominating!!!