Why Play Against The Best???

Do you want to be the best pitcher possible? Then you have to put yourself out there and play against the best. So if you have to ask yourself, Why play against the Best? Well for starters, there is no benefit of pitching against competition which you can mop the floor with time and time again. When you can get away with belt high fast balls and mistake Sliders, you are doing yourself a Huge disservice. There is no constructive feedback. When you are ready to find out what you are made of as a ball player, go run with the Big Boys and see where you need to make improvements. They will let you know on Hyper speed what needs cleaned up in your game. Naturally, allow for some uncomfortable moments to commence. Nonetheless, enjoy the ride!

Why Play Against The Best?
What is a Solid Level of Play?

When the corners of the plate are yours and the middle is his. It is fair, it enjoyable, and it pushes you to locate better because that’s where the outs are. When your fastball in the middle of the plate overpowers hitters, it is time to move up a level or 2. In facing competition which gives you instant feedback about your mistakes, you are in a healthy place. Learn from it, make the adjustment and move forward.

 

Why Play Against The Best?
Team Concept

Coming from the Northeast, most college programs here usually make their annual spring break trip to Florida. There are teams that go South who play a tough schedule and get their teeth kicked in. On the other had, there are teams that play a patsy schedule against other Northern teams who may also be getting outside for the first time. They come back home with a winning record…Big Deal!!!

Needless to say, a lot more is learned from losing. All flaws are magnified. The silver lining, is that there is a new game plan for improvement. As a team and an individual, the writing is on the wall. Usually, the teams that play the tougher schedules early on, have more successful seasons. They fixed their flaws and learned how to compete against tougher opponents. That speaks volumes for success.

Remember, baseball is an EXTREMELY rewarding game to those who fully dedicate themselves.

Weak competition keeps teams and players weak. It just inflates the ego and cripples the half assed foundation.

Why Play Against The Best?
The Slider

As a pitcher, good hitters are a barometer for the livelihood of your Slider. If they are not fooled by it, you have to tighten it up. When you throw a relatively good one and the hitter drives it into the gap for a double, it is either not breaking sharp enough or late enough. If you hang a Slider that gets hit to the next continent, you know what you have to do…

Early on in the season, it may mean that you need more reps to get a better feel for it. Work to increase the tilt on the Slider. Think 2 Planes/Think DownHill.

When you throw an average Slider against bad teams and you are racking up 10K/9, how good can it really be???

Why Play Against The Best?
What Holds You Back?

ERA is EARNED...Hence the name. It is a reflection of how well you executed you pitches in relation to the competition. If you are afraid to pitch against better competition in fear that your numbers will inflate, how on Earth do you plan on getting to higher levels???

Enduring a swollen ERA and a losing record SUCKS! Absolutely!

Overcoming it makes you a stronger pitcher! Experience now builds a massive data bank of adjustments which had to be made. You can draw upon these past experiences in a millisecond when in a pinch. Of course, this skill is not acquired from mowing down the Little Sisters of the Poor... It just isn’t.

When you faced a good hitter early on and he burned you on a Slider or two, you learn from it. If you get a chance to face him again later in the season, when more is on the line, you are ready for him! Keep in mind, the game doesn’t get Easier, You Get Better!!!

 

 

Keep Dominating!!!

 

 

 

 

How to Throw A Slider