So you have a good fastball, yet deep down, you know that you have no clue about how to pitch.  Not a problem. Many have been there. A 10-pack of private lessons from your local facility just aren’t in the budget for you and your family.  Completely understandable. So instead of scratching your head and letting frustration and confusion boil over, let’s get to work. What I mean by that, is teaching you how to build a skill set, completely independently.  Take the initiative to develop a consistent routine of improving yourself every single day. No spoon feeding here. You teach yourself, you will push yourself, you fix yourself, you will mentor yourself. I know, it sounds crazy nowadays….that’s why you will succeed.
Let’s Get at it!

You have a good fastball and no one is willing to help you. I have been there! Now instead of racking your brain and feeling sorry for yourself, here is quick list for pitching success that you can take to the bank with you.

So You Have a Good Fastball…NOW WHAT???
Locate the Fastball

I have touched on this important aspect of pitching in several other posts.  Fastball command is the number one thing that Major League Pitchers will say they work on every year in spring training.  Why? Because everything in your arsenal works off the fastball. If you can’t locate the fastball consistently, hitter will sit on your secondary pitches. They will quickly lose their deceptive qualities.

If you don’t have a secondary pitch, the hitter will look for your fastball in one spot to do some damage, or he will take the walk. When you cannot locate the fastball, a good hitter will not miss the pitch in the spot in which he is looking. That is Not Fun!

So where to locate?  Very simply for the fastball, and all your pitches for that matter, Keep the ball down and on the corners and out of the middle of the zone.  When you can stay out of a hitter’s nitro zone and force him to swing at your pitches, you will see an instant increase of success. If you make a good pitch and the hitter still can do some damage, you tip your cap and move on to the next hitter.

 

Previous Posts Locating the Fastball
Pitch Location, Keeping the Ball in the Park, 3 Very Simple Tips to Make You a Better Pitcher, How Does Fastball Command ‘ENHANCE’ Your Slider?

 

 

So You Have a Good Fastball…NOW WHAT???
You Need a Pitch That Breaks Away from the Hitter

This is the most prevalent flaw when a RHP with a small arsenal of pitches is facing a left handed hitter, and visa versa. Why do you think late inning matchups are such a big deal in Major League games? Because you can’t afford to pitch to a hitters strength.

Agreed!

When you have a pitch breaking away from the strikezone and away from the barrel of the bat, you are creating a lot of microdamages to a hitter. Thus forcing him to make quite a few adjustments.

1. The hitter looking and even chasing pitches away maximizes your ability to pitch inside.  The hitter can only protect one side of the plate. When you are able to expand the zone, you make it harder for the hitter to protect. Following up a pitch away like that, your inside fastball has just become far more dominant!  
2. In addition to that, most pitches that break away from a hitter are not fastballs.  Therefore, Hard Inside, Soft Away is the most basic scouting report to get hitters out at any level. Even in the Bigs!
3. Quite simple, one cannot hit what eludes the barrel of the bat.  All hitters know that, few to none will ever be man enough to admit that.  Which is why their ego will keep forcing them to swing at pitches breaking away from the zone. They keep forgetting they are not Superman. EXPLOIT IT!!!!

In this scenario, RHP vs LHH and LHP vs RHH, a change up and/or 2-seam fastball with a good run on it, are the 2 easiest pitches to learn for this necessity. They will work most effectively.  

 

So You Have a Good Fastball…NOW WHAT???
Throw Strikes, Change Speeds, Work Fast

My grandfather taught me this a long time ago. It was the simplest advice I ever received about pitching, and yet the most effective.  So I will keep it simple here also. The first 2 components speak for themselves. The last one, not only benefits you, yet your teammates as well.  Let’s start with the team aspect. When you can throw strikes and work fast, your defense will be excited to play behind you. You are keeping them active and that is what they want. Hence, they will make more plays for you. Take into account, that you control how focused your defense is by keeping them engaged. Consequently, you get what you give.

Being deliberate between pitches benefits no one. Your defense will be back on their heels. As for you, the pitcher, taking too long will force you to overthink your pitches and how to execute them. Disastrous! Also, slow workers tend to lose explosion in their delivery. The body stiffens up between pitches. As a result, the pitcher struggles to find a rhythm.

 

 

So You Have a Good Fastball…NOW WHAT???
Be a Competitor

Plain and Simple, you have to want the ball!  Gravitate towards the big spot. You will never get to the next level when you don’t relish in the competition. Coaches don’t want a pitcher who is timid or afraid. Teams don’t win with those pitchers.

To cut to the chase of this, the thought of losing does not occupy the mindset.  The main goal here is to make pitches. Early in the game, middle of the game, late in the game, make your pitches.  With a lead, in a tie game, or losing, make your pitches. First pitch of the at bat, 0-2, or 3-0, make your pitches. Do so with complete conviction that every pitch you make is the best one for that spot. This is what truly intimidates hitters. It’s their Kryptonite!

 

In aiding to your execution, keep your emotions out of it. Don’t let the situation on the game dictate how you approach making a pitch.  If the umpire is squeezing you or you fielders made a few errors, stay in the moment. Most times, you are 1 pitch from getting out of a jam. On the other end of the spectrum, don’t get too amped by the big spot. Thus, don’t get overly excited when your defense turns a big double play and you still have 1 more out to get. For example, now the clean up hitter is batting with the tying run on 3rd. Don’t overthow. Stay within yourself and stick to the game plan of making pitches.  

Even Keel….never too high, never too low.  You are a pitcher, not a linebacker.
Any Questions? Refer to the 2x Cy Young Award Winner above.

 

So You Have a Good Fastball…NOW WHAT???
Go Make it Happen!!!

Take these tips and run with them! This is the foundation for your success as a pitcher. Velocity means nothing unless you know how to use it correctly. Whenever you feel as though you may be derailed from time to time, come back to this post to regroup. Simplifying the process is the best way to get yourself out of a slump. Be sure to use the other posts here on this site as references to help you through various pitching situations.  And as always…

Keep Dominating!!!