Stafford Baseball Performance - Training Pitchers with Command Issues: Part 2

Training Pitchers with Command Issues: Part 2

Author Michael Stafford

Now that my background has been discussed along with the overall mistakes I have noticed around baseball today. I want to dive into the meat and potatoes of training command. As I have discussed in earlier articles I am a true believer of implementing high level data driven methods despite only having access to low level technology.

A common trend in many pitching development programs is to primarily focus on developing the fastball. Although I am a true believer in placing a heavy focus on velocity development in the off-season, it should not take a backseat to developing overall skill. Bottom line pitchers need to learn how to pitch and to consistently command their arsenal . Velocity is simply a tool to get a foot in the door of the college/professional game. I will say it in my playing days I placed my total off-season focus on developing a better fastball. As a result a threw hard and my stuff was sharp, but I lacked the overall skill to compete in an actual game. There needs to be a balance as far as training for overall velocity and training for command.

Many major programs have begun to implement data from top dollar technology such as products like Trackman, Rapsodo, and Diamond Kinetics. Each of these products has been proven to be highly effective for gathering, monitoring and analyzing data in regards to pitching performance. These products gather data such as velocity, spin rate, spin axis, and true spin. These products also are highly effective for gathering data regarding horizontal and vertical breaks. With that said having access to these forms of technology can be extremely effective for developing command and designing pitches.

As I said before not having access to these products, does not mean you cannot effectively train pitchers to have high level command. Currently I coach at Liberty Christian Academy. We have been blessed to have had a lot of success in the past few years despite having a low level budget. We do not have access to any advanced technology other than a radar gun, a net, and a ball. I try to point players, parents, and coaches back to what athletes from third world countries are doing. Many latin american players come from extremely poor environments with low level technology. Often times these athletes don’t having access to a ball or even a glove. Yet, much of professional baseball is dominated by athletes from these countries. These players simply develop stronger deliveries and learn to repeat their deliveries in order to create “feel for their pitches.” I have heard countless stories of athletes throwing into things such as a fence, a hay bail, or just a giant X on a wall. No matter what people are throwing at or into their is one thing in common. There isn’t a person on the other side! There isn’t anyone around at all!

I am a true believer in the power of throwing into a net or target. In order for athletes to develop “feel” they must be able to physically and cognitively be able to repeat their deliveries and throw to a consistent spot. Throwing to a net forces pitchers to actively picture a strike zone. Some simple ideas include purchasing a strike zone tarp or simply taping a box onto a net/wall in order to actively picture the strike zone. This also allows the pitcher to start their training progression without any outside distractions. It is just them, the ball, and the net. Another interesting concept which I have seen grow in extreme popularity is creating a pitching tunnel (Picture, Pitching Tunnels 2018). This is in an effort to create a type of tunnel vision needed for high focused intent. The second popular option I have seen grow in popularity is the V-Flex product (Picture, V-Flex 2018).

These products are great for teaching young players to narrow their focus as well as create a cognitive image of the strike zone. If you are a low tech program similar to ours another effective tool is to use nets or a cage to create tunnel vision. This is a much more cost effective alternative. Now that we have discussed the tools lets discuss the training progression.

Training Progression

As we begin in our off-season training, I encourage the athlete to begin their command training up close. The thought that pitchers should always throw from 60’ 6” has never made sense to me. I look at other sports such as basketball. In basketball players also need to develop the same type of proprioception. In simpler terms they develop “feel” or “touch.” In basketball players start close in order to make the margin of error smaller then progressively move back to make it tougher to put the ball in the basket. Essentially we are developing the same type of “feel” or “touch.”

Along with our velocity and long toss program. I start with the player throwing at a target about 35 feet in front of them. I have them zone in one one particular area of the plate to master. For example a lefty which movement on their two seam will work at a spot on the outer half of the plate (arm side). A righty with a hard four seam will need to dominate the inner half of the plate (glove side). I then do two simple drills. The first is a simple stacked drill, which takes the lower half out of the equation. The second is to have the pitcher either step and throw from the stretch position or lift and throw from the Stretch/Windup. Once they master their command goals for that week from that close I begin to work them back week by week to 45’ then 55’ then eventually getting to the 60’ 6” off flatground. We then work back to 65’ to do a long bullpen then back to 60’ 6” off of the mound.

With college age pitchers I recommend implementing differential training, along with the overall drill work and target work. This is a popular theory proposed by driveline baseball in which pitchers throw a random assortment of different weighted baseballs along with different size balls (Driveline 2018). The idea is to actively challenge the motor skills involved in feeling for a pitch.

With each drill and throw I count and give the pitcher a strike percentage for the whole workout. The goals is to improve upon their strike percentage during each throwing phase of the throwing progression. The elite major league players can operate from 65 % - 70% strikes over a whole season. The goal for my high school pitchers to operate over 60%-65% strikes.

Once the pitcher reaches a certain part of the throwing stage and reaches a certain strike percentage then we begin to add other variables. These include areas such as pitches, a catcher, a batter, simulated games, and scrimmage. Finally we throw them into the game once the season starts.

Not to be mistaken we do throw from other distances during our throwing program. These distances are simply for recording data and allowing the pitcher to work with intent at closer distances. Below is a chart for suggested distances and goals. Challenge your players and challenge yourself. I encourage making friendly team competitions during bullpen sessions as the season approaches. In the earlier stages limit the amount of outside distractions.

Distance/Target Factors

Goal Strike %

35 ft (target)

90-100%

45 ft (target)

85-90%

55 ft (target)

80-85%

60 ft (target)

70-80%

65 ft (target)

70-75%

60 ft (catcher)

65% >

60 ft mound (catcher)

65% >

60 ft mound (catcher)

65% >

60 ft mound (catcher & batter)

65% >

60 ft mound (catcher & batter)

65% >

60 ft mound (Simulated Game)

65% >

60 ft mound (Scrimmage)

65% >

Season Starts

It is my goal to help pitchers improve their overall processes involved in their offseason training. Through hard work and commitment high level command can be achieved. If you have any questions regarding my program or what we do with our high school players please feel free to contact me at any time or sign up for private instruction.

*For pitchers who struggle with performance anxiety “the yips,” I often suggest throwing into a net up close and progressively moving the net back from the mound. This allows them to focus on their overall movements verses the actual result of the pitch. It gives them a regained confidence in what they are trying to achieve. Once the net is moved all the way back, have people stand behind the net. The next step is to add a catcher with people behind the net. Finally add a batter with people watching and have them continue to talk and make noise. The constant pressure of people behind and watching simulates a game situation with fans and distractions. The overall goal is to help mentally struggling players to regain their confidence.

1/8/2019

Author,

Michael Stafford

References

Hezel, B. (2018, September 06). Implementing Command Training Into Team Practice.

https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2018/09/implementing-command-training-team-practice/

Throw Thru Pitching Tunnels (2019), Pro Pitching Tunnel.

https://www.throwthru.com/

Portrait Mode for Pitchers (2019). Blog Article.

http://www.vflexsports.com/blog/portrait-mode-for-pitchers/

Google Sites

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