wwjdwithca

That's good advice!

I guess we will just have to respectfully disagree on the the workout of their arms.

Off speed pitches is another area we'll disagree about as well. I've done a bit of reading on this matter, and there's really no evidence of a slider causing elbow problems. The problem is that many kids don't want to throw a real slider, they want to see the ball break 3 feet, so they end up throwing a curve. I don't believe a slow curve is an effective pitch against a good hitter anyway, and since you don't throw curves at poor hitters...what's the point? But a well thrown slider is extremely effective. The hitter thinks he's seeing a fastball, and when it gets to the plate the bottom falls out. Extremely hard to hit!

I will agree with you that any off-speed pitch should be thrown only at selective times in each inning, and really never against weak hitters. For several reasons: I Coach Minors, and these boys just can't get that pitch over the plate often enough, you need to have a good catcher who will block the ball with runners on base, plus it's just more effective when the kids don't see it often.

But I cannot tell you how much more successful a young pitcher can be with having one effective off speed pitch. Now if the kid doesn't have any velocity on his fastball.....then forget it. What's the point? But if he has a solid fastball, he MUST learn a second pitch. There are just too many good hitters who can hit a fastball....one trip to the 40 MPH batting cage proves my point. After just a few pitches at the same speed and location even the weakest hitters can catch-up to a fastball. To be able to mix in an well placed off-speed pitch will take the best hitters to their knees.

I'll agree with you on another matter too. Throwing strikes is much more important than knowing any number of pitches. Two of my better pitchers have very good fastballs, but constantly suffer from not being able to throw strikes. Strikes, strikes, and more strikes. Half the kids you'll face want to Walk. Got to throw strikes. That's why I teach them a pitch I call a "Nice and Easy Strike." It's fastball grip, but the pitcher just takes a bit off just to get it over the plate.

Anyway, good discussion. Thanks.

Preacherman, I have dedicated Pitching practices, and two of my pitchers are Catchers as well, and I've have never seen either of those kids get tired from Catching, Pitching yes, catching....never.

Pitching has so much more energy involved. Not only do they throw much harder than 25% (as you say), they are throwing change-ups and breaking balls (I teach them sliders). This requires 4-5 TIMES more energy than a simple return lob toss from the catcher.

Kind of common sense.

Most of my kids need two things. Encouragement, and pratice. Now I'm not talking about "You can do it. Come on, just try." type of encouragement. I'm talking about "Get in their! Don't back down! Get angry! That ball needs to be scared of you!" type of encouragement. I've had kids after I say something like that to them just crack the ball. Then on the very next pitch, I don't say anything and they're timid again. Pretty amazing!

And you just have to do it alot!

Is he wearing batting gloves? Also, his bat might be too short, and he's hitting the ball on the bat too close to the end of the barrel. The sweet spot is just above where the barrel finishes it's taper, about 2/3 the length. Also, a larger diameter bat (within league reg's) would help too.

Good luck!

Try holding their right foot in place (by another player) for right handed kids.  Make them use their whole body when throwing.

Good luck.