So, You Want to Play Professional Baseball?

Yesterday was another one of those days. You know, the type of day where a ballplayer asks himself, "Is it worth it?"

The day (Monday January 25th) started out with a 6:30 "New Slang" by the Shins alarm. It was moving day. As a minor league baseball player, you can fit all that you need in life into two suitcases. Some days you pack with the excitement of a promotion...or making the trip home. Others, you pack with the anxiety of having to say "goodbye" or "see you in a few months". Yesterday was one of the "others".

At 7am, it was time to head to the airport in Charlotte. Accompanying me was my girlfriend, Karena, and in the car behind us my mom, Susan. Both Karena and my mom have both done the "goodbye" day before, so it isn't quite as hard; but, there is a distinct sadness in the thought of both the distance that is about to separate us as well as the uncertainty as to when we'll see each other next. It was a somber car ride to Charlotte Douglas, needless to say.

By 7:45, it was time to say goodbye. It gets easier; but, it never gets easy. When you're hugging the ones you love at this moment, you try and soak up every second. You try and take one last mental image or think of one more reassuring thing to say and lighten the mood. However, the goodbye is inevitable, and there is a rent-a-cop telling you to move your vehicle.

Leaving that curb is, without a doubt, the worst part of the day.

Come 8:50am EST, it is take-off time. After dropping $60 for bags and grabbing a middle seat, its' time for the first flight of the day: 3 hours to Houston.

I got into Houston at 11am CST and didn't have time to get the BBQ I was looking forward to. There was only time to catch my connector.

11:35am CST: I flew out of Houston on a 3 hour flight to Phoenix.

At 2 pm MST, I landed in Phoenix. This is where the fun started. After grabbing my two, 50 pound bags from baggage claim, I had to grab a Super Shuttle and head to Peoria to find an apartment. Thats correct, I flew to Phoenix with no definite place of residence. Plan B was a night at the La Quinta in Peoria; but, after spending roughly 150 nights in 2009 there, I was going to do everything in my power to not let that happen.

After a 20 minute wait for the Super Shuttle, it was time to continue the journey. Four others and I hopped in the shuttle and made our way to Peoria. Now, normally, it is a 15-20 minute drive from Phoenix to Peoria; but, not when you are a minor league baseball player who needs to find an apartment before 5pm. An hour and a half later, I made it to Camden apartment complex. Fortunately, the iPod shuffle was still kicking, and the attendant at the apartment complex informed me that they had an apartment that I could move into immediately.

- I will add (so I don't come off as a completely unprepared slacker) that I had called ahead a few days earlier and been told that numerous units were available; so, it wasn't completely blind faith.

Once I was finished initialing and signing the next 2+ months of my life away to Camden, the snowball had gained speed and at 5pm, I had an apartment.

While signing the paperwork at Camden, I had called a buddy of mine, Mike Demark. At 5 PM MST, Demark scooped me from Camden and took me to pick up the car of the guy that is going to be staying with me through Spring Training. From this point on, a bunch of necessary errands were run. Here is the time line:

5:15- Pick up roommate (Evan Scribner's car)
5:25- Go to Evan's storage unit, smooth talk/beg the manager to let us in the gate.
5:30- Illegally give Scrib's password and go to storage unit
5:31- Grab bed frame, mattress and other miscellaneous items from Scrib's storage unit.
5:35- Drive to new apartment with mattress and bed frame on top of vehicle with only my left arm and Demark's right arm holding them down to the roof. (the car is a 2001 Maxima)
5:40- Move stuff into apartment.
6:00- Walmart trip
6:45- Trader Joe's trip
7:30-Unload stuff, put sheets on mattress, unpack clothes
8:30-Cook dinner/realize there is nowhere to sit and no TV to watch
9:00 (12am ET)- Done for the day.

At the end of the day, I felt pretty good about what I had accomplished; but, when thinking of the months that lie ahead, there was a lingering feeling of already missing my family and friends.

This profession I have chosen enables me to experience triumphant moments, meet extraordinary people, and play a game for a living that I have played since I was 5 years old.
However, it is also a profession that guarantees you nothing, promises you no clear path or stability, and takes you far away from those you love the most.

At the end of the day yesterday, I asked myself again, "Is it worth it?"

"Yes."

UTR Interview: Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller
Florida Marlins

Link to Player Profile

True Story: In the summer of 2004, Miller pitched for the Chatham Athletics of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was in the middle of a pretty standard start for that summer, punch-outs and goose eggs; except that one punch-out stood out among the rest. It was against a right-handed hitter who began the at-bat by attempting to sacrifice bunt a runner to 2nd base. Here is how nasty this guy was that summer:

1st Pitch: Fastball, 96 up and in. The guy whiffs on a bunt, and the ball hits him squarely in the chest for strike 1.

2nd pitch: Slider, 87. It started down the middle and took a hard right, directly into the hitter's chest...after he whiffed on another bunt attempt. Strike 2.

3rd pitch (The guys in the bullpen are already dying laughing): Slider, 86. The batter recognizes the pitch starting out over the plate only to realize that it is another slider coming right at him. However, it is too late. He is already committed to swinging, and when he does, he misses and the pitch wears him in the back of the leg. Punch-out...and pretty comical to say the least.

I've played with some guys that were flat out born to throw a baseball, but Miller tops them all. His ball has a different kind of sink, a different kind of gitty-up, and coming from his low 3/4 slot, a different kind of gross. Here is an inside look at one of the best lefties in the game.

UTR: In your experience in the game, what seperates the good pitchers from the great?

AM: I would say that the great pitchers have separated themselves from good pitchers by eliminating and working on their weaknesses. You would never talk about a "great" pitcher and his lack of control or weak secondary pitches. I would say that "great" pitchers are generally complete pitchers. Also, great pitchers are mentally strong and have an ability to keep their emotions in check. All of these things seem cliche but I believe they are true.

UTR: Your slider has always been a very tough pitch on lefties. How would you describe your grip, and what goes into making that such a good pitch for you?

AM: My slider is basically a curveball grip that has a more horizontal break as a result of my low arm slot. There is nothing funny about my grip or my approach in throwing it. I feel that when I am having a lot of success with my slider it is because I am able to control the break and the speed of the pitch based on the hitter and the count and what I want to accomplish with that particular pitch. For example, I may throw a slower, bigger breaking slider to a lefty early in the count for a strike and then follow that up with a harder slider off the plate with more depth later in the count when I need a strikeout. It's rarely that easy, but when things are going well, I feel like I have the ability to do that. On the other hand, some days my feel for that pitch is lacking and the approach is much simpler.

UTR: You've pitched in some big games over the course of your career. What advice do you have for younger pitchers on how to handle pitching in big games?

AM: I would say treat every game the same. Develop a routine which you follow for every game whether it is a scrimmage, midweek college game or world series game. If you try to change your approach and routine based on how important the game is, your emotions will be much harder to keep in check. Find what works and stick with it.

UTR: What is the mechanical aspect that you focus on the most with your delivery?

AM: Unfortunately for me, this is what I feel like I have been battling with for the last couple of years. There is a very fine line between having good thoughts and having too many thoughts. I think the best way to approach this is to know of a few thoughts that you can use depending on the adjustment you need to make. For example, if I continue to miss up in the zone and arm side (which happens quite often for me), I generally know that I'm rushing my delivery and that I need to keep my legs under me and slow down my delivery.

UTR: Since you debuted in the Major Leagues in 2006, who has given you the best advice and what was it?

AM: It's hard to think of a specific piece of advice as I have met so many great people with great pitching minds and had the opportunity to pick their brains. I will never forget the dinner I had with Sandy Koufax last year when I was able to hear him talk about pitching as I just did my best to soak it all in (which was almost impossible to do because the whole time I was sitting there all I could think about is "Wow, I'm having dinner and talking pitching with Sandy Koufax!"). It was interesting to hear his theories on pitching and how they varied from modern thinking and teaching about pitching. Everything he said made perfect sense and was physiologically broken down. He told me a story about how he used to practice throwing his curveball by having the catcher hold mitt his facing the sky so he could practice having the ball drop into the glove or how he would set a cardboard box on top of home plate and try to throw his curveball into the box (It's no wonder his curveball is such a legendary pitch, it must have been amazing to see in person). Also, any time I could listen to Kenny Rogers talk about pitching I was all ears. He has an ability to break the game down and simplify it. He would say things and I would just sit there and be like "I've never thought about it that way, but it makes so much sense now." I remember a drill he did in spring training where he would set cones out on the mound during pfp's showing the ground he wanter to cover. He would then explain that if he could cover that small area it would allow his infielders to move towards the holes a few feet and therefore get him a few extra outs. There have been so many great people that it would be impossible to pick one quote or even one person that has given me the "best" advice.

UTR: Other than your two home ballparks with the Tigers and the Marlins, which ballpark & city have been your favorite to pitch in?

AM: I am definitely partial to Yankee Stadium (the old one, I haven't been to the new one) because that's where I made my debut. It was the most amazing feeling to stand on that mound and look around. The upper deck was right on top of you like no other stadium I've been to. Anytime I've gotten to pitch in front of a packed stadium has been amazing. It is so much fun to be out there when the crowd gets loud. Other stadiums I've liked are Fenway (so cool when the crowd sings Sweet Caroline), the Metrodome (loudest place I've been by far), and Seattle (probably the best newer park). Really though, any stadium with a sell out crowd is amazing.

UTR: Who is the best pitcher you've played with or against in the Big Leagues, and what do you think makes him so good?

AM: It's hard to say who is the best overall. I'll go with best performances... Kenny Rogers' run in the 2006 postseason for Detroit was unreal. Justin Verlander's no hitter was so much fun to watch from the dugout. I remember looking at the scoreboard in the second inning to make sure he hadn't given up a hit yet because his stuff was that amazing that night. You could just tell early on that it was going to be special. When he hit 102 mph in the 9th inning I think that solidified it as something that will be hard to top. I love watching any lefty, but especially when guys like Cliff Lee, Johan Santana, and Cole Hamels have their change-ups going.

UTR: During stretches in your career, where you haven't been as satisfied with your results, what do you tell yourelf or do to overcome and work through them?

AM: Just keep working hard and keep throwing the ball. Practice, practice, practice.

UTR: Many pitching coaches have differing opinions on whether pitchers should or should not long toss. What are your thoughts on long tossing?

AM: While I think everyone is different and should tailor a program to themselves, I think long tossing is the best way to strengthen your arm. I also think the best way to prevent arm injuries is to have a strong arm which you achieve by throwing as much as you can. That's just my two cents though.

UTR: Which hitter has been your toughest out over the course of your career?

AM: Hitters that can waste pitches and foul off good pitches are the most frustrating for me. I will never forget the first time I faced Johnny Damon and I thought I threw him the perfect slider a few times throughout the at-bat and he just fouled them off. Also, guys like Vladimir Guerrero where there is no good scouting report aren't any fun to face. Chase Utley is a guy that I have to face quite a bit right now who is extremely tough to get out. He stands closer to the plate than anybody in the majors and can cover the plate so well with a great eye. Just a tough out.

-Many thanks to Andrew Miller for taking the time to share some of his knowledge and experience in the game with the blog. From top to bottom, there is a lot of great advice in there.

Talking Counts

Baseball is a game of statistics. One of the things that I love about being a pitcher, and one of the roots of my confidence while on a mound, is the fact that the numbers are in my favor. Statistically, if a pitcher can make a habit of getting to "pitcher's counts" (0-1, 0-2, 1-2, and I would argue 2-2), he has a good chance of making a living in baseball.

Here are my thoughts on what I consider the most important counts for a pitcher:

0-0: Throwing first pitch strikes is critical for a pitcher and his pursuit of success. After a game, take a look at a pitcher's 1st pitch strike percentage and you can make a pretty good guess as to what kind of day he had. According to MLB stats, hitters hit .317 when they are in a 0-1 count. However, they hit .339 in 1-0 counts. As a pitcher, this is huge because it allows you to have many more options for the remainder of the count. Once you fall behind 2-0, the statistics say that hitters average a heavy .351. Worst case scenario after a pitcher gets to 0-1, he falls to 1-1 and hitters only improve from .317 to .325. Not much of a difference, and you are still in the count.

1-1: In my opinion, this is the most important count for a pitcher. Throwing a strike here is enormously important and here is why: As I mentioned, in this count, hitters average .325. If a pitcher is able to get ahead with another strike, the hitter's batting average drops considerably to .177! As a result, a pitcher puts himself in a great position to win the at-bat. However, if a pitcher is unable to throw a strike on 1-1 and falls t0 2-1, batters hit .337. I was a Communications major while in school at UNC, and steered clear of the Math department, but that is a difference of .160 between 1-2 and 2-1 counts; suggesting that you're twice as likely to succeed if you work the count to 1-2. From a pitcher's perspective, it can really wear on you when you fall behind 2-1, requiring that you follow it with a great pitch. Instead of putting the hitter away, you have to come back and do it again on 2-2.

2-1: A hitter's count. Hitters hit .337 in this count and, on top of that, it is a great time to hit and run for the batter's team. This is important. If you're a pitcher, think about how many times you gave up a double play ball right at the 2B or SS in that situation, only to have him covering second base. Once that happens, you're left with runners on first and third with less than 2 outs, versus 2 outs and nobody on. As a result, at a 2-1 count it becomes vital to have the ability to throw a 2nd or 3rd pitch for a strike. The better your ability as a pitcher to do this, the better your fastball will look to a hitter. If you're going to get to a 2-1 count, you need your fastball to be as good as possible. Otherwise, drop in a slider or change and get back to 2-2. If you get to 2-2, you are back in the count. Hitters hit .194 in this count; giving you plenty of options. However, if you fall behind 3-1, you are looking at a .355 average for hitters. A difference of .161! Now I know what you are thinking, there is a greater variance between 2-2/3-1 than 2-1/1-2. Thus making 2-1 arguably the most important count. However, I believe if a pitcher consistently gets to 2-1, he is more likely to struggle and be pulled from a game sooner than the pitcher who consistently gets to 1-1. That pitcher gives himself the ability to go deep into a game.

0-2- If you consistently get here, you will consistently succeed. In my experience, you get here (a) with fastball command (down and to both sides of the plate), (b) command of a 2nd and 3rd pitch, and c) changing speeds. It is plain and simple. MLB hitters hit .162 in this count. It starts with 0-1, and virtually finishes with 0-2. It's easier said than done; but, get here and you will have total control of the count. It's like when Shoeless Joe said to Moonlight Graham in this count, "a hitter has to watch out for low and away, but be careful of his ear."

UTR Interview: Daniel Bard

Daniel Bard - Boston Red Sox

2009 Stats:
AAA- 1-0 1.13 ERA, 6 saves, 16 inn, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 29 K, 16.31 K/9
MLB- 2-2 3.65 ERA, 49 app, 1 save, 49.1 inn, 41 H, 20 ER, 22 BB, 63 K, 11.49 K/9

LINK: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReW1Gaw5bkI&feature=related

In this game, there are guys who are blessed to be as good as they are, and there are guys that work to get where they are. Charlotte, N.C. native Daniel Bard is a true example of both. Yes, he is a player with rare physical abilities; but, it is his desire to succeed and better his game that have allowed him to achieve all that he has. I had the privilege of getting up with Bardo for some questions for Under the Radar. Hope you guys will benefit from this as much as I have.

UTR: At what point in your life did you a) realize that you wanted to be a Major Leaguer and b) realize that it was an achievable goal?

DB: As crazy as it sounds, I think I truly wanted to be a Major League baseball player since I was 5 or 6 years old. My dad played minor league baseball, so it was always a very real and plausible thing for me. I honestly had no other plans in life as far as what I wanted to do when i grew up because my mind was so set on becoming a big leaguer. There were definitely times when I was 13 or 14 years old when I was not nearly the best player on my team, but I just chalked it up to the fact that I figured I was a "late bloomer". I kept working with the mentality that I just needed to make myself a little bit better each day, not focusing on the ultimate goal of reaching the big leagues, and over time, you realize that you're making huge strides toward that goal.

UTR: Mechanically with your delivery, what is the thing you focus on the most?

DB: This is something that can change for me from year to year or even week to week, depending on what I'm working on or struggling with at the time. I would say my main keys to my delivery are keeping my front side closed as long as possible (late hip rotation), as well as driving the ball down through the bottom of the zone. After facing major league hitters, I have really come to realize the importance of downward angle on the ball. To me, downward angle with a little bit of deception will get hitters out consistently, regardless of velocity or amount of movement.

UTR: What is one of the best pieces of advice that you have ever received?

DB: I would have to say it's my Dad telling me from a young age to have fun playing the game. If it's not fun anymore, it's not worth playing. That doesn't mean if you don't enjoy putting in the work in the offseason or between outings that you should just give it up. I don't particularly enjoy doing conditioning in January, but it's all necessary for the preparation for the season, which is where the real fun is had. I think a big part of having fun for me, even when was having a terrible season in A-ball in 2007, was enjoying the camaraderie of your teammates. No matter how things are going for you on the field, always enjoy the feeling of being on a team and hanging out with your friends on a daily basis. The relationships you form in your baseball career will long outlast your days on the field.

UTR: Which hitter over the course of your career was/is the toughest out?

DB: Right now I have to say Mark Texiera. He has gotten the best of me a couple times. He took me deep on a slider, then I got him out with fastballs up and in, but I tried to repeat it the next time I faced him and he adjusted, cleared his hips and put it in the right field bleachers. He makes adjustments as well as anyone I've faced, but I look forward to the challenge of facing him for years to come.

UTR: You hear some guys say it is better to pitch to contact and then others talk about trying to miss bats? Which do you prefer and why?

DB: Definitely pitch to contact, but pitch to weak contact. To me, that means making quality pitches within the zone early in the count. I've found that when I pitch to weak contact, my strikeout numbers actually go up. I find myself consistently getting in better counts (0-2, 1-2), which allows for you to try to throw a swing and miss pitch, out of the zone. At that point, if you don't get the swing and miss you were looking for and get to 2-2, it's time to pitch to contact again. I'm big on visualization, before outings, or even between pitches during a game. I try to visualize the pitch I'm about to throw, whether it's a fastball, slider, change-up, whatever, and I see the hitter taking a poor swing and breaking his bat or making weak contact. It will instantly increase your confidence in that pitch when you picture it blowing up that hitter's bat in your mind. Sounds crazy, but it works for me.

UTR: Talk about a time when you had a difficult stretch that you had to overcome. What were some of the things you did to persist and overcome that stretch?

DB: I had an absolutely miserable season in 2007, my first full season of pro baseball. I started the year in high-A and was soon demoted to low-A after 5 terrible starts and some arm troubles. I finished that year with an ERA around 7 and more walks than innings pitched. Talk about a wake up call. It was tough to s truggle so badly at something that had always come so easy to me. It was tough to realize that this dream of playing baseball for a living might come to a halt a lot sooner than I wanted it to. It turned out that it was probably the best thing that's ever happened to me in my career. It forced me to realize that there's so much more to life than baseball. I had great famil y and friends who supported me despite my huge disappointments on the field. I went in to my 2008 season with a new outlook. I was going to work as hard as I could at what I could control, and let the things outside of my control take care of themselves. I was going to try to enjoy the people I was with, no matter what level I was playing at. They sent me back to low-A to start that season. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, thinking that I was a first rounder and I'm the oldest guy on this team, and I deserve to be at a higher level, I just tried to make the best of the situation, enjoy the people I was around every day, and work my butt off. This new approach paid off quickly, and I spent about 6 weeks there before being promoted to AA. This promotion was much more appreciated becau se of the struggles and the work that was required to earn it.

UTR: Is there a thought or general mentality that you take with you to the mound from game to game that works well for you?

DB: We have a mental skills coach in our organization that I have gotten to know very well in my time with the Red Sox. I didn't realize the importance of mental toughness in baseball until I reached the professional level. It is amazing how knowing y ou're going to get someone out, and truly believing it and having that attitude out on the mound, will get most hitters out. You will have more confidence and conviction in your pitches, which results in physically throwing better pitches. I've heard pitching coaches say that the "wrong" pitch in a situation can become the right pitch if it's thrown with confidence. I truly believe this and it's a big part of my game. If the catcher puts down a slider because of what the scouting report says, but I am second-guessing whether or not I can execute that pitch, then its not the right pitch! I'm better off throwing a fastball dow n and away to this guy, because that's the pitch I'm going to throw with confidence and it's probably going to be a much better quality pitch. It's like throwing your breaking ball 0-2 versus 3-2. Most pitchers can throw a filthy breaking ball in an 0-2 count because they have nothing to lose and they throw it with confidence, but in a 3-2 count, most pitchers slow everything down and try to make a perfect pitch, end up "aiming" the ball, and they either hang it down the middle of the plate or miss the strike zone badly. It's the same pitch, just thrown with a different mentality. If you can learn to take the confidence you throw your pitches in an 0-2 count to ALL counts, you will be a better pitcher because if it.

UTR: You have one of the most respected catchers' in the game, Jason Varitek, as your catcher. What kind of impact did he have with you on settling in Boston?

DB: It's nice to have a catcher that you can fully trust behind the plate. Tek is one of the smartest players I've ever been around at any position, and on top of that, the guy studies opposing hitters with the focus of Woody studying for finals at Carolina (that was a joke). But seriously, his brain is like an encyclopedia of at-bats and scouting reports that goes back more than a decade. He remembers everything. To have a guy like that, who's caught 4 no hitters, calling pitches for you, well I'll just say it helps you feel a lot of confidence in what pitches you're throwing.

UTR: Do you have any advice for guys on how to handle pitching in "big" games?

DB: I would say don't be afraid of the extra adrenaline that comes with pitching in big games. My stuff, command, etc. has been better in the biggest games I've pitched in, going back to high school state championships, college world series games, major league debut, and playoff debut. I think you just have to take those "butterflies" or whatever you want to call them and use them to fuel your desire to win, rather than your fear of losing or failing. Curt Schilling told me that he would get ridiculously nervous before every game, all the way into the last year of his career. He told me this in spring training right before he was about to face a bunch of minor league hitters in an exhibition game. He said his stomach was in knots. You wonder why big league closers struggle in non-save situations? It's because they've become so accustomed to pitching with their heart pounding and adrenaline pumping, that it's hard for them to pitch when they are feeling calm and relaxed in a non-pressure situation. In summary, it's not about getting rid of butterflies before a big game, it's about finding a way to use them to your advantage. You have the ball. You control the timing of the game. If it speeds up on you, step off and take a breath. The butterflies aren't gonna go away.

UTR: What drives, or motivates you to be successful in this game?

DB: I think it's a personal desire to succeed and see how my abilities match up with the best there is, regardless of what level I'm pitching at. When I was in high school, I wanted to be the best high school pitcher around. Same in college and the minor leagues, and now in the major leagues. I don't want to be the best for the recognition but more for the satisfaction that comes with achieving a personal goal. More importantly, what I want to get o ut of baseball. I want to positively impact the lives of everyone I come across in baseball, whether it's teammates or coaches or fans or younger players. Baseball has given me a great opportunity to do that, and I'm eternally thankful for that.

Many thanks to Bardo for taking the time to answer some questions for the blog. There is no doubt that his advice and experience can have a great impact on other pitchers' game and their ability to succeed.

Quick Tip: Check Your Dirt

When you're throwing a side between starts or appearances, do just what this title says, "check your dirt." The dirt on the mound will tell you a lot about how well you are repeating your delivery.

Start with your "drag line." Drag lines are caused by a pitcher's back foot pushing off of the rubber, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Whatever yours looks like, it should be doing the same thing every pitch.

Next, check your footprint from your lead stride leg. If you are consistently landing in the same spot with all of your pitches, you are either repeating your delivery or well on your way toward repeating it.

A consistent and repeatable drag line/landing point will allow you to have better feel for the timing of your delivery and will improve your ability to make adjustments pitch-to-pitch and game-to-game.

Quick Tip: Cut Down Pick-off Distance

In future posts, I plan on discussing in detail the importance of cutting down the distance from the point where you release the ball to home plate. But for today, I'm going to discuss cutting down the distance in another aspect of the game, the pick-off.

For years, I have thrown off of the right side (3rd base side) of the rubber. Up until my senior year of high school, I would say that I had an average pick-off move at best. Then it hit me, why not stand on the firstbase side of the rubber when I know I am going to pick? A part of me thought, no way this will actually improve my pick-off; but, sure enough, I found myself picking off more guys and forcing runners to take shorter leads. To this day, I still employ this tactic in my game. Even if a team picks up on it, they still have to respect my ability to pick them off when they take their leads.

It may only be a 12 inch difference, but when you've got a guy like Shane Robinson at first base, you need every inch you can get.

Controlling the running game (actually the entire running game in general) is very much overlooked. The drawing below illustrates the difference between picking off from the third base side vs. the first base side.

The red lines and circle indicate the position of a pitcher's feet and release point when picking to first from the 3rd base side. The blue lines and circle indicate a pitcher's feet and release point when picking to first from the 1st base side.

Warm-up LOW

Over the course of my career, I would say that success has come from the simple things. Occasionally I will post some of these as "Quick Tips" or even shorter blurbs that, I hope, will jump out at one of the readers and benefit their careers.

Today's "blurb" is simple. During your pre-game bullpen, warm-up aiming 3 or 4 inches lower than you would aim during the game when facing hitters. I can hit my spots all-day long in the bullpen, but when the adrenaline kicks in, those spots move up. If you train yourself to be down at bullpen-speed, you will be right where you want to be at game-speed.

I've seen 96 get hit a long ways when it's up, and Ive seen 82 blown by guys when down. It's no secret. Train yourself this way and you should see immediate results.

The 2nd grader's drawing of the day is intended to provide a simple visual for warming up low. The green dot is where you want to be in the game, and the red dot is where you want to be during pre-game.

Quick Tip: Head (L/R) Glove (Up/Down)

Here are two quick tips on making adjustments; gaining better command of your pitches during the course of a game:

Missing High/Low:

Typically, this occurs from a pitcher's glove falling or pulling down from in front of his torso. This often occurs when a pitcher is tired or overthrowing (or both). Focus on keeping your glove in front of your torso, and you should find yourself lowering your pitches in the zone.

Missing Left/Right:

Pay attention to what your head is doing. If your head is falling off to the left (if youre a righty) you are likely missing arm-side, or inside to righties. To fix this, tighten your abs and focus on squaring up your eyes to the mitt when you deliver a pitch.


A word of caution: These aren't the type of things you want to think about every pitch. Like the title of this post reads, these are quick tips. Overcoming consistent bad habits takes time and work in between outings or during an offseason. These tips are geared towards helping you get that 3-1 pitch back in the zone, preventing the big inning, and making them earn everything they get.

Note: The Steve Avery image is not ideal, and the Pedro Martinez image is ideal.