Control the Controllable

Things you can control as a pitcher:
- Your preparation - physically, mechanically, mentally
- Your tempo - slow when called for, fast when called for and regular
- Your demeanor - there is a time to let a lying dog lie and their is a time to "Joba Chamberlain"
- Fielding your position. - You wear a glove, too.
- Executing a pitch. - The catcher calls it. Your job to execute it.
- Understanding the situation. - You dont need to punch out the .600 hitter with one out, a runner on 2nd, and the game is tied...een if you get to a 3-2 count. Pitch to black - off, not 1/3's-middle.
- Pitching with conviction. -If the catcher throws down an inside fastball to a lefty on a 2-1 count and you immediately visualize the ball being crushed into next weekend, do not throw that pitch.
-Adjustments.

Things you cannot control:

- How you feel that day: Sometimes all the preparation in the world can't make your fastball have its usual life, your sinker's usual sink, or your curve's usual bite, etc...see Adjustments above. Sometimes you just have to find a way. For most, that way is down in the zone and/or pitching backwards (changes in fastball counts and 0-2, 1-2 fastballs inside).
- Errors. - You pitch because you are a better pitcher than the fielders, and they field because they are better fielders/hitters than you. They're trying to make plays, and you're trying to get outs.
- Strike Zone. - Its there, somewhere. In extreme situations of tightness, just throw it down the middle right below the knees and youll get through it...hopefully.
- Run Support. It comes and goes, but scoring runs is not your job.
- Who is, or is not, in the stands. - If you're pitching to impress a scout or a gf, youre likely to have some embarrassing outings. Heath Bell gave me some great advice before I faced the Angels in an exhibition game. He said, "When you're here for longer then 2 weeks, you can look in the stands. Until then, jog to the mound with your head down and dont look anywhere else other than the mitt." Needless to say, I nearly took a detoured route to 2nd base on my way to the mound that night in Anaheim.
-Arm Pain or Injury. - No game is worth risking the rest of your career. When youre hurt, youre hurt. You dont help yourself or your team by pitching hurt. Speak up, get treatment or the injury taken care of, and get back out there when youre healthy.

--By no means are these all of the cans and cannots, but its a start. These are lessons that I have learned throughout the years. By controlling the controllable, as I say, you should notice your level of consistency improve on the mound.