Baseball - Pitching A general plan that can lead pitchers to getting outs. A great read for the youth, high school, college and professional pitcher.

1. PITCHING
A General PlanTo
~Getting Hitters Out~

2. More than one way to skin a cat
■ This isn’t the only way
■ This is just a common sense general plan that can lead the pitcher to do his job which
is to get outs.

3. HAVING A PLAN
4THINGSTHAT HAVE NOTHINGTO DOWITHTHE DELIVERYAND EVERYTHINGTO DO
WITHYOUR HEART, MINDAND OBJECTIVE!
■ 1ST Pitch Strikes- This does two things. First, it makes the path to 2 of the first 3 pitches for
strikes much easier. Secondly by throwing a first pitch strike it takes the hitters ability to sit
on a FB, out of play. If you go 1-0, one of the next two pitches will likely be a FB. Advantage
hitter if that is the case.
■ 2 of first 3 pitches for strikes:This puts the pitcher at a huge statistical advantage. Batting
averages drop dramatically in 2 strike counts. The 1-1 count sticks out here. Know that in
2-1 counts big league hitters hit around .340. In 1-2 counts big league hitters hit around
.170 year after year. So which hitter do you want to face?You may want to select a pitch
you can throw for a strike 65% of the time or better.
■ Sub 15 pitch innings: Keeps the pitcher and catcher focused on attacking the strike zone
and will likely be a by-product of throwing first pitch strikes and two of the first three
pitches for strikes.
■ Lead off outs:This greatly reduces the opponent’s chances of scoring. They are basically
playing a half inning with two outs.

4. PRACTICEYOUR PLAN-
Practice Delivery AND Pitch Execution at the SameTime!!
■ Practice throwing first pitch strikes: Nothing simulates the game like the game itself.
It is very important for the pitcher to put himself in situations by practicing what he
needs to do in a game. Practice throwing 1st pitch strikes.
■ Down is a location too: Far too often we call pitches and try to execute pitches to
halves/thirds of the plate especially when we are even or behind in the count. Quite
often we reduce the odds of getting in positive counts by pitching on the edges. Don’t
lose sight of the fact that DOWN is a location too. Practice your ability to make
pitches over the plate but down in the strike zone.

5. PRACTICEYOUR PLAN-
Practice Delivery AND Pitch Execution at the SameTime!!
(Continued)
■ Pitch to both sides of the plate – Pitching Inside: Any successful pitcher must have the ability to
command the ball to both sides of the plate.This will certainly help with your ability to pitch in off the
plate.You must show that you will move the hitter’s feet.You do not want the hitter to be
comfortable.You must pitch inside early in the game and as soon as a hitter reaches out over home
plate or takes a comfortable swing.You must move his feet in these situations if the count will allow.
You will be able to get many hitters out by making pitches down and away.
■ You must protect your FB down & away with FB’s in.
■ If you and I eat dinner next to each other every night and you take food from my plate each night and I
do nothing about it you will continue that practice.
■ However if I stab your hand with a fork when you try to take food off of my plate you will then think
twice about it and will be a bit more tentative to reach over. I’m protecting my food with my fork.
■ Your fork is your FB in and your food is the outer third of the plate.

6. PRACTICEYOUR PLAN-
Practice DeliveryAND Pitch Execution at the SameTime!!
(Continued)
■ Practice secondary pitches for called strikes:Your ability to consistently throw secondary
pitches for called strikes will make your other pitches that much more effective. Spend
more time practicing throwing secondary pitches for strikes before we work on being finer
with those pitches.
■ Incorporate all of these things into your flat ground work and side work: Before we can
expect consistency with all of the above, we must make sure that we are practicing
executing those pitches on the side and during our flat ground work.
■ We end sidelines with Pitch outs to both sides: We need to be able to do it in a game so
we must practice it. No slide steps on pitch outs. The runner will not (should not) run if we
slide step.
■ Must work on intentional walk (Team PFP):Yet another skill we must execute in games so
we must practice it.

7. CATCHER/PITCH-
CALLER:
Know the plan &
Pitchers
strengths!Lead the pitcher into positive counts:
Typically setting up on the edges when the
pitcher is even or behind in the count will
lead to deep counts.
The moment you start trying to throw
perfect pitches or try to create swings and
misses you will more than likely create deep
counts.

8. CATCHER PITCH-
CALLER:
Must know what the
pitcher can and cannot
throw for a strike:
Catcher/Pitch-caller must know what the
pitcher can and cannot throw for a strike:
Goes without saying. An example would be
the catcher doesn’t need to call the pitchers
4th best pitch in 0-0, 1-0, 1-1, 2-2, 3-2
counts. Know what you can go to when in
need of a strike.

9. We encourage the
catcher to set up
behind plate when
even or behind in
count!
Give the pitcher the best chance to throw a
strike.
When you set on an edge in these counts
you don’t give the pitcher much room for
error if he misses your glove.
If you stay behind the plate and he does not
hit your glove the probability of a strike is
increased.

10. Catchers set up
can help when
pitcher is
missing:
When the pitcher is missing consistently to
one side of the glove then in that moment
overcompensating may help the pitcher get
back in the strike zone.
For example if you are set up in the middle
and he is missing to his arm-side (RHP)
then move over toward the LHH as this
often gets him back in the strike zone. Now
his misses are on the plate.

11. Breaking balls can
get the pitcher back
on track or can help
geeked up pitcher:
For the high anxiety or
amped/geeked up pitcher….you can
often begin with secondary stuff that
he may not tend to overthrow.
Control the geek!
Can also help get the pitcher
experiencing temporary control
problems get back in the strike zone.

12. The Starters Job!
– Pitch 6-7 innings: If we focus on 1st pitch strikes, 2 of the first 3 pitches for strikes, sub 15 pitch
innings and lead off outs this generally simple plan can help us do our job which is pitch 6-7
innings.
– In a 3-7 game series your team can become very exposed by one or two bad starts. If your
pitcher is at 85 pitches after 3-4 innings he isn’t exactly cruising. He is not being very efficient
by either getting hit or not throwing strikes or a combination of both.
– Not going to get there throwing 25 pitches every inning:Trying to be perfect, overthrowing,
trying to strike everyone out…..all tends to lead to high pitch counts. If you are fairly efficient
you can get thru 6-7 innings in 90-115 pitches. The game should be over or nearly over by the
time you reach these pitch counts. If you are above 115 pitches by the 6th -7th innings then you
have not been very effective and probably not very sharp in regards to stuff and command.
– Swings and misses or perfect pitches create deep counts: Pitchers biggest trap you can fall
into.

13. Starters need a 3rd pitch
– Not going to do your job with 2 pitches: In order to do your job you will
typically need a third pitch.
– In order to get to the 6th and 7th innings you will likely turn the line up over 3
times.
– If you get to a hitters 3rd at bat off of you and you are only armed with two pitches
then the hitter is at a great advantage.
– Typically the 3rd pitch to learn is the CH:The third pitch most pitchers don’t use
enough and the pitch they need to develop is the CH.
– This pitch will help you with opposite handed hitters and help you turn the line up
over enough to do your job which is to get thru 6 or 7 innings. You do see more
Right on Right CH then Left on Left.

14. Starters need a 3rd pitch
(Continued)
– Using your CH 10% of the time will develop it: Quite often young pitchers learning
to use a third pitch (in this case we will assume it’s the CH) are scared to use it.
– They fear they will get hit or fall behind in the count. If you use the pitch 2 times per
inning you will definitely get to 10%.This will force you to use in games which will help
in the pitchers development of the pitch.
– 1st pitch to 1st two hitters as example: Should a pitcher, for example, get thru the
first three innings without getting to his CH….
– The next inning throw his CH the first pitch to the next two hitters of the inning. If he
throws it for a ball he shouldn’t feel like he’s in that much of a hole that he cannot
pitch out of it.
– Conversely, if he happens to hit with the pitches and throw them for a strike then this
should only help develop confidence in the pitch and one would think it would lead
him to use it more often as it becomes a viable pitch.

15. Relievers
– Middle relievers are typicalAchilles Heel of staff: Lack of strikes usually earn a
pitcher a seat in the bullpen during games. It is imperative that everything they
do is geared toward control/command.When they pick up a ball they are working
on their ability to throw the ball where they want to.
– Back end / Closer:
■ Two pitch mix is fine.
■ Usually they possess one exceptional pitch or trait.
– Relievers must get regular work (game/sim game/side): Guard against relievers
not facing hitters longer than 6 days.

16. NAVIGATINGTHE GAME
The scoreboard will tell you most of what you need to know!! Let it!

17. Let the
Scoreboard
Speak toYou!
The score, the inning, the outs, the count, what bases are
occupied and by whom and who is on deck can lead you to
logical pitch selection.
Couple that with tendencies of the hitter, holes in the swing,
how the hitter has reacted to what you have thrown him so far,
your pitchers strengths that day….these things provide more
information for you to figure out what to throw and where to
throw it.
Typically if the glove is in a good spot, which it should always
be, and you hit the glove with your best stuff you will usually
get desired outcomes.
Make good pitches! Be mindful of the things just mentioned
when considering how much of a scouting report you wish to
pitch to. It can do more harm than good.

18. The obvious~ It’s almost too simple~
■ The score: Aside from knowing who is pitching and who is hitting I would want to
know the score more than anything else.
■ The Inning: Secondly I would want to know what inning. The score and inning are
definitely going to guide me as I work thru the game.
■ Number of outs and who is occupying what base(s): I’m obviously trying to get
every hitter out, however these two facts will direct me and refine my approach.
■ Who is on deck:When it comes down to who you would rather face at times, who is
one deck can help shape your plan.

19. AsYou Continue to Navigate the Game
■ Situational Pitching: Before the game begins you must identify the one or two
players on the opposing team you do not want to beat you.
■ You must know who will run.
■ You must know who will bunt.
■ It is also helpful if you know any general tendencies of the opponent such as do they
run a lot or will they sacrifice bunt at any time.

20. Navigating the Game
(Continued)
■ Bunting Situations:Your job is to pitch and get outs, not manage the game. Don’t
try and be too fine in these situations.
■ If the hitter is bunting then make him bunt and run the given bunt coverage.
■ Guard against falling behind the hitter by trying to get the hitter to pop the bunt up or
by trying to throw boarder line strikes in an effort to make it difficult to bunt.
■ You will ultimately walk the hitter or get in a hitters count and then they take the bunt
off and let him swing away.

21. Navigating the Game
(Continued)
Man on 2nd NO OUTS:
■ Early in the game get the hitter out. Don’t
fall behind or get in hitters counts because
you are trying to prevent the hitter from
moving the runner by making the hitter hit
the ball to the left side of the field.
■ Later on in the game with an appropriate
score you will want to keep the ball in front
of the runner. In this case you can also use
the open base to your advantage.
Man on 3rd Infield IN or
BACK:
■ Once again, don’t try to pitch AND manage the ball
club. You most certainly will be aware of the score
and inning but the manager is telling you how to
pitch by where the infield is playing.
■ If they are in, you need a ground ball. Down in the
strike zone is preferable. CH’s are probably not best
options as they tend to lead to fly balls. Unless it is a
swing and miss or exceptional pitch for you then I
would not throw it.
■ If the infield is back then your manager is telling you
to get the hitter out. If the run scores it’s not the
priority at that moment.

22. Holding Runners
■ Recognize:You will either be completely on your own or you will get help from the
dugout in regard to holding runners at 1st and at 2nd. By knowing at team’s tendencies
and who will and can run it will help you know when to hold runners. Regardless of
how you and/or your team handles this aspect of the game, you must be good at it. It
keeps force outs in order and if done well, it can take a tool away from your opponent.
■ Our Goal as a team each year to keep Stolen BaseAttempts less than Games Played.
We’ve been successful.

23. Fielding your position
– Backing up bases: Absolutely zero excuse for not backing up bases.There are
only two that you have to back up. No need to pout, just get where you need to
be and get as deep as you can. If you don’t like it…..Make a better pitch.
– Covering 1st base: Again there is zero excuse for the pitcher not getting over on
GBs to the right side.
– Fielding Bunts: Without discussing technique, your inability to field bunts will not
help you do your job.
– Starting DPs in front of and behind you: Repetition and paying attention to
detail will help in this area.You are simply playing catch. Note:When turning the
1-2-3 DP, guard against startling your catcher. Set your feet and step and throw.
Be the sure man, not the quick man. It’s not your job to turn the DP. You cannot
get two outs till you get the first one. Make sure of one.

24. ThankYou!
■ Larry Owens
Head Coach – Baseball
Bellarmine University
Louisville, Ky
Lowens@bellarmine.edu
502 558 9703 cell