This page continues a dialog that took place over two months in the Spring 0f 2009 between a concerned parent and WebBall's head coach. It started with a simple question and answer, and grew from there into a conversation about the processing of learning. It shows how important the right attitude on the part of the parent, combined with information from the right source, can help a child grow in his baseball skills and his love for the game.


This conversation came a week after the first ones. To see part 1, click here.

JakesMom:

Is there any simple drill I can use to help my son, who just started learning to pitch, keep the ball down, esp. for off-speed pitches, they are hanging up there and the more his coach got on to him last night the worse it got. As a side note: last night was not a practice night, it was a lesson from Coach who is a pitching instructor as well.  In my humble opinion he was acting more like a coach than an instructor but maybe I am just being a Mom.

Coach Richard:

Hi Jakes Mom - give me a minute to read through and consider.

There's a page on WebBall that might answer the problem - it's not about "keeping the pitches down" but on being consistent by understanding that the most important point in throwing a pitch is the release point - everything before is getting the body going, everything after is out of your control... [link]

Now part of that page is members only. Here's a key part...

Release Point First

In a nutshell, in developing his mechanics during training, the pitcher should start from the release point, and discover by going backwards how to get there.

He positions himself where the out-front release point should be - with the front leg extended and landed (at 'foot-strike' position) and the chest over the knee, and the arm in the slot. Then the arm is moved back and brought forward through release and the follow-through completed.

Once that release action is 'grooved', the pitcher then takes the arm back farther (legs still in final position) so that the torso torque is added to the start of the throwing action.

JakesMom:

Okay, I think that is the section my husband and I were trying to read but we got into this huge debate about TB coaches teaching methods.  Thanks for the link.  Oh, and I am a member too I just did not login.  Sorry about that!

Coach Richard:

No problem - wasn't sure.

JakesMom:

Yeah, you have been really good about answering all my question.  I so appreciate it!  It was just a hard to see Jacob who is really quick to learn struggle and to hear his Coach kinda berate and tell him he was throwing high and swinging high, what was wrong with him etc.  My kid is so determined though to get it right but I think his understanding is limited because of his age and I think Coach was tired and a bit cranky.  But hey, that's life

Coach Richard:

Coaches are idiots. You can quote me. :-)  But then I am also a coach and I have been an idiot, too.

JakesMom:

Gotcha!  Take care and thanks again!

The next contact was in April (couple weeks after the first ones.) And as happens sometimes, the chat was left "live" when I wasn't available. Fortunately I had her email address from a previous exchange...


Coach Richard:

Missed you chat call this morning - left on when I was away from the desk awhile.

JakesMom:

I wish you had a parent's survival guide to baseball season.  I don't know how to get over the clicky nature and petty politics of the Dads.  We have only played two Ozone level games and they are already thinking about All-Stars.  I don't care about All-Stars I want my kid to get experience.

Coach Richard:

Well there is a book called "Diamond Moms" that tries to put it all in perspective - including a longer view... http://www.webball.com/cms/page1868.cfm

My first suggestion is to give it time - we've talked about that before - from patience at the plate (allowing a strike or two to happen) - to patience with the politics.

Don't automatically dismiss the importance of all-stars...

...because the summer season is often the more competitive and that is where experience can be gained - but because you have no idea if your son is yet capable of that, and because all-stars comes around every year (until he plays on a long-single-season team), again ... patience.

Also, if I were you I'd keep my eyes on the field and not even listen to the chatter. :-)

You'll be happier.

Our next "installment" came nearer the end of April 2009...

JakesMom:

Is it okay to ask a question about bat path?

Coach Richard: 

Hi. Sure.

JakesMom:

My son is learning how to take a short downward swing to the ball.  Keeping it short, compact and the bat at a even plane.   We did not realize until we saw him on video that he actually drops his hands just a tad after he strides, producing more of an arc on the bat path.

He has struck out a few times because of this, we think. Now that he is keeping the swing short compact etc.  He tends to hit lots of ground balls, is this normal?

Coach Richard:

Short answer, yes.

The dipping he was doing before is obviously going to get under the ball and loft it into the outfield - either for a flyball out or a pop-up on the infield. The short level swing will initially result in more topping of the ball - resulting in grounders.

As with everything, the key is to make the fine adjustments that will turn those grounders into line shots. He needs to work on hitting the ball square on the backside - easier said than done. Here's why the difference...

It has to do with your or his definition of level.

A pitch does not come in parallel to the ground - it is on a downward path. So a truly level swing is not what you want - you want a swing with a short backside that stays in the plane of the pitch through contact. In other words short should not mean quick down and quick up - you don't want a circle you want an ellipse.

I'll stop now and wait for the next Q.

JakesMom:

No, you are fine.  i was trying to articulate my thoughts...
I am perplexed because initially my son was doing beautifully up until the last two games he was hitting hard line drives.  I don't get it. He looked beautiful doing t drills and when his coaches were throwing to him.  Why the last two games...all of a sudden he is dropping his hands
It feels like we are starting all over. Now he is just hitting hard ground balls... with the short downward swing

Coach Richard:

As I tried to explain, short down - if followed by short up will result in grazing the backside of the ball, topping it, and causing those grounders. The reason the tee drills work is that the ball is not moving downward so he is not grazing the top but hitting it square on.

Plus I have seen so many B.P. coach throws that are completely un game like - wrong angle wrong speed wrong timing wrong location.

JakesMom:

Right, he hits a lot of choppers too.

Coach Richard:

Choppers are just an extreme version of the grounders - topping the ball. So tee is not the best for this - unless you use a Muhl Tee with the extended arm or a double tee with two balls in line (trying to hit both).

JakesMom:

Ahhh

He had been doing the same cottin pickin thing on his tee yesterday.

Coach Richard:

Well tees can sometime reinforce topping because you want to avoid hitting the post.

JakesMom:

Okay, "keeping square on the ball">

Coach Richard:

Meaning hitting full contact on the side - neither under or topping.

JakesMom:

Oh. So does "keeping your weight back" something we hear and not "pulling your shoulder out" we hear that too when he hits ground balls...will those things help him "keep square on the ball?"

BTW you are very patient with me and I appreciate it very much!

Coach Richard:

Keeping weight back is wrong.

The power/force must drive through the ball. You want optimum contact - meaning bat square to ball at max bat speed just at the front foot - weight back would tend to make that too deep over the plate. But let's be realistic about the age issue here - I work with 16, 17 y.o. who don't always grasp this - why video really important.

As for patience, well by forcing me to explain carefully to you, it makes what I say to others better too - I hope.

The other cue - keeping the shoulder in (positive version of not pulling out) is a good bit of advice - it also keeps the head and eyes on the pitch.

Whoops - just looked at the time - I may be patient but have to run. Can we continue later or is this enough to consider for now?

JakesMom:

Thank you and yes thank you again

Coach Richard:

Bye till later.

JakesMom:

Plenty to consider for now.

Early in May (about two months after our conversation started), Richard received this email...

JakesMom:

My boy's hard ground balls turned into line drives and into his first home run today.  It was like magic, it looked effortless.  The ball had backspin and just kept climbing. 

It couldn't have happened to nicer harder working kid. 

Thanks for all the encouragement and helpful answers and emails.  As a parent it is so nice to see my kid's hard work pay off. 

Best Regards,
JakesMom