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When your pitcher can't seem to be consistent from pitch to pitch, when he doesn't have command, when he can't get batters out and gives up free bags, when you go to the mound, what do you say to him or what should you say to him? A hint: if you say "just throw strikes" you're probably not helping (we're guessing he knows that much).

Reader Commentary: 2 responses | WebBall members are invited to comment.

Richard Todd says:
Jul 16, 2009 at 1:53 PM

Let me start this dialog and let others jump in. I would try to spot his specific cause of inconsistent delivery and remind him to work on that - could be foot or leg, glove arm or throwing arm or shoulders or head. But knowing what it is externally and communicating so he gets it...?

Jim Broughton says:
Jul 23, 2009 at 9:58 AM

After looking at where the location of his pitches are going, I ask my catcher to verify just what is the umpire calling. Are his pitches close, are they strikes that are not being called, is his strike zone really tight, etc. After establishing that the problem is not with the ump, I try to get my pitcher to relax, deep breaths, tell a short joke. Any thing to get him to relax. Then I try to pick out one thing for him to focus on, such as arm slot, staying tall, stride front foot towards catcher, etc. My personal philosophy is that you teach in practice and encourage in games. I try to keep it simple and hope that he can make the proper adjustments that will enable him to stay in the game. I coach a 12u travel team. Jim Broughton