I first met Dave Empey at the ballpark (where else?). Neither of us was coaching a game that day, we were spectators - and we were talking. Or rather he was, as I listened. It became very obvious very quickly that here was someone who shared my passion for the game, was willing to have an opinion on just about anything related to baseball, but - and this is the important part - he had credentials and experience behind every idea. He has coached at least 19 players at the elite H.S. level who have been draft picks. Ryan Dempster is only the best known of Dave's many successful students. This book is a must have. - Richard Todd, WebBall
The most remarkable book on pitching ...ever!
Featuring Chicago Cubs All-Star Ryan Dempster.
This is the first pitching book to combine the personal insights of an all-star pitcher with the training routines of veteran pitching coach Dave Empey ...the mentor who started Ryan on his journey to the top.
In over 260 pages you'll learn how a kid goes from being a youth leaguer in the far north (shown in action on the cover left) to being twice named National League All-Star... in 2000 with the Florida Marlins and in 2008 with the Chicago Cubs.
Veteran baseball coach and professional sports writer Dave Empey (above right with Dempster) brings his experience in both endeavors to this unique collection of articles, anecdotes, how-to tips, and more. Empey provides training fundamentals certainly, but he's willing to go beyond the standard step-by-step guide, serving up opinions - both positive and critical - of how some of today's pitchers do it right ...and wrong!
Section 1 provides perspective on the challenges of pitching. Section 2 details over 50 pages on mechanics demonstrated by Clint Hosford, a minor leaguer working his way up the pro ranks.
Section 3 brings command and control, pitch grip and selection into the mix - with a special section on the Dempster Slider.
Section 4 covers PFP's and other drills. Section 5 is all about arm care and injury prevention. Section 6 is a special section for youth league pitchers specifically. Section 7 includes core- and cross-training. And Section 8 is on all the mental and emotional challenges ...pressure, composure, perseverance and more.
The book is also sprinkled with quotes from HOFers such as Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan, and others.
But it's definitely Dempster who adds more than simply "a household name" to the project. Click the first page image right to read about Ryan's training routine. And click the page image far right to understand the special relationship between coach and player. (Even though Ryan has his pro team coaches for day-to-day help, he continues to call on author Dave Empey for advice.)
Here's what one of the first readers had to say about this book...
I received the Developing Pitchers Manual today in the mail. I recently purchased a Samsung LCD 52" flat screen TV (High Def). Now you are probably wondering right now what the #$%#@ does a TV have to do with the Developing Pitchers Manual. I told my son out of all the things I have ever purchased in my life this TV has given me more satisfaction than anything. That is until I opened the package that contained this manual. This book is unbelievably filled with more about the truth of pitching than anything I have ever read. I've pretty much have read them all. I thought the price of the book at the time was just a little on the $$$$ side, I was wrong, they undersold it. What a book!! I would highly recommend this book to anybody that was truly serious about pursuing the knowledge of pitching. - Mark A. Howard
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