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Accuracy is Everything
Sept 23, 2002
I had an interesting conversation with two pitchers last Tues nite at the Bullpen. John Kevener is getting an early jump on next season and Darren Strang is preparing for a tournament next weekend in the U.S.
The two are quite different. John, over 40, is entertaining the thought of becoming a "C" or "D" pitcher and trading in his catcher's equipment.
Darren is headed in the opposite direction. He's 25 (I think) and already a very good "B" pitcher - and still improving.
We got talking about the #2 pitch (the fast drop). Darren actually throws two different drop balls. Get this; he uses a two finger grip when he throws at the outside corner and a three finger grip when he throws to the inside corner. (Against righties)
The reason for the change in grip is because the two pitches "tail" in opposite directions.
The result is that his #2 pitch always breaks down and away from the centre of the strike zone.
I may excuse Darren Strang (for the time being at least). After all, he did manage to hit the target about 15 times in a row - but I think as a rule, pitchers try to do too much.
One pitcher I know of used to have 7 different pitches. I heard all about them as I had the pleasure of chatting to his catcher during a 10 hour car ride to a tournament in Rock Creek a few years ago.
I think a reportoire of 7 pitches is insane!
My point is this: to Darren and anyone else who has a lot of different pitches.
Don't sacrifice accuracy to gain movement. Accuracy is more important.
I've asked several hitters which pitch they would prefer to get in a crucial situation: a dipper that drops 8 inches down the middle or one that drops 4 inches but is on the corner. Most hitters agree they'd like the one down the middle - if they had the choice.
That's my point. Pitchers should keep the ball away from the hitter's zone. Don't worry about movement - especially if applying that movement is going to cause a loss of control.
Accuracy is what gives you the opportunity to use strategy - to take advantage of hitters weaknesses and umpires tendancies.
This week's secret:
Eliminate pitches to improve accuracy
Think of it this way: if you were playing darts and had a set of 5 darts, would you like each dart to be of different size, weight, and feel?
Or would you rather have all 5 darts exactly the same?
That's essentially what you are doing - if you throw 5 different pitches. Each pitch must have either a different grip, or motion, or both.
You can improve your accuracy overnite by simply eliminating your weakest pitches and going with your best.
The only pitch you really need, other than your best fastball, is a good change-up.
Unless you're Darren Strang.
Next week's topic:
