leeblair

I watched perfection in action with Bray Page of Dekalb County Wednesday night. He is throwing over 90 with pinpoint accuracy; He is the son of former big leaguer Kelvin Page, and is well on his way to being there himself. It'd be hard to top this kid.

Great post. And, the key to any pitch is : LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Changing speed and location keeps the hitter from being able to tee off on the pitch. If the batter is leaning in, you cut him high and inside. If you've got him already off balance , you can throw one right down the pipe , and he'll be caught looking. Catch him looking for a fastball, and you can 'jelly leg' him by throwing the change. Throw the ball low and outside, and he'll dribble it through the infield grass or pop it up when he tries to pull it. Throw the ball just above the waist at arms length from the batter, and he'll crank one that will make you know never to throw that pitch again. Jam him up, and he'll fight his own arms swinging. High and outside, and he'll usually miss or pop up. Add a simple change of speed, and he'll miss altogether.

My son is 14, and he throws right at 80 mph. He went to Senior League after the high school season ended, and they invoke the 'pitch count' rule. He was only allowed 95 pitches for a 7 inning game. It was not good for him at all. If you strike out every batter on three pitches, you throw 63 pitches. If you add two balls to each batter's count, that turns into a 54 pitch addition. That means the total pitches, allowing for 5 per batter , is 105. The pitch count should be up around 120. They don't allow enough pitches. That being said, I would not allow him to throw a curve ball until now. Most kids who develop a great curve ball in the early years , and throw it a lot, never develop their speed. They begin to rely on the curve- which works in youth leagues, but not in high school. And, most curve ball pitchers lose their break after the second inning. They are really relying on a change of speed, because the break is mostly gone after the second inning. I sit and watch from behind the umpire, and almost always the break is gone after the second inning from fatigue, or lack of concentration. By then, though, the batters are afraid of the curve, and he can bluff his way through the rest of the game. The real technique is keeping them off balance with a change in location and speed that will stay after the break has gone. It's really all about where you want your son to peak. I told mine that he could not throw his curve until he reached the 80mph range. Preferrably high 80's, but I've given in to pressure and let him begin development of the curve. But, he has used his developmental years and the bulk of his growing to develop the speed needed to hopefully reach the next level. His high school coaches taught him the circle change, and it is nothing short of one of the most awesome pitches you can throw. His coaches are excellent coaches- nothing less. But, I kinda got him in trouble over the curve ball, because they wanted him to throw it, and I wouldn't let him. He told me one day, "its kinda hard to make everyone happy". But, by the end of the year, some of the others were having arm trouble. He wasn't. He was getting stronger. Now, he is starting to work with his curve, and it breaks as much as three feet. But, he still has an 80mph fastball, and it's growing all the time. I don't recommend any kid throwing a curve ball before he reaches the 80 mph range. Speed kills- if it weren't true, they'd play slow pitch. The curve ball can kill, too; but it can kill the development of speed. I have seen my son surpass juniors and seniors in speed because of his commitment to the fast ball. Yeah, they got the early wins, and they got the starting time, but now, he's ready for his sophmore year, and already at 80. By next spring, he very well could be at 85 mph. It's all about where you want your son to peak. If you want him to peak in time to be a phenom in High School, and that's as far as he hopes for, then you may start sooner with the breaking ball. But, if you want him to have a future past high school, you should realize that other coaches can teach him any pitch they want him to throw , but they can't teach speed. It has to be developed during his growing years. Just my opinion.

Thanks

I've coached baseball since 1991; talked into coaching a minor league team by an acquaintance, and I fell in love with the game all over again when I began to coach. I've suffered the lows of losing, and highs of winning, and the hardest part- dealing with the parents. I've come home , sick to my stomach , after winning a game in which the team played poorly. I've known the joy of losing when your team played the way they should, but just had misfortune. And I've known what it's like to win. Along the way, I've grown to appreciate those who do their jobs well, and have sincere interest in the character and development of their players. I've seen so many bad examples, that seeing a good one really makes you take notice. Dekalb County High School has the fortunes of having two fantastic coaches. Scott Odom and Tad Webb carry out their responsibilities with a love for the game that shows in their diligence and success. They teach fundamental baseball as well as any pair of coaches I've seen. I grew to respect them as I watched them go through their routines, making sure they worked every player on the basics, as well as pushing them to excell at their strengths. Now, I'll be the first to tell you that I don't always agree with their decisions. That's just being a coach myself. We all can look fromt the outside and see opportunity, and they could easily do the same about me. But, they do their job very well, and are successful in their pursuits. My son has been made better by their actions , and has even increased his desire to play. I have loved watching his passion and desire to play explode this season; he has learned from the older players, and Odom and Webb's drive keep the environment of excellence ever present- which lets the players know that excellence is not only hoped for, but expected of them. I've always believed in giving credit where credit is due. Scott Odom and Tadd Webb deserve the credit for the job they do. It's not just winning; It's about doing it right. And these guys wouldn't have it any other way. Good job, guys.

Let me chime in for this point if you don't mind. Every pitch counts. Everytime they whip that arm, just like everytime you bend your back, or every time your heart beats, it counts. Sometimes it is productive, and sometimes it is just happening. But, sometimes , there are detrimental effects to over excersise. This has to be montitored more for those who are extreme- such as a fastball pitcher throwing 90 + mph, or a kid throwing 50 curves a game. Generally speaking, if they feel no harm, there's no foul. They are moving correctly , with the proper technique and muscle memory that is conditioned to that. Therefore, the longer they can endure, the better. It prepares them for their future. But, if fatigue sets in, and they begin reaching, it can cause a problem becuase they no longer have proper technique. It may not show, but it can be slightly off, enough to cause injury. When an arm is whipped for a fastball repeatedly , and that arm is conditioned for that, it doesn't cause harm. But if that arm is tired, and it affects that technique, the 'whip' of the arm can do a great deal of damage. Think of it like a train running off the track. It may still continue if one wheel has come off, but that wheel will be ground down and worn to nothing, and have to be replaced. The area surrounding that wheel will have added pressure on it because of the way it is out of sync with the rest of the train. That 'whip' of the arm is vicious, but safe when contained by practice and conditioning that allows it to be done with out harm- like a well oiled machine. When it's done correctly. But when that 'whip' is impeded, whether it be by fatigue, obstruction, or other problem, can be so forceful that it can tear up more in one pitch than you can heal in a lifetime. So , in the end , it purely depends on the pitcher as to how long he can go. And the responsibility of the coach is to know what those limits are so that the pitcher is not hurt.

It was an excellent article. As I said, muscle memory and repitition is the main thing. Don't misunderstand what I've said. My son loosens up- tosses- with a weighted ball. The idea is simply to strengthen his arm slightly by doing so. But, he tosses it only. Conditioning is important to any position- not just pitchers. The better physical condition you are in, the less likely you are to be injured, and the more you are able to take advantage of your opportunities. But, speed is best achieved by leverage. The leverage comes from good form and technique developed by repitition. That's exactly why the writer's son picked up speed without working out. The more you do anything, the better you get. That's becuase you develop instinctive and repititious movements from - practice, practice, practice. The better your technique, the better you pitch. I, too , believe that weights will only do so much. But, they are essential. But the real speed is developed from leverage and a whip on the ball that can only come natural. It's like carpenters swinging a hammer. New carpenters take 6 hits to drive a nail; old ones can do it in two. They know from years of experience how to 'pop' the nail and sink it. My son was throwing 60 mph as an 11 year old. That speed was developed without any weights, but pure repitition. He was over 70 as a 12- but none of that matters. On the big field is where it starts counting. Therefore, we started slow- strikes only. No intent on speed. As he gained a feel for the larger distance, his speed naturally increased without trying. Then, it is mere reps and growth that determine the main development. But, as for the other tools(weighted ball, weights, etc.) they only achieve a small amount of help- but they do help if practiced with some caution and common sense. You never, ever, let a kid throw a weighted ball hard. You use it only for tossing , and it will slowly strengthen areas of his arm in a mild fashion that will aid him only after he does enough reps. That's just my belief.

All of this will be a moot point by next season. The first season on the big field out of Little League is the year of adjustment. After that, the longer distance doesn't bother them. As far as the curve hindering the fastball: players who throw too many curves tend not to develop speed to go with it. It's just like weight lifting- the more you do it, the stronger you get. Muscle memory and repitition play an important role in the development of anything. There are times that a pitcher simply has to work on speed. We do all three- some days are just breaking balls, some are just speed and control- and then there are days in which we work on mixing the two. Of all things, though, repitition is the major developer. Throw, throw, throw- mix with a lot of common sense.

Good point. An overall strong body makes a world of difference. It can't be just arms and hands- it takes the whole body. I'm not trying to disagree with anyone here. I'm actually listening to the advice. Some will apply, some may not. And, you never know who that kid is that takes that leap to the next level. There is so much that has to be simply waited for and see how it comes. But, I'm a firm believer in not waiting for your 'ship to come in', if you haven't prepared for it to dock. All I want is to give him the preparation he needs should he be that guy that comes out with a lightning bolt one day. He's fully aware that it might not be him, but as long as he wants it, there is always hope.

Being signed is why they play the game , though. You can have the best curve in the world, and not have a fastball, and you'll be doing what we're all doing- raising kids and hoping they make it. Speed kills. If it weren't true, they'd make baseball 'slow pitch'. A curve, or a simple change- anything that throws the batters timing off, is all that is needed to compliment a good fastball. Don't get me wrong- my son will have to throw the curve. But , in doing so, I do not want to hinder the development of his fastball. Once you get to 85+/- , then you can afford to toy with some pitches. Until then, the focus is on buiding speed. Weights, long toss, and a lot of patience. But, there are some good points to the arguments.

What happened to me was that I noticed that in switching back to a fastball after throwing a curve, the torque on your arm was different. As far as the weighted ball, we only use it for warming up- no pitching. I wouldn't let him strain to throw it. It will, however, make a baseball feel feather lite after loosening up with the weighted ball.

Control is not his problem until they make him throw the curve. He can be ahead ,0-2, and then end up in trouble. I felt that he needed one year on the big field before throwing the curve. The first year is critical; he tore it up in Little League, but there is so much adjusting to the longer distance. But, I think he's ready now. I just don't want it to slow the development of his fastball down. A good curve doesn't mean a thing if you can't throw a fastball over 75 when you go to the next level.

His coaches have talked to him about a splitter; but I don't know anything about that pitch, so they'll have to teach him. I never threw one, therefore I can't teach him that one.

He throws a weighted ball every other day; in the winter, he throws a football 30 times a day every other day. He's working out, and getting stronger by the day. He's 14, 6'1", 170 lbs, and should get bigger. It's not that he can't throw a curve; I just don't let him much because of the strain that is involved in switching from a curve to a fastball on a pitch by pitch basis. I've seen it hinder the development of a fastball when they start throwing one too early. But, he does have to start now. He's had almost a full year on the big field, and he's ready to open up some.

In getting a feel for high school baseball, I was wondering what kind of speed is out there across the state? My son is a freshman, and throws just over 70, probably around 73; how well should he expect to increase in speed over the next three years? I'm not too thrilled about him throwing a curve for the 1st year because of the strain it can put on his arm when he switches from a curve back to a fastball.

I'm not sure if the lights have as much to do with it as do the weather conditions when the sun goes down. I've always felt that the adrenalin started flowing when the lights came on, and the players felt more like playing. But, you get into the other factors- cooler air, which is great in the summer, but not in the spring- especially this past week of 'dogwood winter'. I think personally, that it has to do with a player's mentality. Traditionally, baseball just before or right at dusk seems to be played with more enjoyment and intensity. As I said, though, depending on the time of year, that is usually the most comfortable time of the day, which leads to more hitting, better fielding, etc. Just my opinion.