How should I prepare for starting a game?

Preparation is the key to success for a starting pitcher. A starting pitcher usually knows in advance when he is expected to pitch, and what he does in the days and hours before that start can dictate what happens in that start. More time is spent preparing for a start than performing.

Preparing mentally and physically are equally important the days before and of a start. I will address the physical preparation today and talk about the mental preparation the next time.

Running, weightlifting (for older players), throwing, and drills should all be part of how a starting pitcher prepares the days between starts. The intensity of the work should be the heaviest the day after a start and the lightest the day before a start. As far as weightlifting, it should be done the first few days after a start and not the last few days before a start because it is important to allow the body time to recover from lifting before a start. I threw one bullpen in between starts to work on mechanics and pitches, and I usually long tossed once or twice in between on a five-day rotation. A similar routine would be good for a young starter that throws once a week. Throwing a second bullpen could help some pitchers but is not a necessity. The day before a start should be the lightest day in between starts. It is a balance between resting for the start and staying loose. Playing catch and running some sprints are good ways to keep the arm and body loose and ready for the start the next day.

Physically preparing the day of is pretty simple…..take it easy. This includes a good night’s rest, eating well, and drinking plenty of fluids. The last thing a pitcher wants is to be tired the day of a start. It is not until the final few hours before a game that a pitcher physically gets ready and warms up.  Every pitcher should develop a routine before he pitches. This will help him relax and stay focused on the game. The routine should consist of anything that physically gets him ready. Every pitcher I played with had a routine they followed before each start. I had a routine that was to the minute. Here is the routine I used to get myself physically ready to start a 7:05 pm home game.

5:45 Stretch out arm

6:00 Get uniform on

6:15 Stretch legs and rest of body

6:30 Go out to the field and do some light running and agilities

6:40 Start to throw and long toss

6:48 Warm up on the mound

7:00 Head to dugout

This is what worked for me. When the game started, I was ready to perform. Each pitcher’s routine will vary, but they should have one thing in common…. prepare a pitcher to perform at his highest level and to have the ability to walk off the mound after knowing that everything was done to maximize performance that start.

 

Pitch Counts

Pitch counts make it difficult to pitch a lot of innings at one time or even during a week. Is there anything I can do to cut down on my pitch count allowing me the opportunity to pitch more innings?

Yes, there are several different strategies to limiting pitches per inning to allow a pitcher to go deep into a game. Most of the strategies are focused on staying aggressive and throwing strikes. The more strikes a pitcher throws, the less pitches are needed to get hitters out. Throwing first pitch strikes and setting a goal of throwing two of the first three pitches for strikes to every hitter are two ways to help cut down on the amount of pitches needed to get outs. Strikeouts are fun and look good in the stats, but are outs just like a ground out on the first pitch in an at-bat. The difference is the amount of pitches needed to get the out. First or second pitch outs will dramatically cut down on pitch count. Remember, a pitcher can only strike a hitter out when he has two strikes on him. It is impossible to strike a hitter out on the first pitch.

Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee are two current MLB pitchers that seem to always have the most complete games each year. The reason is both are aggressive pitchers who throw strikes and rarely walk hitters. They are not trying to strike everybody out. Instead, they are trying to get hitters out any way they can.

I always tried to establish throwing strikes right from the start of every game. I wanted the other team to know that they better be ready to swing the bat. This always put the hitters on the aggressive side, and I would use that to my advantage. An aggressive hitter is more likely to swing at a pitch that is just off the plate or a pitcher’s pitch than a hitter who is patient.

Pitch counts have become common at all levels, and are in place to protect pitchers. Throwing baseballs as hard as you can over and over puts tremendous stress on an arm, and limiting pitch count helps prevent injury.

Four Seam vs Two Seam

What is the difference between a four-seam fastball and a two-seam fastball?

Beside the obvious difference in grip, a four-seam fastball is the easiest pitch to command. The four seamer usually has very little movement but is a pitch that will have the most velocity. A two seamer is a pitch that usually has more movement than a four-seam fastball. This means it is harder to control. The two seamer has a tailing movement.  For a right-hander the ball moves in on a right-handed hitter and for a left-hander the ball moves in on a left-handed hitter. A pitcher’s best two-seam fastballs should have more downward movement than side movement. A “sinker” is another name for a good two-seam fastball with downward movement.