Episode 12 - Pitcher Fielding and Developing Players for the Next Level
I went back and looked at my select team’s stats over the past 100 games. After a E-1 (pitcher’s fielding error), the next batter reached base 70% of the time! This compares to an average On-Base Pct of around 45-50%. In baseball terms, this is a huge statistical difference.
The impact of pitchers’ errors are multiplied, primarily because the pitcher loses focuses and ends up walking or throwing a fat pitch to the next batter. Suddenly, the innocent groundball back to the pitcher turns into a big inning.
If you need help with teaching the fundamentals of pitcher fielding, then I recommend that you contact a local pitching instructor or college baseball coach. For a modest amount of money, they can spend 1 hour with your team teaching the fundamentals of pitcher fielding. That way, you can learn along with your team, and then be able to continue the practice reps for the remainder of the season.
Any pitcher that has played at college level or above will be well versed in PFP fundamentals. So, if you need help in this area, reach out to these experts in your community.
Regarding developing players for the next level, I failed to make a point during the podcast that I would like to emphasize. When your players eventually try out for the “next level”, no one will care what their youth baseball win-loss record was, or which tournaments they won. None of that stuff matters.
What matters are the things that I mentioned in the podcast:
Skills, at multiple positions
Fundamentals
Athleticism
Mental Toughness
Passion for the game
This should put things in perspective to you. These are the things you should focus on if you are committed to developing young baseball players.
When your players are 17/18 years old, no one will care that they won the Cooperstown tournament at 12u, the State tournament at 13u and finished 3rd in Omaha at 14u.
The only thing that matters is what kind of players emerge from your program. Are they physically skilled baseball players? Are they good athletes? Are they mentally tough? Are they well-rounded players? Do they have a true passion for the game?
Sunday, April 1, 2007
