Part 2 on Confidence:
As a Pitcher we have to remember that our opponents are always watching us when we are on the mound. When you do not have confidence on the mound the hitters on the other team know it. You are giving your opponent an advantage that he didn't earn. Even worse your teammates can see it too. There is nothing worse than having your defense out there thinking, why do they have this guy in he is scared to make a mistake. The reality is in baseball the majority of the results are out of our control, however as the pitcher we have the ball and we set the tone for the whole game. You have very little control over the results of the game but you can always control your confidence and game plan.
There are plenty of pitchers that understand the importance of mound presence, there are also plenty of pitchers that "fake it" they look the part, but then their game plan does not back up their demeanor. To make a hitter uncomfortable you have to attack him. In 0-0 counts I would rather have a pitcher throw the ball right down the middle. What he is saying to the hitter is I don't fear you go ahead hit it. Don't get me wrong if you have good enough command that you can pound the inside and outside corner go for it. However, most guys that try to paint pitches on the corner are nibblers and there is nothing worse. If you try to be too fine you end up down in the count. Guys who attack the zone with strike one will get more hitters out and the numbers prove this. In 2010 the major league batting average for 1-0 counts was 345, 0-1 counts was 317, 2-0 counts was 359 and 0-2 counts were 162. Don't try to be perfect earlier in the count CHALLENGE the hitters. Hitters will make outs the majority of the time. PITCH TO CONTACT!
In college most pitching coaches call the pitches and when the best hitters on the other team come up, most coaches move the outfielders back and throw off speed or fastballs off the plate in 0-0 counts to these guys. What is that telling the hitter? It tells him that you think he is a great player and you are scared to pitch to him. What about if the guy who is hitting 400 with 15 bombs steps in the box and you throw him a fastball right down the middle. One, he probably will be shocked and not swing and two you are sending the message that you may be good but I'm not scared of you. Sure there are times to pitch around great hitters but not his first time up with no one on base. Go right after him, the worst thing that happens is he hits a bomb off you and your team is down 1-0 in the first, SO WHAT!! That's better than walking him and starting a big inning. I played with Abe Nunez this summer, he played in the big leagues for 10+ years and he told me, "I love when guys nibble early in the count I just take pitches and they LET me get in good hitters counts and I hate the guys who come right after me, it makes me uncomfortable. I know I have to be ready to hit right away and I will probably chase when he does expand the zone with two strikes because he is always around the plate." Have confidence on the mound and back it up with your attack first mentality.
Lets take a look at the guys who does this the best in the big leagues.
here is a you tube video of cliff lee in the world series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tpQZM_tTk8
This is in game 1 of the WORLD SERIES!! Lee's confidence is undeniable. He catches that pop up like it is some spring training game in the middle of march. His statement was , "I'm pitching in yankee stadium in the world series and I really don't care which all star the yankees send up to the plate next, I'll get him out." This is what Lee said after the game, ""This is the same game I've been playing my whole life, and this is the stage that I've wanted to get to from a little kid. Now that I'm here, I've already put all the work in. There's no sense in being nervous and worried. It's time to go out there and let my talents and skills take over and execute pitches." He threw 9 innings gave up 6 hits struck out 10 and had 0 walks. He threw 122 pitches with 80 of them for strikes. Out of the 80 strikes he threw 43 of them were either put into play or fouled off and only 16 times did the yankee hitters swing and miss. The whole game Lee was saying here it is go ahead and hit it. Lee pitched is one of the greatest post seasons starts of all time and shows what all pitchers should be working
towards. Lee began the game with a 3 pitch strike out of Derek Jeter. Lee came right after Jeter and continued to do that the entire game. Lee was RELAXED and CONFIDENT. He trusted his stuff and attacked the hitters with strikes for all 9 innings. Attack hitters and you will put them on the defensive. As a pitcher we have the ball and we dictate the game. TAKE CONTROL!!
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