Playing Catch and Flat Ground Work

In my last post I briefly touched on the importance of the daily flat ground work you do as a pitcher. This post is all about how to get the most out of this part of your daily routine. The most important thing we do on a daily basis as pitchers is play catch. The way the average pitcher plays catch is not correct. They stretch out and then throw until they feel loose and then work there way back in towards their partner. Also, many high school and college coaches do not allow their pitchers enough time to slowly work their way through the throwing progression. They do not realize that this is the most important thing the pitcher will do unless it is his bullpen day. After a player has played catch and does not have a bullpen that day the rest of practice is made up of PFP work, pick off moves, conditioning, shagging bp, etc etc. Remember to improve as a pitcher we have to develop our arsenal of ways to upset a hitters timing, with speed location and deception. Besides playing catch and throwing on the mound these other parts of practice that pitchers spend a majority of their time working on have little to do with improving our effectiveness.

When we play catch work on throwing the ball to each hip bone of your partner. You do not want to master throwing a baseball right down the middle of the plate. How many times have you heard a coach tell you to try to hit your partner in the chest. That simulates throwing the ball right down the middle, instead try to hit your partner on his right hip bone for 5 throws and then his left hip bone for 5 throws, alternating back and fourth. Once you get to 70 feet now you can focus on hitting your partner in the chest as you are throwing the ball farther than you would off the mound. As you begin to stretch out the distance between throws you should only go to a distance where you can reach your partner without taking a crow hop and still be able to throw the ball on a line. The point of playing long toss is to develop arm strength and work on developing power in your delivery to be able to throw a ball longer than you would off the mound. I see pitchers all the time play long toss and take a crow hop like an outfielder to throw the ball further. When are you ever going to take a crow hop in the game? The whole point of any type of practice in baseball is to make you a better player in the game. Taking a huge crow hop and generating artificial momentum is not helping you improve at generating power and rhythm in your pitching delivery. Once you get to a point that you can no longer reach your partner on a line stop. If your partner has a better arm and wants to stretch it out more than one hop him with your throw. Don't let you ego get in the way, it doesn't matter how far you can throw a ball playing long toss. Remember why you are doing the drill.
Now once you return to 60 feet, you should throw all your pitches with your partner, still trying to hit him on his right/left hip bone. Spend the majority of this time throwing your CHANGEUP!! This is where you develop your confidence in this pitch. Play around with different grips and also try a two seam fastball. The thing about these two pitches is there is no right way to throw them. There are many different grips pitchers use to throw changeups and 2 seam FB. You have to find the one that is right for you and the only way to do this is by experimenting with a bunch of different grips to see what they make the ball do. Now it is time for you flat ground. Move in to around 50 feet and have your partner put his hat down on the ground to act as home plate. TAKE YOUR TIME as go through your motion mainly from the stretch position. Have your partner give you a target just below his knee so you can work on creating a good downward angle on your pitches. Go through your entire arsenal of pitches and then let your partner do his flat ground. One guy be the pitcher and one be the catcher until you go through the whole flat ground session and then switch. Really focus on hitting spots this is where you develop touch and feel on your pitches. Just with anything spend more time working on your weaknesses, for most of you that is your changeup. Turn it into a strength.

Here is Just a few basic grips for the changeup and 2 seam fastball. Most pitchers do not throw it exactly like in these pictures but it gives you a starting point to begin your experiment on which grip works best for you. (first image: 4 seam circle change, second: 4 seam three finger change or "palm ball, third: across the seams 2 seam FB, fourth: with the seams 2 seam FB)

Playing catch and doing your flat ground work is something you should do EVERYDAY if your arm feels good. Just like hitters go to the cage everyday to take care of their swing this is what we need to do everyday to take care of our pitches. Like I said, take your time during catch and flat ground. They are the most important thing you will do everyday at practice. If you do your work everyday it will show up in the game!!!