TBR Instant Classic: Question for Pitchers

[Braves]

Want your opinion on this:

Why can some pitchers keep their composure during distracting times and others can't? What do you do (secrets) to keep your composure?

Remember that this board is to inform everybody, including the youngsters, so share your secrets.

[statefan]

I learned to keep my composure when a scout told me:

"I can develop a ball player, I can't develop an attitude."

something for all the hot-heads that want to go somewhere should keep in mind. Another thing is that the minute you lose your cool your done, go ahead and give up the ball, because if u let a good team know your mad they are just gonna keep pouring it on. You have to e mentally strong and forget about if you're gonna look bad, because pitching is about throwing strikes and gettin outs, not making yourself look good.

[green&white fan]

The hradest thing to do is keep your composure on the mound.The best way to show it is getting the hitter out.If u start to show any emotion the hitter knows hes in your head and has you beat,and will wait on the pitch thats right down the middle or just wait on you to walk him.But thats just my opinion.

[Up and In]

This is a great topic! I really enjoy these topics concerning the mental game.

Anyways...I believe that there are many reasons why some pitchers are able to stay composed on the mound, while others are not. Here are some that come to mind at the moment:

1. The environment that a player grows up playing in. It (in my opinion) begins with the parents. A pitcher who has always been pushed by his father more than he pushes himself feels that he must "pitch well or else his father will rip on him after the game". Coaches play a HUGE role in a pitcher's mental development. A pitcher must be taught how to stay composed and why he must stay composed, because for many it does not come naturally.

2. Confidence. This is probably the biggest one. If you ever talk to a Big League pitcher or a former Big League pitcher, take note of how they carry themselves. They have an aura about them that is very much self-confident, but not cocky. I have always been amazed at how those guys have that same characteristic. And why (in my opinion) is this so important? Because like I am sure that I have written in a previous post, this is a game of failure. Pitchers are going to have bad outings, they are going to heel the rubber somedays when that "heat" or that "bite" just is not there. It is the pitchers who have put in the preparation and have CONFIDENCE that you will see out there with the composure. The guys who are insecure of their abilities will "lose it" when the goin' gets tough. It is merely a cover of their insecurity. On that same note, the pitchers with self-confidence "pick up " their teammates after an error is committed and let them know that together they are going to get through it and compete until the final out.

3. Maturity. One day a pitcher will wake up and realize that he can no longer "blow up" at a missed strike 3 call, or an error and realize that you have to just tip your hat to a hitter occasionally and get the next hitter. I remember when I was about 13 when I had a stage where I was always right and the umpire always screwed me over and because I was a "big teenager" now, I was going to show him up. I learned one day though that I was just a little kid in the umpire's eyes (and still am) and that by attempting to show up a 50 year-old umpire, only made things MUCH more difficult on myself and my TEAM. The game is hard enough as it is, a pitcher cannot afford to have the umpire against him.

That is about all that I have right now...plus I gotta get on the chat room and see what is goin' on in there. I hope that this helps some Braves.

[Up and In]

Part of the question asked "what do you do to keep your composure?" Here are a few of the things that I have picked up:

1. Learn how to "clear the mechanism". What I mean by this is you (a pitcher) must develop the ability to concentrate on every pitch. Find a an even keel within yourself that allows you to not hear anything outside the lines. Also, it is like when a coach tells his players that they must approach the season one game at a time. However, as a pitcher, you must intensify that focus. You must approach the season one outing at a time, one inning at a time, one pitch at a time. I hope that you are able to understand what I mean by this. Often pitchers step on the hill and are thinking about reading about how good it will feel to wake up and see a "W" by their name and they forget about the needed approach to achieve that. Thus, when reality hits them in about the 6th inning that they could lose, they begin to fall apart, press, or show negative emotion. My point is, you have to find a way to be completely focused on every pitch and if something does not go your way (a hit, a run, an error, etc.) the most important thing that you can do is lock back in and get the job done the very next pitch.

2. Watch the great ones on T.V. Who better to learn from than Maddux, Schilling, and Pedro? Watch how they react to certain situations and mimick them. The way that they handle failure and how successful they are is no coincidence.

3. To keep my composure on the mound I keep a consistent breath pattern. I know that this sounds extreme, but I have always felt that I must take at least one deep breath before every pitch. It is just something that keeps me at an even keel.

4. Read books. Some of the greatest in the game have written books on their secrets or tools for success. Ask around and find you a good book to read before every outing. I read The Pitcher's Bible by Nolan Ryan, The Inside Pitch or The Mental Game of Baseball (cant remember the authors of those 2 at the moment) before almost every school ball game. It reminds me of certain things that are necessary to do throughout a game.

5. Trust your teammates. Even though you are involved on every pitch, you have to have confidence in your teammates. You can not win a game by yourself. You will save yourself a lot of stress if you get hitters to swing and put the ball in play, than if you try and mow every hitter down or finesse each pitch. Also, recognize that your teammates will never try to make an error. They want to win just as much as you do and pointing a finger at them helps nobody. So instead of making a scene on the hill, just look at your teammate and let him know that you are going to get him another shot to make a play and that you have confidence in him to make the next play.

That is all that I have right now, plus I have to go throw a pen. I hope that this helps a little. Also, I am always interested in what others thinkor do so like Braves said, "keep em comin."

[Braves]

I have a 12 yo reading this post right now...he's amazed!!

[Up and In]

Thanks Braves...I am VERY glad to see that some of my posts are helping others.

[Applejack]

Good topic Braves.
My best asset was the ability to create tunnel vision. But I must tell you how this game is so fun mentally.
I was pitching in a game where we were cruising pretty good with a 5-0 lead in the 6th. But for some reason this one hitter had my number this day. Everything I threw he was on it.
I never talk to a hitter but I did on this at bat. We were both jawing.
First pitch heater up and in. I got the ball back and told him to "stay on his toes." He replied, " that fastball could'nt bust a grape. I own you."
Next two pitches sinker away, sinker away. Called strike and foul ball. We are still jawing. I asked him "do you need an alarm clock to let you know when to swing." He replied, " come in my kitchen with that doo-doo and I'll wake up the space monkeys."
Next pitch I waste one. 1-2, 2 out, 5-0 lead. Normally I would sit him down with my curve ball because that was my strikeout pitch but I needed some work. What the heck.
I threw him a 1-2 change and he turned on that sucker and hit it about 400 feet......... foul.
I was kicking myself, showing outward emotion, something I never do but in this case I did it. He was standing outside the box with his bat in his hand, looking at me and literally laughing. I was kicking dirt , snatching the ball, pounding it in my glove and finally approached the mound to make the next pitch. He got in the box and dug in deep. Right before I started my windup he called timeout and stepped out of the box and looked at me and laughed. I was fuming. He stepped back in. He knew that I was coming with the hook. He took about a 1/2 step up in the box and I started my windup and threw him the same changeup that he hit 400 feet.
He swung so hard that he threw his back out. He's out, He's out of the game and I'm laughing all the way to the dugout. It was all a setup. A mind game. A dramatization. That's why pitchers need to know their opposing hitters mentally and physically.

[NCBBallFan]

Originally posted by statefan
I learned to keep my composure when a scout told me:

"I can develop a ball player, I can't develop an attitude."

something for all the hot-heads that want to go somewhere should keep in mind. Another thing is that the minute you lose your cool your done, go ahead and give up the ball, because if u let a good team know your mad they are just gonna keep pouring it on. You have to e mentally strong and forget about if you're gonna look bad, because pitching is about throwing strikes and gettin outs, not making yourself look good.

I remembered this post and went and dug it up after talking to a scout this week-end. He stated he was looking at two players from a team this past week. The players he was looking at performed well in the game even though their team had lost and he was ready to talk to both of them. On the way by him, Player #1 dropped the "F" word very loudly. The scout crossed that guy off of his list and went to look for the 2nd guy. He was down the line "fighting" with a teammate. Strike 3, your outta there.

CHARACTER is critical to a college coach. You have to learn to take losses well, you don't have to like them, but you can't blame your teammates and it's helpful not to beat yourself up about them too much. Learn as quickly as you can to accept them like a MAN and try to learn from it.

I was reminded of this also this past week when I saw Lackey pitch for Mooresville. He made 1 bad pitch that cost him but gave up 2 home runs. He gave up a HR on a pitch that was below the knees and on the outside black of the plate. Sometimes, the other guy just beats you. It's not something you did or didn't do yourself and you have to learn to accept it. Lackey was graceful and talking to the WR players after the game. Everyone should learn a lesson from him.

[SouthPawDad]

I agree with your assessment of Tyler Lackey. He's a great kid, on and off the field. He can get very competitive with himself and he keeps it in.

Next time you see Tyler call him "Chitlin". He'll remember when and who gave him the nickname!

[just1NMss]

To answer your poll question I would have to say, get a good theme song in your head for when you pitch, like the movie HARDBALL, if you have seen it. This has helped me through a bunch of big games as you can say.... My main song was: GETTIN JIGGY WIT IT.. by Will Smith... I dont know how it keeps me in the game but i does.
Also, one other great simple thing for this situation, is to just step behind the mound for a second, take a deep breath.
Both of these mechanisms work for me!


And great Forum!!!

[catamount36]

I think the biggest thing is the player has to have character. Character may be fine tuned by a coach, but by the time you reach high school, you either have it or you don't. This is developed earlier in life by the parents and environment they are in. If the parents panic or complain to the coach etc. all the time then most likely the kid will also.

They must have a sense of responsibility, which I think we are missing in this generation of teenagers. (not all of them) for this I blame mostly the parents for not letting the kids fight their own battles and for getting them out of trouble or problems. A controlled intensity is needed for this game. Many have it and many don't. Those that do usually go on to play beyond high school (that is if they have the talent to go along with it) I have seen many talented players fall by the way side because of attitude or lack of the controlled intensity.

Post changed from all caps to make it legible

[NCBBallFan]

Originally posted by just1NMss
...I would have to say, get a good theme song in your head for when you pitch, like the movie HARDBALL, if you have seen it. This has helped me through a bunch of big games as you can say.... My main song was: GETTIN JIGGY WIT IT.. by Will Smith...

Guys ... the traditionalist in me just did a few flips ... Ty Cobb is still turning over and over and over .... but .... if it works??? I'd like get a few varsity pitchers to respond to this one...

[Applejack]

It works bro. Believe me.

[NCBBallFan]

Originally posted by Applejack
It works bro. Believe me.

Ok, A.J., YOU I will believe.... what was your theme song?????????

[Applejack]

It was normally the flavor of the month for me. Any thing that would keep me focused and rythmetly (SP) smooth.
Ever heard people say that the pitcher is in a groove? It's all because the pitcher is doing everything mechanically the same.
This includes arm angle, motion, drive, approach, etc... with that groove banging in your head you can create tunnel vision and get in the zone.

[Applejack]

Oh yea, I kinda liked Parliament- Funkadelic.

[NCBBallFan]

Iron Butterfly? "In-a-godda-da-vida" .... good driving beat. I can hear that 13-14 minute long drum solo still in my head.....

(I know I'm too old now ... think that was written in '68... Maybe Braves is old enough to remember that one.)

[Braves]

Originally posted by NCBBallFan
Ty Cobb is still turning over and over and over

Well, that's because Ty didn't like Rap...he was partial to disco...Boogie fever...of course, that's what Dodger says, so who knows

[Braves]

Originally posted by NCBBallFan
(I know I'm too old now ... think that was written in '68... Maybe Braves is old enough to remember that one.)

I was just born that year NC, but I still remember my brothers and their air guitars


....and AJ about time you showed up..where you been, man!!!

[Applejack]

They let me out to see the sun about 30 minutes per day.
I've been swamped bro!
BTW, happy belated birthday you 1/2 century you. :D

[NCBBallFan]

Originally posted by Braves
I was just born that year NC, but I still remember my brothers and their air guitars

Don't you have that backwards Braves???? They were too young and YOU had the air guitar?????