Probably the most argued against baseball truism out there right now.
Command > Raw Velocity
Facts.
The highest velocity guy on most high school and college pitching staffs are not usually the most impactful.
The most impactful is usually the guy that commands the ball the best.
Plus velocity with below average command fuels underachieving teams.
Plus command with average velocity fuels overachieving teams.
Should be shared and discussed with every single young hitter.
youtu.be/NZmaT3miBFo?si=_ty3…
Yes. Yes. YES.
Those of us that lived pitching for decades understand this implicitly. But there's an entire generation that's been mislead now. The battle is real. It's costing pitchers in both command and arm health..sadly it's the only way to advance now. Hope that changes
The velocity era is a tired act.
Watching dudes with below command trying to throw as hard as they can every pitch is vomit worthy.
It's time for the pitchability, moxie and feel era to resurface.
Command it.
Then learn to throw it harder, not the other way around.
The velocity progression is supposed to be gradual.
Example
9th-79-81
10th-82-84
11th-85-87
12th-88-90
Then continue climbing in college.
It's how injury risk is reduced drastically.
Learn to control it.
Learn to command it.
Then add velocity.
Long Toss, The Weight Room, Caloric Intake.
A notion that's been relevant as long as the game has existed. Everyone that has played and advanced thru the game has experienced the same thing. Big kids have an advantage until they don't. And frequently, those early growth spurts can be a net negative in the long run.
Parents
If your son dominates 12u baseball because he's simply bigger and more physically mature than his opponents, you better keep it in perspective.
Or
You will ruin your child's mind.
Baseball really starts on the big field and early ripe early rot is real.
The undersized kids simply haven't hit puberty yet.
The sad reality for them, is that the real world doesn't care. The wide world grinds on as it always has. Those that work hard succeed, and those that don't... don't. Baseball is simply an extension of that truth. The earlier people learn that lesson, if they ever do, the better.
We have a bunch of great turf fields in town...but prepping a nice grass field...still nothing else like it.
Had a competitive game against a quality 12U team last weekend...wound up losing 12-7 after going up 5-0...one of our kids got hit hard by a good fastball in the back...their pitcher met him 1/2way down the line to make sure he was ok...this is what it's all about.
One of the best takeaways from @BluebookBeede 's book... Stop wasting time on super expensive travel programs and get yourself a personal trainer at a fraction of the cost. Develop that strength and conditioning while working reps and fundamentals.
I've been told, reliably now, that this is boomer talk and nonsense...what would these guys know about hitting anyhow...
😅
Let's bring some common sense back to the plate approach.
The math has changed. So many people have not caught up to this yet. The path forward has changed course.
The percentage of D1 coaches that send their sons to Juco is advertising something important.
They want them to develop in game.
They want them playing.
They know they're good enough to be D1 players, but not as freshmen.
They know, D1 coaches don't want to play freshmen. Unless the freshman is ultra talented (legitimate draft prospect) and just walked away from a brinks truck of money from MLB.
D1 coaches want to play the oldest, most experienced players.
What percentage of D1 freshmen are getting meaningful innings and at bats? It's advertising most kids belong in junior college, loud and clear.
Tom Cerk retweeted
Former #Braves Pitching Coach Leo Mazzone: "I know what works and I know what keeps pitchers healthy. And what they're doing now absolutely does not at all levels of baseball."
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Don't sleep on the mental work. It's easy to get hung up on numbers, the gym, lap times or velocity. Bench press and exit velo. For most, eventually, the difference is mental make up. Eat up the lessons of those that have gone before...there's so much value there.
If you know you know....
Real question for real baseball guys.
A lot of videos are being posted of amateur pitchers with velocity numbers.
Why do a lot of the velocity numbers look inflated?
100 looks like 94 or 95.
95 looks like 89 or 90.
90 looks like 84 or 85.
85 looks like 79 or 80.
Very few videos with exploding velocity at the plate.
The hitter's reactions are advertising that the numbers are inflated.
The overwhelming majority of high school hitters are blown away by real 95, even real 90.
It's because if you put a Ray gun or Jugs gun behind the dish it would be the lower readings.
Velocity has become an illusion because it's now measured out of the hand and not closer to the plate.
The hitters swings happen at the plate.
This is exactly how I always did it and just how I teach it to my players. I don't like the full "hop" , always preferred the creep. More controlled to me...but whatever you're more comfortable with, as long as you're "ready" and on time.