Pitching Strikes is Hard

POP, POP, POP, POP, POP! All five of the “Future Hall of Famer’s” warm-up pitches were dead on, placed smack in the middle of the catcher’s glove. Yet, when the first batter stepped up to the plate, it seemed as if the Yankee pitcher didn’t know what the strike zone was! It made the crowd realize that pitching a strike isn’t as easy as it looks.

The first thing you have to realize is that the pitching mound is 60 feet away from a base that is 17 inches wide and you have to get the two and a half inch thick ball directly over it. Even if you have the accuracy to do that, you have to throw the ball above the batters knees, and below their shoulders. That is called the strike zone.

Once you’ve mastered that, you have to stay calm under pressure. Every single person in the stadium is watching you to see if you will mess up. Every single pitch you throw could win you the game…or lose your team the championship. The whole game is on your shoulders yet people expect you to be relaxed and focused while you’re up there.

If it’s not hard enough already, the pitcher also has to act as a fielder after he throws the pitch. Even if you throw a perfect strike, the batter could still hit the ball. Which means that he could hit it right back at the pitcher, and he would be responsible to catch it. This means that on top of being zoned-in on the strike zone, the pitcher is still responsible for remembering bunt coverages, pick-off moves, and throw down signals from the coach, because the pitcher is also a fielder.

Lastly, the pitcher has to know how to throw many different kinds of pitches. There are 2 seam and 4 seam fastballs, split fastballs, cut fastballs, curveballs, sinkers, circle change ups, four-finger change ups, slurves, screwballs, palmballs, knuckleballs, and even the Ephus pitch. Each of these pitches requires its own grip and mechanics for the pitch to be thrown right, and the pitcher has to know how.

Now you see what it takes to throw strikes. So, next time you’re at any kind of baseball game, think of this blog post and take back any harsh comments directed to the pitcher. He is trying his best and angry, screaming fans don’t help him focus at all.

« »