Switch Pitching 101

Is pitching velocity overrated? Yes, maybe. Young pitchers with a strong arm often have trouble locating the fastball in the strikezone. An experienced umpire commented that pitchers would do better if they took a little off the fastball - maybe 3-5 mph and controled the location of the pitch. The best pitchers have success locating the fastball low and away for strikes. It is more important to locate a pitch, have movement and change speeds. This will keep a hitter off balance and mess up their timing. My son prefers to have a low pitch count inning - under 10 pitches.  By locating his pitches and changing speeds, he is able to get out of an inning quicker than the power pitchers. A Little Leaguer can use three pitches to keep a hitter guessing: 4-seam fastball, 2-seam fastball and change up (10 mph slower than the fastball). Add in a splitter or a knuckle ball and watch the hitter walk back to the dugout shaking their head. Remember, a ball with movement is very hard t...