Focus On The Glove And Bring It

4/21/2006

I've talked before about the importance of getting new pitchers to focus on the glove.
     Well, last night I had a experience with my 11U rec league team that just reinforced the importance (and primacy) of that teaching point.
     We go up 11-4 on the other team in the bottom of the 8th. I have to sit the guy who pitched for me in the previous inning because he lost his focus for a pitch and hit a batter in the face with a 60 MPH FB -- the ball goes where the eyes go -- and sent him to the hospital (coaches, make your guys wear helmets with cages no matter how much they complain). I bring in a guy who was mediocre last year (he's all I've got left in terms of guys I've seen pitch). He proceeds to walk in 5 runs and not get a single out.
     Desperate, I bring in a guy who has never pitched before (doesn't even know where to stand on the rubber), and who is a completely hyperactive case, but who has started to look better this year when it comes to throwing (his dad has started working with him).
     I tell him that what he needs to do is focus on the glove, not look at the batter, and just bring it. He starts aiming/lobbing it and missing outside and walks in another run (we're now up 11-10). After (literally) every pitch I tell him to focus on the glove, not look at the batter, and just bring it. He starts to listen to me and starts to hit the zone (pretty good speed and down). I can tell from the look on his face that he's completely surprised that this is working (especially the "just bring it" part). He runs the count full and then strikes the guy out but my catcher drops the ball and it rolls into a pile of leaves and he can't find it (we're now tied 11-11). I tell him to focus on the glove, not look at the batter, and just bring it. He then precedes to strike out the next 3 batters on about 15 pitches (got the last guy after running the count full).
     We won 12-11 with a 2 out single in the bottom of the 9th that scored the runner on 3B.