with Rick Mathews, former Pitching Coordinator and Bullpen Coach for the Colorado Rockies (MLB) for seven seasons; minor league pitching coordinator with the Colorado Rockies (MLB) for eight seasons; former Indian Hills Community College Head Coach, qualifier to the NJCAA World Series, former Iowa Western Community College Head Coach, 3x qualifier to the NJCAA World Series
Discover over 10 proven drills that will assist your pitchers in executing their pitches to perfection! Rick Mathews calls on his 20 years of Major League Baseball experience to show you how to develop complete pitchers both in delivery mechanics and in fielding the position.
Mathews begins this two-part pitching DVD with drills that will improve your pitcher's delivery. Specifically, these drills will fine-tune your balance, extension, timing and downhill plane. With each drill, Mathews defines the purpose of the drill and explains the key teaching points.
Mathews' essential 6-Step Pitching Program isolates and improves each phase of the delivery mechanics. When executed repeatedly and correctly, this program will improve your pitchers' ability to throw strikes and improve his mechanics.
Great pitchers help their teams by fielding their position. In Part Two, Mathews breaks down the art of fielding the position. He simulates over 10 different fielding situations that your pitchers face in games and breaks down the correct technique to record the out. He includes the 3-1 putout, 3-6-1 double play, bunt coverages, wild pitches, squeeze plays and more. These secondary skills are important to every pitcher as they can "control the damage" on defense. A pitcher who fields his position, wins more games.
with Eric Valenzuela, University of San Diego Pitching Coach
In 2007 Valenzuela's pitchers ranked in the top 5 in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (3rd - 9.5), walks allowed per nine innings (3rd - 2.51), ERA (4th - 3.42) and hits allowed per nine innings (5th - 8.22). In addition, two of Valenzuela's pitchers, Josh Romanski and Biran Matusz, were named to Team USA for the Summer of 2007.
The components of Coach Valenzuela's effective long toss and arm conditioning program feature stick drills for mechanics, tube exercises, leg work, leg stretches, agility work and a throwing program. Using elastic tubing, players prepare for practice by demonstrating six stretching exercises. Running, individual stretching and agility exercises are other important parts of practice preparation. Valenzuela goes through his top eight individual stretches and seven agility exercises for you to incorporate into your practice. The first step in the throwing program is the Free Throw Tosses drill with a four-seam grip. Chest to chest, three position, walking into throws (40-60 feet), long toss with arc (80-90 feet), fastball/change-up catch (90 feet), working into 60 feet and feel pens from the mound (70%) comprise the drills that make up the long toss program. Six stick drill mechanics help players maintain fundamentals and proper throwing mechanics. This is the same program that, in 2007, helped propel the San Diego staff to the 7th best earned run average in the nation (3.37) while rising to 16th in the country for strikeouts per nine innings.
with Chris Sinacori, Peoria Mariners Pitching Coach (Seattle Mariners Rookie League affiliate); former Wake Forest University Pitching Coach; former Arizona State University Pitching Coach
Every coach knows that the key to successful pitching is the use of proper mechanics. The mechanics demonstrated by Coach Sinacori in this video will give your pitcher a clean and solid delivery, increase velocity, and limit the chance of injury. This video teaches the appropriate mechanics for the full wind up delivery and out of the stretch. Sinacori also reveals drills that can be used individually or as a team to implement these mechanics. These are the same drills used by the Arizona State pitching staff, runner-up in the 1998 college world series. These drills include rotation drills, which focus on keeping balance on the plate, mirror drills, which can help a pitcher with their overall delivery, and stride trainer drills, which solidify a pitcher's approach to the plate. The pitching mechanics stressed here will polish your delivery and take you to a level in pitching that you have not imagined!
with Frank Anderson, Oklahoma State University Head Coach; former University of Texas Pitching Coach (including College World Series Championship season in 2002)
In Pitching Clinic, Coach Anderson leads you through a pitching progression for pitchers at all levels. Finding the normal arm swing for each pitcher is the initial concern. A favorite drill of Anderson's gives a coach an opportunity to view the pitcher's normal arm swing. He shows how a routine ground ball can help coaches analyze a pitcher's arm slot. Anderson breaks down the wind up, grip (based on the four seam fastball grip), the rocker step and the stride. Other factors are the backside action, eliminate the front side, squared shoulders and releasing the ball through home plate. The follow through is the key to releasing the ball to the plate. A set of progression drills includes: Open up/backside action and figure eight drill. Anderson concludes with a detailed step-by-step review of each element of the throw.
with Mark Brew, Lee University Head Coach; 2008 NAIA National Runner-up, 2008 NAIA National Coach of the Year
Coach Mark Brew clearly illustrates the ins and outs of the physical and mental aspects of a solid pitching program. Coach Brew covers it all!
The skills portion of this baseball video includes everything from throwing and mechanics drills to flat ground activities and bullpen sequences. Brew focuses on 10 pitching drills that emphasize sound deliveries, throwing to spots and changing speeds. Help your pitcher develop a consistent motion with Brew's 10 pitching mechanics drills, and protect against the wear and tear of the mound on your pitcher with three flat ground activities. The mental portion includes everything from pitching philosophy and game-time philosophy to count pitching and seven "cardinal sins" of pitching. Get an inside look into Lee University's five day pitching routine that will ensure your pitchers are consistently performing at their best. Brew also includes a Powerpoint presentation on his pitching philosophy.
Simplify your pitching motion to throw more strikes
Improve your control by perfecting basic pitching mechanics
Pitching drills specifically to warm-up and cool down your arm
with Steve Smith, Head Coach, Baylor University
In this baseball video DVD, Coach Steve Smith teaches and demonstrates pitching drills to master basic baseball pitching mechanics. He discusses warm-ups (the importance of and the proper amount of time to spend per drill) and key components of the delivery (balance, direction, and timing). He explains and demonstrates a sequence of pitching drills to develop a sound delivery. He concludes with drills for cooling down the arm.
with Frank Anderson, Head Coach Oklahoma State University; former Pitching Coach University of Texas, 2002 College World Series Champions! Ranked 1st in the Big 12 and Top 5 Nationally in ERA for the 2000 and '01 seasons
In his first three seasons with the Longhorns, Frank Anderson's pitching staff has led the Big 12 and finished in the Top 5 nationally in ERA percentage. How does Coach Anderson keep his staff fit and sharp between starts? This video spells out the day-by-day workout progression his pitchers use from start to start. Anderson uses a combination of stretching, running, throwing, and rest to have his pitchers razor sharp on game-day. He follows this progression with a specific game-day routine to get his pitchers physically and mentally ready to pitch. This is a great in-season pitching program with proven results!
