MOUND PRESENCE
By Dr. John Bagonzi

Dr. John A. Bagonzi is a former pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization, current director of the Championship Pitching Camp, and author of The Act of Pitching, published by Pitching Professor Publications.

In the final version of it, the appearance that a pitcher connotes to the hitter is wherein lies the power, mystique and control in the batter-pitcher confrontation.  It barks out at you.  The pitcher that goes after the batters is in stark contrast to the retreating defensive hurler who tentatively approaches his tasks.  The former creates an aura or persona that he is in charge.  Certain people emanate or radiate a charisma that commands attention.  Lets look at it.

COMMAND PRESENCE (Stage Presence)

An impact person always, always has “STAGE” presence, and it is something he usually deserves.  Sometimes it is contrived and created, while other times it is built in and natural.  People have varying degrees of belief in themselves.  Those who sincerely know they can succeed versus those that are suspicious and wary of themselves is always part of the ongoing contest of vacillating personalities.  The ultimate is knowing and proving the ability to take over, to control the vibes, and to dictate a completely positive schematic.  To allow no interference with the impending agenda in spite of intermittent disasters is the true directive.  The handling of a disaster is a measure of mound control.  Pitchers that fulfill the legacy of the dominating figure are usually quite successful and need to never apologize for their commanding or intimidating persona.

BODY LANGUAGE

We all speak through “BODY LANGUAGE.”  Many pitchers have gestures and postures which are revealing.  There is a tendency to express frustrations through body motions.  One’s physical presence can represent “tough mindedness.”

Arm angles often differ when negative impulses get in.  Mechanical rhythm is disturbed and focus is lost.  You can be in the process of elevating yourself or burying yourself, and it will show.   Poor body language is already contributing to poor performance, and this cancer can fatally destroy one’s assignment.   The masters of the pitching profession allow no negative urges to flourish and curb these thoughts at the beginning.  Winning pitchers have body language that constantly suggest COMMAND.

MOUND TYPES

The following are mound types.  Some obviously blend in with one another and certainly several can be together or independent.

1.       Dictator – Overlord

2.       Blacksmith - Bulldog - Blue Collar Worker

3.       Mrs. Doubtfire

4.       Stalker (Intimidator)

5.       Deceiver – Trickster (aka the Hired Gun)

6.       The Believer

7.       Artist

8.       Bull-Dog (Blue Collar)

9.       Surgeon

     10.   Assassin

THE PRESENCE OF THE DICTATOR

Some pitchers absolutely take over and it makes no difference who the batter is.  The batter is someone who has to be there.  The pitcher has his plan and is absolutely committed to what he is doing.  He is going to dictate tempo and will govern the intensity of his sequences.  He will show no signs of defense in his demeanor.  He makes no apology for his scowl or locked in expression.  He does not want to talk to anyone.  He resides within his bubble and rejoices only after the task is completed.  This is a difficult man to break down.  He wants to create a masterpiece and wants no interference.

THE ESSENCE OF THE BLACKSMITH

This pitcher will hammer until the metal is forged.  This is the epitome of the blue collar worker who punches his time clock and intends to give out an honest day’s work.  This guy will beat you with tenacity and durability.  I admire this person, because he sees it to the end.  He sees clearly what he has to do and has developed an expertise to get there.  He does not let things happen by chance.  He does not wait for serendipity to happen, but is ready for it.  The steel is constantly being hammered, and he works while the iron is hot.  This person possesses a strong purposeful mentality.

THE APPEARANCE OF MRS. DOUBTFIRE

Once self-doubt (Mrs. Doubtfire) occurs, mail in your resignation and don’t leave a return address.  Mrs. Doubtfire cannot be allowed to appear.  This person cannot be let in.  If you consider doubt in yourself, then it happens.  Don’t give power to the past.  A proof of being in charge is poise.  Sustained focus is a proof of being in charge.  Check all negative thoughts at the door.  The art form is “thinking on your feet” and “doing on your feet” – not second guessing after an inning or after the game is over.  Learn from first hand experience before it becomes second hand and goes to the “Monday morning quarterbacks” file.  Seizing the moment, performing under duress and controlling a disaster gives solid substance to the oft repeated adage “when the going gets tough the tough get going.”  There is no room in competitive pitching for Mrs. Doubtfire.  Self-doubt, while perhaps natural in all of us, cannot be allowed to flourish if excellence is desired and/or expected.  If success is placed on the mantle and the agenda includes positive results, then all forms of self-doubt have to be exorcised.

THE STALKER

To be constantly stalked and pursued by an unrelenting pitcher can only wear a batter down and create some negative reactions which will ultimately cause failure in the hitting process.  A pitcher such as a Curt Schilling or Roger Clemens or Pedro Martinez who intimidate and stalk from the “get go” surely exact their toll on the hitting mentality.  Kevin Brown in his prime was another stalker.  It is refreshing to watch these guys as they ply their trade.  No fear emanates from them, and they are totally committed to their task.  The want the ball as fast as they can get it.  Get on the rubber and deliver.  The stalker has an unrelenting mentality and will be right back after a set-back.

Some are silent stalkers.  They are just workmen that go about their job in a silent driven way without much fan-fare but thoroughly efficient in their process.

THE HIRED GUN

In the old days, teams used to hire a pitcher to pitch games for them.  These hired guns often had the cold heart and demeanor to embellish their stature and to give significance to their role.  The old wild-west, hired gun was the prototype.  In modern day baseball we have this phenomenon happening all the time when one team purchases the services of a renowned pitcher to enhance their lot in life and to perhaps beat the team that has been beating them.

THE BELIEVER

You are what you believe – pretty much you are who you think you are.  The person who believes in himself and in life never becomes a victim.  This must be defined by oneself, not what other people think.  With the believer there has to be a solid game plan with options.  Thinking on one’s feet is an art in itself for this pitcher, and the art of adapting and the art of adjustment are in order.  All negative thoughts have to be left at the door.  Most things are easier said than done – but herein lies the mystique – the art of execution.

The degree of believing is this guy’s talent.  He trusts himself.  Pitchers are defined by how the ball leaves their hand.  Confidence allows one’s talent to manifest itself.

THE ARTIST (The Painter)

This stage presence involves doing a masterpiece every time – nothing is overlooked.  Something that qualifies as a work of art requires a longtime in the making.  A degree of apprenticeship is preliminary to the achievement of artistry. 

The pure artist has devoted himself to excellence in pitching and possesses a purism and passion that never wanes.  This is a life’s work, and little can happen to derail this progress.  This is a person to be admired, and his ability to adjust and adapt are part of the mystique of the artist.  His compulsion towards a masterpiece is unyielding and while there is progress, there is always a return to the original ethic.  This pitcher takes pride in his performance and has a high level for his standard.

THE SURGEON

This guy is smart, is prepared, and can handle pressure.  His expertise is he can function in an important condition when disasters flourish.  He is tuned into the idea of performing well at all times. If he has to make a precise pitch on the "black", he can do that.  This guy is cool, is composed, enjoys his work, realizes the cerebral aspect of pitching and can "shave" that corner surgically when it is critical.  This guy is always prepared and pretty dependable.

THE ASSASSIN

CONCLUSION

So many personality traits go into the establishment of one’s “persona,” but ultimately the game will determine how that manifests and exhibits itself out on the mound.  If there is a plethora of negative thoughts, they will ring true by the image connoted in the center of the diamond. 

The BULLDOG in all of his magnificence has to be implemented when the task of pitching a game is approached; particularly when this is our choice of professions.  The importance we attach to the game, and the significance of winning or losing surely drives our emotions and our reactions to game problems.  The ability or inability to cope will define our quality of execution and subsequently affect the “command” presence that we exhibit.  Being in charge is a constant task which requires an overlordship and willingness to undertake situations fraught with disaster and pitfalls that many will shirk from.

Dysfunction often involves fear.  Why I study and admire Curt Schilling is that I see him on an eternal mission and he intends to complete it.  He is a blue-collar worker with an intellectual approach.  He is a blacksmith with a surgeon’s scalpel – a warrior with artist’s touch – a bull-dog with a flair.

An aspiring pitcher will come to a commitment at some point in the pursuit of a pitcher career where he agrees that this is something that he seriously wants to do.  At that time a degree of mound presence is likely underway and an image of command is being established.  When one takes great pride in his work, a strong identity emerges.  This may be any of the foregoing characteristic mound personas, or combinations of such or none of them, but it will be recognizable and indelible as a presence.  This can carry through one’s career, become fortified, intensified, embellished, and likely vary as one’s arsenal of pitching knowledge increases.

In the final analysis, the strength of the image portrayed will define the respect and admiration due to this person.  I quickly accept the Clemens, Schillings, Johnsons, Madduxes, for their persona as well as their successes.   The stylists of the past such as Warren Spahn and the great equators such as Sandy Koufax and Steve Carleton will always be strong templates for aspiring pitchers.   The bull-dogs such as Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan are role models for many.   The dissection-assassin types such as Kevin Brown and Pedro Martinez who gradually pick you apart with a variety of quality pitches are the modern day Bob Fellers.  Some will absolutely have the assassin's glare and are willing to reach deeply into their kits to get the job done.

It is refreshing to observe the unrelenting pursuit of excellence which will always show in the demeanor and presence of the pitcher who surely and precisely wants to represent his profession to the n^th degree.  This is who we should be studying.