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Torso Rotation is the Answer - The Body is Designed to
Turn
- In this article, Coach Bagonzi discusses the benefits of
unifying directional and rotational forces and some of the signs
that indicate when this is not occurring.
The Demise of “Charlie” VS the Resurrection of "Lord Charles"
- One
of the pathetic improbabilities that has existed in the last
decades of baseball pitching thinking is the “Quick Fix”
phenomenon - sliders, cutters, splitters, sinkers as an answer
to all or many pitching problems, and the expediency with which
it can be accomplished. Lost in this transmission is one
of the great classy and graceful pitches, that had a stature and
regality that was deserved, as its complement to the
ever-prominent fastball.
The Angle of Pronation
- Many persons are befuddled by words like pronation
and supination and yet these catch-all words solve a myriad of
concepts when applied to certain critical events in the pitching
process. Pronation is talked about, few have a fix on it, but
successful pitchers do it well and those with moving fastballs
do it well.
What Are the
Unanswered
Questions? (That
need to be
answered for
future pitchers)
- This
article explores
the challenges
that pitcher and
pitching coaches
face in the next
decade in order
to regain
control of the
batter - pitcher
confrontation -
including
influencing
calling of
strikes,
resurgence of
certain pitches,
reducing the
homerun barrage,
along with
mechanics and
training
regimes.
Relief Pitching -
A relief pitcher is worth his weight in gold if he uses
himself wisely and productively. This article provides thoughts
regarding the unique mental and physical requirements of
relieving.
The Anatomy of a Pitch - There is a critical time when refined and
definite mechanical actions come together briefly, and the
fusion of forces is available momentarily - this ideal time
cannot be missed, as it is unlikely to be recaptured at any
point further in the pitching process. This article discusses
key issues in pitching mechanics.
How to Avoid Rushing -
One of the big tenets of the "No push off" theory is that if
you do push off with the back foot you may be guilty of
"rushing." Rushing is the dreaded word among pitchers and
pitching technicians. This article reviews pertinent mechanics
and introduces drills to help. The article closes with a
mechanics discussion related to arm speed and the fastball.
Doctoring the Fastball - Getting the Second Stage -
Natural movement of the fastball is rare and is
reserved for those few individuals by the nature of their
anatomy and delivery make a ball move or veer with little or no
effort. Most pitchers do not have this arrangement and find it
necessary to "DOCTOR" the fastball. "Doctor" here means
imparting different pressures, spins, grips and releases mainly
to make a fastball act, or do something other than be straight.
This article discusses the types of fastballs and provides
information to assist pitchers in developing these pitches.
Throwing Between Starts
-
What a starting pitcher does between his starts regarding
throwing is as important as pitching the game itself. This
article provides model programs for pitchers of various levels
to use as guidelines for throwing between starts.
Mound
Presence - The appearance that a pitcher connotes to the hitter is wherein
lies the power, mystique and control in the batter-pitcher
confrontation....
Pitching:
A Matter Of Style - A
discussion of 12 basic styles that pitchers can use to get the
batters out.
Keep
the Pitch Low - If there is anything I'm certain about
in pitching, it is that the farther up in the game you go, the
more successful you can be by keeping your pitches low.
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How
to Throw a ....
The
Fastball
- No one is doomed to
mediocrity because of a humble fastball. Even a weak fastball
can be juiced up!
Getting
the Fastball to Move
- I find in a lifetime of pitching, coaching and instructing
that THIS (lack of movement) is the single most consequential
and yet lacking trait in prospective pitchers particularly in
right handed throwers.
The
Spin on Speed -
Hurling fastballs is an art form. Here's how to paint a
picture for your pitchers.
The
Advent of the Cutter - A great pitch because of its
deception and relative ease on the arm.
Mastering
the
Breaking Ball -
The Coach's thoughts regarding mastering the curve and
the state of the modern breaking ball - the pros and cons of
power curves and sliders.
Learning
Curve - A potent curveball can make a batter's
head spin. A pitching ace tells you how to do it - safely and
effectively.
The
Anatomy of a Screwball - Dr. Bagonzi discusses one of
the often maligned, and yet misunderstood pitches.
What
are the differences in the Change-ups and Why So Many? -
The change-up or change of pace pitch has been part of baseball
ever since the 1860’s when the game had evolved to the point
that it was no longer considered ungentlemanly for a pitcher to
fool the batter into missing. Ever since then, pitchers have
continually sought to develop pitches that would destroy a
hitter's timing.
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Increase
Your Velocity And Develop Your Arm (at the Same Time) - gain
speed on your fastball while increasing arm strength using these
techniques and drills.
The
Effects of Graded Weighted Baseballs... - When used
properly, and with patience, the weighted ball can be an
extremely effective aide. I've had nothing but success with them
and several of my subjects who've gone on to the pros, swear by
them and are absolutely dedicated to them.
A
Matter of Control -
There is no skill more essential to pitching than control. While
kids dream of posting high numbers on the radar guns and blowing
heaters past overwhelmed batters, pitchers who can consistently
put the ball exactly where they want it have much more success
than those who simply rear back and throw.
A
Matter of Arm Angles - When correlation is made between
velocity and mechanics, the one area that often gets overlooked
is arm angles. Throwing from the correct arm slot can often mean
increases in velocity, movement, and improvement in control
particularly for someone who has their mechanics reasonably
developed.
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Tempo
in Pitching - Coach Bagonzi briefly discusses his
preferences with regard to pitching tempo, varying tempo, and
why.
Pitch
Sequence and Pitch Selection - Perhaps the greatest
defining factor or criterion in determining the choice or
sequence of pitches is the style of pitching employed. The coach discusses the various approaches.
The
Concept of Pitching the Slots - An
area that I have given a lot of attention to over the years is
the idea of a PITCH SLOT. It's a concept that I've pursued in my
instructional experiences with individuals and also in my
pitching camps with pretty exciting results.
Reading
the Ball - The desire and interest to study the
alignment of the ball in flight is often times what separates
the astute pitcher from the ones that allow chance to be their
guideline.
Great
Mechanics - If you're a coach or a pitcher and you do
not have an exceptionally strong understanding of mechanics, you
will be left to fix problems by trial and error. But if you do
have a deep respect for mechanics you will master your full
potential.
The
Essence Of Power Focusing in Pitching
- an area that I’m
particularly concerned with in the development of a young
pitcher is the ability to sustain focus over a period of time.
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COACHING
tIPS
Why
Curveball First - Coach Bagonzi presents his thoughts
regarding the importance of why one needs to have the complete
grasp of the 6 1/2 or 1/7 curve ball.
Using
the Four Parts
- There are four major
anatomical sections which should be utilized in the pitching of
a baseball. These quadrants, when effectively utilized and
integrated perform a strong kinesthetic effect....
Live
Ball Factor - Speed does not equal effectiveness - a
metric that quantifies the importance of a pitch's movement.
Rule
of Seven - It's the last inning and the kid suddenly
can't find the strike zone, what do you tell him?
Magic
Moment - Done correctly, there is a surge of power and
an acceleration of the throwing process (arm speed) which in
turn increases velocity. I refer to this optimum instant as The
Magic Moment.
The
Essence of Arm Action - An area that has fascinated me for decades not only as a
pitcher, but as a coach and also as a pitching technician is the
very critical area of ARM ACTION. There is not enough being done
in this area early on as many instructors are of the opinion
that arm action is genetic.
A
Matter of Control - Rein in your wild pitchers
with these tips and drills. |
THOUGHTS
& OPINIONS
The
Magnificent Seven - The Coach's thoughts on why
some athletes succeed immensely, while others with similar or
even better credentials sometimes fail miserably.
The
Compleat Pitcher - To
make a decision regarding a baseball future, it is useful to explore the matrix of a successful pitcher - in this instance we
really should consider the ingredients of a professional pitcher
or even better those of a major league pitcher.
The
Beauty of Great Arm Action - Arm action is the
direct beneficiary of the kinesthetic chain and should be
addressed specially as to what is actually good arm action to
complement torso rotation.
Random
Thoughts and Reminders about Pitching - I have been
approached many times in my pitching camps and more recently on
my website about various and diverse aspects of pitching. Some
of these areas are controversial, and often the viewpoints come
from diametrically opposed angles.
The
Negative Time Warp - The entertainment of negative
philosophies actually fulfills them. Why give energy to
something that dooms itself from the outset?
You
Have to Control More than the Ball - The ability to
deliver an effective pitch in a key situation, when pressure
boils, disaster lurks, and Murphy's law looms is a priceless
trait, and surely the absolute precursor to success.
4
Question Job Interview for Pitchers
- Do
you pass the test? The
four question job interview for pitchers: Are
you fast enough? Are
you in control of the ball enough? Are
you tough enough? Are
you smart enough?
10
Best Pitchers of Today - Of
all the pitchers currently active, the following ten are whom
I consider the best in the business today. How they compare
to pitchers of past generations it's hard to say...
Ted
Williams in Retrospect and in Perspective - Coach
Bagonzi reflects on the Splendid Splinter's impact and
uniqueness.
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